Culture & entertainment
Discover facts about culture & entertainment. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Culture & entertainment
Self published writers buy expensive barcodes to operate
Writing a masterpiece is free, but selling it requires paying a monopoly. A private agency controls the distribution of ISBNs in the United States, forcing…
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Why publishers release hardcovers first
There is no structural reason a highly anticipated novel must be a heavy, expensive hardcover first. This staggered release strategy is completely borrowed…
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Crossword creators are paid surprisingly little
Crafting a perfectly symmetrical, culturally relevant crossword puzzle takes immense skill and hours of mental agony. Yet, the syndicates that publish these…
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Why American crossword grids are symmetrical
Creating a major newspaper crossword is a deeply restrictive architectural nightmare. American puzzle editors enforce a brutal rule where the grid of black…
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Some literary awards make money from hopeful writers
Many gold foil stickers adorning the covers of indie books do not represent meritocratic victory. A massive cottage industry exists entirely to host obscure…
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The publishing clause that makes authors pay for plagiarism
When authors sign a deal, they legally absorb all the liability. Hidden deep in standard publishing boilerplate is a terrifying indemnification clause stating…
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Why magazines lose money on subscriptions
That twelve-dollar annual magazine subscription barely covers the cost of postage. Print publications gleefully take a financial loss on sending you their…
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Why book spines point opposite ways across the Atlantic
Due to a complete lack of global standardization, reading a bookshelf is a geographical nightmare. In America, publishers print spine text to be read…
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Why cookbook recipes aren't always tested
Unless the author is a rigorous culinary professional, the gorgeous cookbook you just bought is full of culinary gambles. Publishing houses rarely hire…
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Mainstream self help books recycle the same basic concepts
The self-improvement publishing sector is incredibly lucrative, despite offering almost zero new information. Editors routinely push authors to take a single,…
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Why famous authors praise books they barely know
Those glowing quotes from famous authors on the front of new novels are rarely organic discoveries. The publishing ecosystem operates on a ruthless system of…
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The invisible writer behind celebrity novels
When a famous politician suddenly decides to write a political thriller, they are paired with a legendary, prolific thriller author. The cover features both…
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Why the same face appears on so many romance covers
The publishing industry has a surprisingly tiny roster of trusted cover models who perfectly encapsulate the desired muscular, brooding aesthetic. If you…
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Why fantasy readers skip the prologue
Authors of sprawling fantasy epics frequently spend agonizing weeks crafting deeply historical, lore-heavy prologues detailing the ancient origins of their…
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Literary fiction is a shelf, not a genre
Despite its reputation as the pinnacle of prose, literary fiction is not a true genre with defining structural elements. It is primarily a retail bucket…
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Why magazines keep the same cover font for decades
Brand recognition in print media is ruthlessly stagnant. Major fashion and lifestyle magazines rigidly refuse to update their core masthead typography,…
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Tom Cruise divorced all three wives at 33
It takes a very specific, deeply unsettling brand of coincidence to drop your spouses the exact moment they hit their Jesus year. Hollywood's premier…
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Klingon began as grunts and became a real language
You know you have a dedicated fanbase when they spend decades fluently speaking a language that started as an actor just making grunting noises on set. The…
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The Bond clause that banned Brosnan from wearing tuxedos
You know you have been typecast when even your wardrobe choices require a team of lawyers to review. When Pierce Brosnan signed on to play 007 in 1995's…
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Marvel once trademarked the word zombie
Capitalism truly peaks when a massive comic book conglomerate successfully claims ownership of the concept of the walking dead. Back in 1973, Marvel launched…
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Bagpipes require squeezing an air sack
Blowing into them is only half the exhausting battle. The player must manually squeeze a giant sack tucked under their arm to maintain a constant flow of air…
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Kalimba involves plucking tiny metal tines
Also known as the thumb piano, this instrument forces you to make music using the exact same motion you use to scroll on a smartphone. The metal tines vibrate…
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The instrument played with wet fingers
Nothing screams musical genius quite like violently rubbing wet glassware. This instrument consists of a series of glass bowls rotating on a spindle, and the…
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Sleight of hand conceals items in the palm
The grand secret to making a coin disappear is simply refusing to let go of it. Magicians aggressively pinch objects into the fleshy curve of their hand while…
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