Book Review: Uncle John's Old Faithful 30th Anniversary Bathroom Reader

Bathroom Reader's Institute, Uncle John's Old Faithful 30th Anniversary Bathroom Reader. San Diego, CA: Portable Press, 2017.  ISBN: 978-1-68412-086-4.

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: trivia, miscellaneous, bathroom reading, humor
Format: e-book galley
Source: NetGalley

The series is 30 years old, and it remains strong and entertaining. As with  other book in the series, the contents are arranged by length to meet your bathroom reading needs.

• Short: a quick read
• Medium: 2 to 3 pages
• Long: for the extended visits
• Extended: for those leg-numbing experiences

Subjects covered in the book include:

• New York City
• Toilet tech
• Good squirrels gone bad
• Teaching awards
• Celebrity couplings

 The above subjects are only a small sampling of what the book offers. The authors strive to provide a vast range of subjects and topics from serious (but not too serious) to entertaining to funny. Through it all, you also learn a thing or two along the way. As the authors state:

"Speaking of  fun, that's the main ingredient we try to put in every one of our books. Sure, we love to pass along interesting facts and odd stories-- and a few of our articles tend to fall on the 'serious'  side-- but in the end, our job is to entertain you. If  you become smarter along the way then. . . you're welcome."

The authors are successful in this regard. You'll feel your time in the bathroom was amusing as well as productive on reading this book. It is a book you can pick up and read here or there when you need a little something to read. Overall, I really liked it is a good addition to the series.

4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Uncle John's Factastic Bathroom Reader

Bathroom Readers' Institute, Uncle John's Factastic Bathroom Reader. Ashland, OR: Portable Press, 2015. ISBN: 9781626864269.

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: humor, trivia, bathroom reading
Format: e-book galley
Source: NetGalley.

This is the 28th entry in the series, which remains a solid entertainment for trivia fans in and out of the bathroom. As other books in the series, it is a light and amusing book with lots of facts, strange and odd stories, and trivia. Passages cover various topics and can range from very short to a few pages long. This is part of the Uncle John's tradition of providing reading material based on how long you estimate your bathroom visit will last. Sometimes you need something quick, and sometimes you are going to be there for a while. There is no need to worry about running out of reading material in one visit or two. The book is a bit over 500 pages, so you get a lot of reading material. Though this is a great volume to keep handy in the bathroom, it is certainly a good book for trivia fans or anyone seeking a quick read now and then while learning something. It is definitely a good book to browse.

4 out of 5 stars.

This book qualifies for the following 2016 Reading Challenges:

Book Review: Uncle John's Beer-Topia

Bathroom Readers' Institute, Uncle John's Beer-Topia. Asland, OR: Portable Press, 2015. ISBN: 9781626863590.


Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: trivia, alcohol and spirits, food and epicurious, humor.
Format: e-book galley
Source: NetGalley

From the book's description:

"Pull up a stool and chug a pint of Beer-Topia, a rich, deep-bodied keg of beer knowledge, beer trivia, beer history, and beer fun. In recent years, beer has evolved from the swill your uncle drank at the bowling alley to the explosively-popular 'microbrew' culture. There’s a lot to explore about the beer phenomenon, and Beer-Topia will plumb the depths."

This is a light and entertaining book, and I think fans of beer trivia as well as fans of trivia in general will enjoy it. Now before you dismiss it as "one of those bathroom reading books," check this one out. The book features beer trivia, history, the science of beer, terminology, and a lot more. The book is arranged in short chapters or sections that cover various topics. These sections can be a page or a few pages long. This is so you can have just the right amount of reading for your bathroom trip or any other time you want to grab a quick read. You don't have to read it in the bathroom. It is an easy book to browse, and it is a book you can read anytime.

In the end, it is one I really liked. It could be a good selection for public libraries, especially if they already collect other trivia books and/or books on beer and brewing.

4 out of 5 stars.

Learn more about the Bathroom Readers' Institute and their other books.

This book qualifies for the following 2015 Reading Challenges: