
Latest Articles

8 Haunted House Books That’ll Keep You Up at Night
From "The Haunting of Hill House" to "The Shining," these books feature some of the most terrifying haunted houses in fiction.




Quizzes





Weekly Spotlight

The Mental Floss Newsletter
A little smarter, a little weirder, and way more fun than the average email.
Entertainment
Reader Favorites
More Stories

Why Jane Austen's First Novel Was Credited Only to "A Lady"
Discover why Jane Austen’s first novel, "Sense and Sensibility," was published as "By a Lady" and why she remained anonymous throughout her lifetime.
The Spiritual Meaning of Angel Number 838
This number is said to be a great sign, especially if you're an artist or creative. Learn more about the meaning of angel number 838.
The Real Christopher Robin Had a Complicated Relationship With Winnie-the-Pooh
Christopher Robin was based on A.A. Milne’s real son—and growing up as the face of Winnie-the-Pooh wasn't always a Hundred Acre fairy tale.
The Real Pet Cemetery That Inspired Stephen King’s Most Personal Horror Novel
Stephen King has called Pet Sematary his most disturbing novel, and it holds that title due to the real events in his life that inspired it.
The 25 Biggest Stars of the ‘70s: Where They Are Now
From Hollywood icons to TV favorites, here's what the biggest stars of the 1970s are up to today.
6 Songs You May Not Know Paul Simon Wrote
Paul Simon penned a number of tracks that became hits for other artists.
6 Sounds That Defined October in the 1990s
The leaves and the dial-up modem got the credit, but spooky season of the ‘90s had a louder soundtrack.
9 Vampire Books to Sink Your Teeth Into
From 'Dracula' to Stephen King classics, these vampire books have more bite than sparkle.
The ‘Monster Mash’ Christmas Song You Probably Didn’t Know Existed
You can mash… you can "Monster Mash"… but can you “Monster Holiday”?
Stephen King's Daily Routine
The master of the terrifying and unpredictable has a rather reliable daily schedule. Here's the daily schedule Stephen King follows, as well as his advice for writing.
Quiz: We Bet You Can’t Finish These Halloween Song Lyrics
Think you know every single Halloween song out there? Can you finish each of these eight lyrics?
The Guitar Solo Queen's Brian May Considers His Favorite
'It was quite a step into the unknown, that solo...'
The Strange Dream That Gave Stephen King the Idea for 'Misery'
Discover how a strange dream on a transatlantic flight inspired Stephen King to write 'Misery,' leading to one of his iconic psychological thrillers.
6 Things That Made Fall Different Before Smartphones
From film cameras to playing outside until the sun went down, these six activities characterized autumn in the era before smartphones.
All 12 Zodiac Signs Ranked From Most to Least Lucky
Is your zodiac sign one of the luckiest, or does it rank among the least fortunate?
Quiz: Can You Match the Monster to Its Wikipedia Description?
How well do you know the Blob from the Thing, and the Minotaur from Michael Myers? See if you can match the monster to its Wikipedia description with this spooky quiz.
The Best—And Worst—States for Work-Life Balance, Mapped
Discover the best and worst U.S. states for work-life balance, based on minimum wage, required PTO, sick leave, and average hours worked.
6 Beloved Children's Books That Will Make You Nostalgic For Fall
These middle-grade reads will bring you back to bygone Octobers.
The Beatles Recorded Their First Single With Three Different Drummers
Discover the story behind "Love Me Do," which The Beatles recorded three times in 1962 with three different drummers: Pete Best, Ringo Starr, and Andy White.



































