Books

What Were They Thinking? Really Bad Ideas Throughout History (Globe Pequot)

Could artist Rudy Giacomo have been serious when he proposed building a 39-mile manicotti around Manhattan? What could have prompted an Ohio university to award Mike Tyson an honorary doctorate in humane letters?

One of a Kind: A Compendium of Unique People, Places and Things (William Morrow & Co.)

In 1932, Plennie L. Wingo became the first (and only) person ever to walk from Santa Monica, California, to Istanbul, Turkey—backwards.

Famous Americans You Never Knew Existed (Stein & Day)

Boston composer Chester Greeler set the entire United States Constitution to music in 1874. Scored for chorus and orchestra, the piece was performed numerous times before wildly enthusiastic if undiscerning audiences. It has not been heard since the 1880s..

Felton & Fowler's Best, Worst & Most Unusual (Thomas Y. Crowell Co.)

In her will, Mme. de la Bresse of Paris directed that her life savings be used to purchase clothing for naked Parisian snowmen.

Creativity (Momentum Books Ltd.)

“The minute I start thinking of writing as writing, I fall right on my face. If I have a style, you could say it’s the absence of style.” (writer Elmore Leonard).

Creativity in Film (Momentum Books Ltd.)

"I really don’t like adapting other people’s work. But my wife read Harper Lee’s novel and said, “You better read this.” I had met Harper, who didn't want to do the movie. So I decided to do it.” (screenwriter Horton Foote)