In Review

04 December 2008 03:53 BST

Albert Jack: That's B-ll-cks

Published by Penguin, October 4th, paperback, 299 Pages, £6.99.

In a nutshell...

Urban legends, myths, conspiracy theories and old wives tales

What's it all about?

That's B*ll*cks is a collection of worldwide urban legends and conspiracy theories that have over time become part of our culture and, in some instances, our history. Are they based on facts or are they simply myths based on from one person to the next and where on earth did they originate? These are the questions Jack tries to answer as he compiles this extensive collection. Everyone has heard tales such as the one about Jack Nicholson's sister actually being his mother or Walt Disney being cryogenically frozen at Disneyland and Coca Cola owning Santa Claus, but are they actually true, is there any proof? Whilst Jack manages to discover the answers to some of the tales, others appear to be destined to be urban myths forever.

Who's it by?

Albert Jack has previously written Red Herrings and White Elephants and Shaggy Dogs and Black Sheep. Both books ran as long-tern serials in the Sunday Times and the Sunday Telegraph respectively.

As an example...

"Each of us could have been as unfortunate or as stupid as the character in the story, and that is one of the reasons we all enjoy urban legends so much: that the misfortune involved didn't happen to us but to somebody else. And that makes us laugh" - Page 1.

Likelihood of becoming a Hollywood blockbuster

The book won't find its way onto many bestsellers lists but it may well find its way into many people's bathrooms and coffee tables. It will also no doubt prove an intriguing little stocking filler come Christmas.

What the others say

"Separates fact from fiction and tells a few tall tales along the way" - Metro

"The strangest, sickest, funnies and most unforgettable tales" - Daily Sport

So is it any good?

This entertaining little book does exactly what it sets out to. It never pretends to be anything other than a simple collection of well known stories. Jack never claims that he will prove them all definitively true or false and that in a sense is the joy of the book. The reader is left to decide for themselves which to believe and which to dismiss as nonsense. Where Jack does step in to dispel rumour or recall the actual turn of events it is insightful and well researched.

The book proves an easy, entertaining and witty read. It also becomes a brilliant conversational tool, armed with just a few of these tales you will suddenly become a fountain of knowledge and the toast of any dinner party. A great idea very well executed, bring on volume two.

8/10

Richard James