Read an Excerpt
“Never stop learning. Because when you stop learning, you stop growing.”
Those were the words of the SCUBA dive master who certified me for the sport when I was twelve. That was a long time ago, but I remember his advice exactly. For years, I ruminated on it. I journaled about it. It stuck with me because it was so simple, yet so profound, and the dive master was hot.
Even though that dive master is now approximately one thousand years old and seemingly off social media (What? A good writer always does her research!), I still keep his words in my mind. They’ve helped me often throughout my career as a writer and a comedian. There’s always more to learn, more to discover, new metaphorical mountains to climb. Admittedly, sometimes thinking about the inexhaustible amount of information in the world stresses me out, but more often it makes me feel excited, determined, and energized. I’m lucky that I work in a field that encourages fresh ideas.
Stand‑up comedy, in fact, demands it. And as a game and joke writer for the NPR trivia show Ask Me Another, I’m constantly going down encyclopedic rabbit holes in search of fascinating, oft- forgotten tidbits.
I’m very excited about this book, and grateful to be researching uplifting facts during turbulent times. So often, it seems as though all the news, all the history, all the information, is negative. And when it feels like I’m trapped in a tumble dryer with only bad news, I get depressed and panicked, stuck in an unproductive, unhealthy combination of anxious paralysis. In short, I become a Quivering Puddle Person. And I wonder if there’s any good left in this world.
But today I’m happy to report: There is. In my research, I have discovered that there is kindness, beauty, empathy, humor, resilience, wonder, silliness, cuteness, strength, hope, and joy in our world. Thank friggin’ goodness.
And thank you. Thank you for considering reading this book of my favorite trivia, as well as cherished facts from bona fide experts, and the smarty- pants who walk among us, former Jeopardy! contestants. My aims for this project are twofold: to make you one day smarter every time you read it, and to light up your brain in a positive way. While we can’t— and shouldn’t— ignore all the problems in our world, it’s also helpful, calming, inspirational, and necessary to learn about the good stuff, too.
I think we all could use a little good stuff right now.
