The Importance of Being Trivial, By Mark Mason
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The clever thing about this is how someone managed to string together an amusing book about trivia, just as the clever thing about QI is how someone managed to make a TV programme about it.
But Mason's examination of the allure of trivia is overwhelmed by the examples. Some are well-known (the only UK road where you drive on the right is the approach to the Savoy), others are vaguely annoying (anyone who has seen the Grand Canyon will readily accept it could hold every living human) or dubious (does Holloway derive from a "hollow way" caused by cattle en route to Smithfield? Wikipedia says the claim is "disputed".)
But however much we may carp, the fact remains that trivia is utterly irresistible - at least for the males who would fill half of the Grand Canyon.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments