Matt McAvoy Book Review

Whilst there is nothing new or unique about this type of trivia book, that is not to say they aren’t very good, and this one is a cracker, filled with humour and genuinely fun, interesting facts – my personal favourite is a town called Hell in Scandinavia, which literally freezes over every year (I won’t spoil any more).  These books are genuine achievements in two respects: first, the sheer amount of work that goes into them, and second, a conscious concern of the author, I’m sure, to come up with thoroughly interesting and little known facts which haven’t been regurgitated time and again by similar trivia volumes.  Bryan has done a wonderful job with this one.  I haven’t read nor really recall enough to testify how original his revelations are in relation to others, but suffice to say that I read the book from cover to cover and was utterly engaged, with a smile and my face and a very respectable number of genuine “wow” moments.

I sincerely pay respects to the work ethic which has gone into producing this book, and it is loaded with Bryan’s sparkling personality, too.  He jokes about being the most interesting person in the room (or something to that effect), and while there are some who, perhaps with affection, may jovially mock the tedium of trivia, I doubt they genuinely mean it.  Bryan’s trivia runs rings around the usual anecdotes and social norms of conversation, and I’d love to be able to shoot off facts as fun and genuinely interesting as this.  If he brings a gathering to this level of discourse I’d love to be at the party, and I don’t doubt he’d be the most fun there.  Your dull Home Counties neighbour can shove recollections of their latest yawn-inspiring holiday to Bali or India, and I certainly don’t want to hear about your mum’s latest trip to Outpatients with her knee; I’ll discuss Bryan’s chat nuggets all night long.  Indeed, I couldn’t wait to corner my wife with a clutch of his revelations firmly in hand; she loved it, I could tell.

I don’t know if there are actually 1000 facts, or maybe a few more or less, and nor do I know how many of them you will already know from other sources; I knew a fair few myself.  The book is well worth reading – indeed, owning – to swot up on those that you don’t; they’re worth it.  And, as well as the introductory and wraparound text throughout, they are delivered with a witty pen.  As if that wasn’t enough to convince you, the author even includes a very helpful reference list of sources, to attest that every one is absolutely true – however incredible that might seem, in some cases.  A great book, which I loved spending my time reading.  Cheekily, I intend keeping my ARC – I highly recommend, if you like trivia, general knowledge, quizzes and just interesting banter, you grab one, too.