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Reviews
Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs by Ken Jennings
karennaftel's review
5.0
This is a really great book, tons of facts on the history of trivia, an inside peek on what it's like being a Jeopardy! contestant and some trivia sprinkled in, just to keep you thinking.
sidneyua's review
3.0
Мені не вистачило структури, чіткого розуміння, з якої точки А в яку точку В веде мене із собою автор. Через це уже після першої половини книжки мені здавалося, що все, що можна розповісти про тривію, Дженнінгс уже розповів. Мабуть, символічно, що книжка про колекціонування випадкових фактів сама часто ходить по колу, іноді знаходячи якісь цікаві думки тільки заради того, щоб покинути їх і продовжувати свій пошук далі.
shighley's review
5.0
This book was a pleasant surprise. While I expected to learn about Jennings' Jeopardy experiences, it was much more than that, and was very enjoyable. I appreciate the efforts he made to research the history of trivia. I found myself wanting to experience things like the Stevens Point trivia mania. There is just the right touch of humor and clever writing with a touch of self-deprecation thrown in.
By the time I finished reading this, I realized that being able to make connections is very important in learning; not coincidentally, I imagine, Jennings' puzzle column that I used to see in Parade Magazine is called "Kennections." One of the last references in the "Acknowledgments" section of the book is to Christopher Robin Milne-- which was the answer to Final Jeopardy on last night's program! I was currently listening to A. J. Jacobs' most recent book, Thanks a Thousand, then when reading this encountered him as one of the people Jennings contacted!
By the time I finished reading this, I realized that being able to make connections is very important in learning; not coincidentally, I imagine, Jennings' puzzle column that I used to see in Parade Magazine is called "Kennections." One of the last references in the "Acknowledgments" section of the book is to Christopher Robin Milne-- which was the answer to Final Jeopardy on last night's program! I was currently listening to A. J. Jacobs' most recent book, Thanks a Thousand, then when reading this encountered him as one of the people Jennings contacted!
kittenscribble's review
4.0
Ken Jennings, marathon Jeopardy! champion, writes about trivia, trivia nerds, and his own experience on the game show. Good overview of trivia in general, from the college bowl circuit to pub games; I particularly like the commentary on the construction of a well-written question. The bits where he interviews trivia collectors are kind of bland, but the amusing personal accounts of Jeopardy! experiences more than make up for it.
clellman's review
4.0
This was a very 4-star book. Pretty good in most ways, but not completely free of flaws. TBH, better/less cringe-y (barely at all!) than I expected from early-2000s Ken.
jill's review
3.0
Jennings is at his best in autobiographical sections, especially when describing his Jeopardy! experience. The sections about the history of trivia as a pastime are drier and less engaging. "Word Freak" is a much livelier work in the same genre (obsessive gamers).
bwguinig's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting, quick read by Ken Jennings describing his historic run on Jeopardy! as well as presenting a general chronology of trivia and its continued popularity. May contain a little less about the how-to a would be Jeopardy! contestant would want (see Bob Harris's Prisoner of Trebekistan: A Decade in Jeopardy!), but there's a feeling that the commonality of curiosity makes us more alike than different.
The conversational tone belies the amount of information presented. The chapters are generally short and contain a number of trivia questions throughout with answers following the chapter. I enjoyed it quite a bit and would re-read if the call from Culver City comes.
The conversational tone belies the amount of information presented. The chapters are generally short and contain a number of trivia questions throughout with answers following the chapter. I enjoyed it quite a bit and would re-read if the call from Culver City comes.
marshcooke1's review
5.0
Light reading about trivia, it’s history Ken Jennings on Jeopardy and some throwbacks to the annual trivia contest at UW- Stevens Point! Loved it.
sharonfalduto's review
Jeopardy! champ Ken Jen (we're tight, so I can call him that) tells the story of his own meteoric rise (75 time Jeopardy! champion, until H&R Block and a woman named Zurg outdid him) as a background for a tale that is part history of trivia, part trivia itself, and part a paean to all trivia players past and present.