Unfunny humour, but good nonetheless! (Steve Wright's Further Factoids - Steve Wright)

Member Name: martin24

Product:	Steve Wright's Further Factoids - Steve Wright
Date:	18/01/08 (56 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: interesting

Disadvantages: not a book as much as a collection of factoids!

This is another book that I received as a present for Christmas, and is another book I would put into the category of being good for a waiting room or toilet - a book you can dip in and out of every now and then, but not one you could just sit down and read!

=== The Author ===

Born in Greenwich, London in 1954, Steve Wright started his professional life as a marine insurance broker. Realising his mistake, he quickly diverted his attention to journalism and broadcasting, working as a newsman for local newspapers and radio. IN the late '70s he moved from Thames Valley radio to RTL (Radio Luxembourg), then on to BBC Radio 1 and BBC Television (where he now writes and presents _Top of the Pops 2_). His Radio 2 show _Steve Wright in the Afternoon_ is a daily miscellany of lifestyle and interviews with celebrities, politicians, sports stars and musicians. His regular feature FACTOIDS is a must for listeners. "Why don't you make another book?" they said. So he did.

=== The Book ===

Is the second in a dilogy (like a trilogy only a less used word because it sounds 'rubbish' (p. 14)) after the initial book, _Steve Wright's Factoids_. It is 157 pages of little titbits of information, fact and miscellany. Initially I thought the book was going to be humorous, having heard the feature on the show a few times and chuckling along, however for me the humour doesn't translate from the airwaves to the page, but the Factoids are interesting nonetheless.

_One in ten people in Scandinavia is allegedly conceived in an IKEA bed_

_Insects outnumber humans one billion to one_

_One fifth of the British population eats a curry every weekend_

=== The Factoid ===

_The word Factoid was given 7 points on 'Countdown' in 2006_ - this is proof enough how real a word factoid is, despite only being used offhand by Marilyn Monroe's biographer, Norman Mailer. Its official description is "spurious (unverified, incorrect, or invented) "fact" intended to create or prolong public exposure or to manipulate public opinion." This disappointed me a bit, as I thought everything in the book was strange but true! However, hope is not lost, as according the Wikipedia - "The word factoid is now sometimes also used to mean a small piece of true but valueless or insignificant information". So maybe Steve hasn't been lying to us all these years!

=== Would I recommend it? ===

Yes, I would recommend you get this book, although not for any serious or intellectual reason, but you may find something to giggle at, and you will certainly find something that you can impress your friends with over a glass of wine!

=== What do the critics say? ===

_Steve Wright is a national institution_ - Ricky Gervais

_Steve Wright is the greatest broadcaster that ever lived . . . in South London_ - Chris Evans

=== Availability ===

www.play.com - £6.99
www.amazon.co.uk - £4.99

Thanks for reading

© Martin24 (MMVIII)
(written as Martin0201 on Ciao)

Summary: Good spin off from the popular feature on Radio 2!