For the uninitiated, Mental Floss is a fantastic website whose motto is “Where knowledge junkies get their fix.” The site is full of irreverent, witty anecdotes and little-known facts. The success of the website has spun off into a magazine and a series of books. The newest of these books is In The Beginning, which purports to be a “guide to the origins of everything.” Well, “everything” is an awfully broad term, but the folks at Mental Floss have done a very good job of fulfilling that promise.

The book is divided into chapters: "Food & Drink," "Fashion & Beauty," "Romance," "Science & Medicine," "Pop Culture," "Government & Law," "Traditions, Art & Literature," "Fun & Games," "Bad Stuff," "Spinning the Globe," and "Useful Stuff." Each chapter is divided up further. For example, "Bad Stuff" includes sections on Drugs, Alcohol, Evil Creatures, Mythical Creatures, Feuds, Chain Letters, Spam (both the foodstuff and the email), Epidemics, Pest & Pesticides, Smoking, and Karaoke. These sections are further divided into bite-sized, easy-to-digest lumps of information.

Learn the origins of the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot. Read about the strange evolution of the Republican and Democratic parties. Find out why celebrities walk down a red carpet, as opposed to orange or lavender. Uncover the secrets to secret societies. Read the story of White-Out.

In the Beginning is an intensely readable book. Perfect for the bathroom, or reading a few quick tales before bedtime. It is written in Mental Floss’s trademark style – lighthearted, witty, informative, and accessible. A truly enjoyable read that will give you lots of dinner party conversation.