- Hardcover: 368 pages
- Publisher: Penguin (30 July 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0525950346
- ISBN-13: 978-0525950349
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.5 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 163,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Like its predecessor, More Information Than You Require compiles incredibly handy made up facts into brief articles, overlong lists, frighteningly complex charts, and beguiling narratives on new and familiar themes such as:
THE PAST (because there is always more)
THE FUTURE (because they say there is still some left to discuss)
HOW TO BE A FAMOUS MINOR TV PERSONALITY (hint: go on television)
GAMBLING: THE SPORT OF THE ASTHMATIC MAN (includes hermit crab racing)
THE SECRETS OF HOLLYWOOD
About the Author
Before he went on television, John Hodgman was a simple writer, expert and former professional literary agent living in New York City. In this capacity he has served as the humour editor for The New York Times Magazine; an occasional public radio personality for This American Life; an advice columist for McSweeney's; and a freelance journalist specializing in food, non-wine alcohol, Battlestar Galactica and most other subjects. This was enough of a career for any human. But then he wrote a book of COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE entitled The Areas of My Expertise and was asked to appear on The Daily Show where he continues to provide commentary as the show's "resident expert".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
When your first book is the compendium of complete world knowledge you don't leave yourself a lot of wiggle room for a follow up. Luckily for us the first book introduced John to the larger world as a his alter egos of PC in the Apple adverts and his sporadic role as a Daily Show correspondent. So there is now more knowledge or us to enjoy (like "How to become a minor TV celebrity.) This book is very much a follow up to the first ( The Areas of My Expertise: A Compendium of Complete World Knowledge Compiled with Instructive Annotation and Arranged in Useful Order by Myself) if you have yet to read it then its worth reading in order just so you can make sure you get a history of hobo culture (the first book) and of the mole men (this one)
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
34 reviews
43 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Perfect toilet reading
23 Oct 2008
Format:Hardcover
Hodgman's book, like the man, is hysterical. I was fortunate to hear him speak in Brookline, MA (his hometown) and after he signed books. I then spent most of the night reading. And much to my family's annoyance, laughing. At 3:00 AM, laughter in a (mostly) sleeping house isn't good.
The section "How to become a famous minor television personality" is worth the price of the book by itself, It is everything you wanted to know about how Hodgman went from a literary agent and writer to a regular on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and his gig as "I'm a PC...". As you can imagine, there are many twists to the story including details pertaining to Battlestar Galactica, Justin Timberlake, American Airlines Admirals Club and other seemingly random people and places.
A clever touch is that the book doubles as a page-a-day-calendar (there is a date on each page with a date-specific bit of wisdom). After reading much of the book in one sitting last night, I realize I messed up. I should have had the book in the bathroom and read a single page each day while on the throne. Somehow I think Hodgman would appreciate that.
The section "How to become a famous minor television personality" is worth the price of the book by itself, It is everything you wanted to know about how Hodgman went from a literary agent and writer to a regular on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and his gig as "I'm a PC...". As you can imagine, there are many twists to the story including details pertaining to Battlestar Galactica, Justin Timberlake, American Airlines Admirals Club and other seemingly random people and places.
A clever touch is that the book doubles as a page-a-day-calendar (there is a date on each page with a date-specific bit of wisdom). After reading much of the book in one sitting last night, I realize I messed up. I should have had the book in the bathroom and read a single page each day while on the throne. Somehow I think Hodgman would appreciate that.
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
If you need a laugh, you need John Hodgman.
24 Oct 2008
Format:Hardcover
Let me make a prediction. As a writer, John Hodgman will be to poetry what Stephen King is to modern historical thought. Is that farcical? You bet. Okay, John Hodgman isn't a poet, and Stephen King while an unsurpassed author of horror fiction, isn't an author of history. One fact that isn't a farce, however, John Hodgman is simply brilliant as a writer of faux facts. From a humor point of view, I can't remember a book that I've enjoyed more than More Information than You Require.
Coming on the heels of Hodgman's unique The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require is in everyway a continuation of the earlier book; even continuing the numbering of the pages. By the way, More Information will stand on its own as a read, but for the uninformed reader the paging may throw them off. Where as Area's of My Expertise dealt with hobos and hobo names, More Information deals with mole men and mole men names and claims that even the iconic Thomas Jefferson had dealings with them. Brilliant! Other notable points that stand out: Today in History sections. What's the funniest bit? Racing hermit crabs! I'd like to think of something to compare The Areas of My Expertise and More Information than You Require to, but there simply isn't anything; like the cheese, they stand alone.
The English language is very precise. Terms like "genius" and "stunning" have very specific meanings. One of our communication problems today is that we're skewing the language with new uses/meanings for specific terms. Hodgman's More Information Than You Require is stunningly funny. It will entertain you for months or years to come. Is the book written by a genius? Only time will tell. I guess if Hodgman discovers how we can travel faster than the speed of light we could call him a genius. He is an intellect and he is certainly funny.
During this Presidential election year and especially because of the economic bad news, we need More Information than You Require.
This review was written on a PC for PC. I hope that's not a conflict of interest.
Peace to all.
Coming on the heels of Hodgman's unique The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require is in everyway a continuation of the earlier book; even continuing the numbering of the pages. By the way, More Information will stand on its own as a read, but for the uninformed reader the paging may throw them off. Where as Area's of My Expertise dealt with hobos and hobo names, More Information deals with mole men and mole men names and claims that even the iconic Thomas Jefferson had dealings with them. Brilliant! Other notable points that stand out: Today in History sections. What's the funniest bit? Racing hermit crabs! I'd like to think of something to compare The Areas of My Expertise and More Information than You Require to, but there simply isn't anything; like the cheese, they stand alone.
The English language is very precise. Terms like "genius" and "stunning" have very specific meanings. One of our communication problems today is that we're skewing the language with new uses/meanings for specific terms. Hodgman's More Information Than You Require is stunningly funny. It will entertain you for months or years to come. Is the book written by a genius? Only time will tell. I guess if Hodgman discovers how we can travel faster than the speed of light we could call him a genius. He is an intellect and he is certainly funny.
During this Presidential election year and especially because of the economic bad news, we need More Information than You Require.
This review was written on a PC for PC. I hope that's not a conflict of interest.
Peace to all.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
This book is invaluable.
26 Oct 2008
Format:Hardcover
Simply put, this book (and its predecessor) is/are the epitome of COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE. I bought this book the day it came out, and the introduction alone was worth the full purchase price.
In addition to useful information on mole-men and gambling, this book also includes a helpful section on the presidents, past and future, as well as a brief exposition on how the glorious half-sultan of our nation is chosen.
The page-a-day calendar is also a handy feature, but I hope that the paperback edition has different facts, as buying the same calendar twice would be uneconomical. (You will have to buy the paperback edition, since the proper way to read a page-a-day calender is, of course, to rip out each page once you're done with it.)
All in all, this book is well worth any amount of money that you agree to pay for it, and should be on every shelf of the serious scholar.
In addition to useful information on mole-men and gambling, this book also includes a helpful section on the presidents, past and future, as well as a brief exposition on how the glorious half-sultan of our nation is chosen.
The page-a-day calendar is also a handy feature, but I hope that the paperback edition has different facts, as buying the same calendar twice would be uneconomical. (You will have to buy the paperback edition, since the proper way to read a page-a-day calender is, of course, to rip out each page once you're done with it.)
All in all, this book is well worth any amount of money that you agree to pay for it, and should be on every shelf of the serious scholar.
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