The editors of the popular mental_floss magazine and Web site present a whimsical celebration of the origins of everyday things, from champagne and canned cheese to kitchen gadgets and the Big Bang Theory. By the authors of mental floss: Genius Instruction Manual.
Sure, you know all about the birds and bees. But did Dad ever tell you that it wasn't a stork that put that shiny can opener in your kitchen drawer? Or paperclips started out as proud, Nazi-fighting warriors? And did he tell you how cruise control was originally conceived by a blind genius? From mullets to Silly Putty, lie detectors to karaoke, we've got the true stories behind everything you didn't think had stories. Because if you're looking for answers, In the Beginning is the place to start.
