more knowledge

[tdvit]

do you ever get the feeling sometimes when in conversation about general stuff about other countries/religions etc that you dont know as much as you'd like.... well does anyone know a good book to read that would give someone a better general knowledge about things? I didnt know what part of the site to post this so sorry if I am wasting anyones time... tdvit

[treaclefight]

not wasting anyone's time at all, this is something ive felt too. i've certainly lived a full and tough life, well educated (eventually) but i havent had the opportunity to travel. my experience of people tells me that we're all experts on our own very small fields of experience and that we all assume that everyone else knows more than us, but if you feel you really are lacking knowledge about the rest of the world, then i recommend reading the world news in a broadsheet newspaper whenever possible and talking to people about what you've read, the feedback you get will give you even more information. i cant think of a book that would give enough broad information about the rest of the world without being over simplistic or being dated. maybe other answerers can help there.... :-)

[answerbok]

C.I.A. World factbook has info on every country; http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

[hal]

I think everybody feels like this. Homo sapiens is by nature curious and because the world is such an endlessly complex place our curiosity is endless. This is a good thing. Aquiring information and knowledge by direct experience is the best way of all, but there is just too much to know to be able to gain good all round general knowledge. Treaclefights advice is excellent - reading and talking to others is a good way to aquire knowledge - and what you are doing in this process is sharing and pooling your experience with others. There are lots of sources of information about specific areas, issues and topics - and answerbok has identified one. No doubt others will also.

[woofgang]

tdvit, you have identified one of the great advantages of sentience. There is always more to learn about everything. Please don't feel bad about feeling you don't know enough (of course, you may not, its just your poSting seemed a bit wistful). Please do enjoy the learning

[bluedolphin]

Find a quality daily broadsheet, buy a World Almanac, a good dictionary. bugdet your time, read the whole paper everyday for a couple of months, use the World Almanac for further indepth info on countries, start a word book, lookup the dictionary when in doubt. Within a couple of months you should be red hot .......but don't become a mr.knowitall down the pub eh! coz not many people learn much when they are doing all the talking.

[rekstout]

I have a large white paperback book called "Passing Time in the Loo" which is excellent, world facts and figures trivia, quotes, 2 pages explanations of sports, politics, biographies and synopses of most of the classic works of literature. Well worth a look and the paper is very soft which is a boon in emergencies ;-)

[omblod]

A good general knowledge isn't gained by reading specific books but rather by always being receptive to knowledge. It's amazing how many sources of knowledge are available these days; broadsheets (as Teaclefight suggests), the internet, TV and radio, etc. Knowledge in itself is useless without application. You'll find that many of the people, in whose company you feel inadequate, are simply repeating facts and figures learned by rote. Anybody can do this but it's of no great virtue. Cultivate your curiosity; always look up that word you don't know the meaning of. Always locate that placename on the map. Never pretend to know something you don't and never be afraid to simply ask someone who does (you'll always know something they don't.) Try typing subjects of interest into a search engine such as Google and reading the resulting articles as far as they interest you - you'll find it difficult to learn or remember anything that doesn't interest you. Of course, if you've any specific queries, you can always return to Answerbank, where, as you've seen, there are always plenty of people very happy to help you out. Good luck!

[Malandro]

The Journalist / writer Bill Bryson has just written a book regarding all those things about everything he didn't know from the creation of the universe to pretty much anything else that you might think about. He says he started writting because he realised just how little he knew - don't know if you were speaking about geography / politics specifically but it does do it in a light hearted but informative way.

[Champagne]

Definitely a broadsheet newspaper. Read on a daily basis and you will be kept up to date with current events. Also, don't ignore the supplements as these tend to cover the Humanities subjects (history, art, religion, music etc.). This will broaden your genernal knowledge. For more specific learning you'll need to go back to school!!

[Roxy]

yes broadshets are a definate yes, but try Schotts original miscellany