Books in Don't Know Much series

- Which president broke the laws to keep his slaves from being freed? - How did a president help save college football from early extinction? - Who said, "When the president does it that means it's not illegal"? - If the framers of the Constitution didn't mention an "electoral college," how come it picks the president? - Who was the "Negro President?"You have questions. Kenneth C. Davis has answers.For more than twenty years since his New York Times bestseller Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History but Never Learned first appeared, Davis has shown that Americans don't hate history, just the dull version dished out in school. An instant classic, his first work of American history has sold more than 1.6 million copies.Now Davis turns his attention to what is arguably the most important and most fascinating subject in American history: our presidents. From the heated debates over executive powers when those framers improvised the office in the steamy summer of 1787 though the curious election of George Washington in 1789 and, for more than 200 years, up through the meteoric rise of Barack Obama, the first African-American commander in chief, the presidency has been at the heart of American history.From the low lights to the bright lights, from the intellectuals to the disasters, from the memorable to the forgettable and forgotten, Davis tells all the stories. He uses his entertaining question-and-answer style to chart the history of the presidency itself as well as debunk the myths of America's leaders and tell the real stories of these very real people. Here's the young Lincoln building his mother's coffin and dragging a tragic burden through the snow to the burial; Theodore Roosevelt, America's youngest president, shockingly pushed into the presidency--with greatness thrust upon him; FDR, the only man elected four times, concealing his crippling disability from the American public as he led the nation through depression and world war; and Lyndon Johnson, reelected in a landslide, then crushed by the weight of the Vietnam War.For history buffs and history-phobes alike, this entertaining book is packed with memorable facts that will change your understanding of the highest office in the land and the men who have occupied it.

How much fun was life aboard the Mayflower?Did Pilgrims dance with Indians to Plymouth Rock?If there was no football to watch on TV, what did people do during the first Thanksgiving?Thanksgiving today is a time for families to say grace and gobble turkey. But why did the Pilgrims start this tradition? And who were these people anyway?Now you can discover a wealth of cool and astonishing facts about the Pilgrims. Did you know that they made the long ocean journey in a cramped boat, or that the friendly Indians helped the Pilgrims survive that first winter? Would you have liked being a child in Plymouth? You wouldn't have gone to school, but just read about the chores you would have done!Kenneth C. Davis delivers another outstanding picture book in the Don't Know Much About series. With his trademark question-and-answer format and S. D. Schindler's detailed artwork, you'll get an insider's view of the Pilgrims' life. It wasn't easy, but they helped make America what it is today. Now that is something to give thanks for!

Can you really catch a shooting star?Why is our galaxy called "the Milky Way"?Is Pluto just a comic-book character?The solar system is a big place with lots of big questions still to be answered. But now you can get a glimpse at what scientists know -- without even having to leave the planet! Find out about asteroids, meteoroids, and craters. Learn how to safely watch a solar eclipse. Discover what makes each planet special and why Earth stands apart from the others.Kenneth C. Davis dispels many myths about the vast beyond in Don't Know Much About® The Solar System. His question-and-answer format, accompanied by riddles and humorous illustrations, make learning about the solar system an out-of-this-world experience!

Why did Abraham Lincoln sneak into Washington for his inauguration? Was the Gettysburg Address written on the back of an envelope?Where did the Underground Railroad run? Can you answer these questions? If not, you're not alone! New York Times-bestselling author Kenneth C. Davis comes to the rescue, deftly sorting out the players, the politics, the key events -- Emancipation and Reconstruction, Shiloh and Gettysburg, Generals Grant and Lee, Harriet Beecher Stowe -- and providing little-known facts that will enthrall even learned Civil War buffs. Vivid, informative, and hugely entertaining, Don't Know Much About® the Civil War is the only book you'll ever need on "the war that never ended."

Was Columbus the first European in the Americas?Who was left standing at Custer's Last Stand? Were the Little Rock Nine a rock-and-roll band? It's true that in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But he didn't discover the New World. In fact, the new world we now call America wasn't very new at all. People had been coming to this land for thousands of years. And they haven't stopped yet.But most of us never learned the real story of America's past. And that's a shame. As best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis knows, history can be fun, fascinating, and memorable. When his don't know much about® history was published in 1990, it was a sensation. The book delivered a fresh new take on history with its wit, humor, and great stories. Davis now does for young people what his earlier book did for adults. In his trademark question-and-answer style peppered with fun facts and humorous illustrations, Davis proves that history is never boring. He introduces our ancestors who settled the East and expanded the West, as well as those who had been living here all along. Davis brings the drama and excitement of America's past and present vividly to life.

•Where did George go to college? (see page 20) •Why didn't he sign the Declaration of Independence? (see page 60) •Did everyone vote for him to be president of the United States? (see page 92) Best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis lays aside popular myth to unveil the true character of an avid farmer -- and our nation's first president. He weaves a smooth, flowing narrative into the trademark question-and-answer format of his popular Don't Know Much About® series, peppering this outstanding biography with informational sidebars and compelling quotes. Washington's life illuminates a glorious era in American history. Maps, reproductions from the period, and clever black-and-white illustrations by Rob Shepperson help re-create the flavor of these exciting times.

Which Texas leader cried, "Remember the Alamo"?Where in Kentucky can you find eyeless fish and blind beetles?What Minnesotan was so big that he used a pine tree to brush his beard?Every state boasts a special claim to fame -- whether for its rich history, natural splendor, advancement of the arts, or other unique contribution to American life. Check out what's said about the place you call home -- and learn surprising facts about the rest of the country.In this delightfully designed and illustrated book, Kenneth C. Davis's lively question-and-answer format gives you lots of fascinating information. You're guaranteed to impress parents, shock friends, and even stump teachers!

Do sleeping volcanoes snore? (see page 12)Is the Dead Sea dead? (see page 21)How icy is Iceland? (see page 78)Join best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis on an entertaining trek across the globe as he answers some big questions about the world in the amusing style that has won millions of readers.With fascinating anecdotes about the world's most unusual places and notable quotes from world travelers throughout history, Davis leads you to the longest river, coldest desert, tallest waterfall, most powerful volcanic eruption, and much more. Humorous illustrations and amazing stories make the "boring" facts of geography come to life as you read about Marco Polo's adventures in China and discover that people in Latin America speak Spanish and Portuguese -- not Latin at all!Kenneth C. Davis brings the verve of his popular best-seller Don't Know Much About® Geography to a new audience. He makes it fun to learn more about this incredible planet we call home.

Read by Oliver WymanApprox. 3 hours2 cassettesTake an entertaining trek around the globe with Kenneth C. Davis as he answers some intriguing questions in Don't Know Much About Planet Earth. With fascinating anecdotes about the world's most unusual places he shows readers the longest river, coldest desert, tallest waterfall, most powerful volcanic eruption-and much more.