Do Fish Drink Water?

Do Fish Drink Water? is a collection of questions and answers compiled by Bill McLain during his time as Xerox Corporation's official webmaster and chief question-answerer. The book addresses hundreds of queries sent in by curious people around the world. McLain tackles topics ranging from everyday mysteries to obscure historical facts, providing researched explanations for phenomena both mundane and extraordinary. The questions span categories including science, history, language, culture, and human behavior. The organization follows a Q&A format, with each short chapter presenting a question followed by McLain's investigation and answer. Sources and references support the explanations, while maintaining an accessible reading level. The book reflects humanity's enduring drive to understand the world around us, demonstrating how simple questions can lead to unexpected discoveries about nature, society, and human knowledge. Through straightforward explanations of complex topics, it provides a gateway to scientific and cultural understanding.

Readers describe this as a fun collection of trivia and answers to unusual questions, though many note it lacks depth and scientific rigor. Readers appreciated: - Clear, conversational writing style - Mix of serious and humorous questions - Interesting historical facts and etymologies - Good bathroom reading material - Useful for starting conversations Common criticisms: - Answers often too brief or superficial - Some explanations outdated or inaccurate - Too much focus on American topics - Writing can be repetitive - Index poorly organized One reader noted: "It's like reading someone's internet search results - interesting but not authoritative." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (120+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (90+ ratings) Most reviewers categorize it as light entertainment rather than a reference book, with one calling it "perfect for reading in short bursts but not meant to be taken too seriously."

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🐟 Despite its playful title, the book actually covers over 200 diverse questions, ranging from why dogs have wet noses to why people say "God bless you" after a sneeze. 🌐 Bill McLain gathered these questions during his time as Xerox Corporation's webmaster, where he became known for answering curious employee questions that went far beyond technical support. 💡 The title question is answered in the book: saltwater fish do drink water to maintain their body's salt balance, while freshwater fish don't need to drink because they absorb water through their gills. 📚 The book spawned a sequel called "What Makes Flamingos Pink?" which continues the question-and-answer format with new curiosities from McLain's collection. ✉️ Many of the questions in the book came from actual emails McLain received - he estimates he answered over 100,000 questions during his tenure at Xerox.