How to Impress Anybody About Anything

How To Impress Anybody About Anything, Leslie Hamilton and Brandon Toropov,
Carol Publishing Group, 1998

This is a book of instant knowledge, or at least enough knowledge to make the reader sound like an intellectual at parties or Jeopardy marathons. It gives short, easy to read, on-the-level summaries on subjects like quantum physics, the Cold War, exotic drinks, Homer's Odyssey, jazz, philosophy, zen Buddhism, fine wines, Einstein's Theory of Relativity and the Roman Empire, to name just a few.

For each subject, the authors provide some famous quotes or witty things to say, again to make the reader sound like an expert. Also included are things to say when you want to change the subject, and things to avoid saying or doing to keep from looking like an idiot.

One might think that subjects like gems, the Civil War, American history, Newtonian physics, palmistry and religion can not be adequately explained in just a few pages. They would be wrong; the authors do an excellent job.

For those people who want to sound like a Jeopardy champion in public, this is the book. For those who would just like the basics on an esoteric subject of interest, this is the book.