Mental Floss

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From left: Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickson, Dolly Parton, Jimmy Buffett, and Gil Scott-Heron.

Jimmy Buffett—yeah, the “Margaritaville” guy—is one of just a few authors to have books that topped both the fiction and non-fiction ‘New York Times’ bestsellers lists. Other authors that have that distinction include Hemingway and Steinbeck.

Anastasia Rose Hyden
Elvis Presley, Josephine Baker, Joan Crawford, and James Brown.

Poignant, funny, sad, weird, or mean—last words can make quite the impact as we shuffle off the stage of life. Here are 65 notable examples.

Chris Higgins








They’re the only marsupials you're likely to find north of Mexico.

Opossums have a bad reputation, but they’re smarter and more beneficial to people than other woodland denizens. Discover more about these unique marsupials here.

Michele Debczak




The diners of the 1950s featured a sleek, space age design.

The history of diner dining, from their Lunch Wagon ancestors to those “We Are Happy to Serve You” take-out cups—and what the future might hold for these beloved establishments.

Sarah Lohman




Patrick Henry delivers his famous "give me liberty" speech.

He’s best remembered for saying “Give me liberty or give me death,” but did Henry actually utter those words?

Mark Mancini








Cats will try to eat just about anything.

Your cat's weird snacking habits may be related to compulsive behavior condition—or they might just like the crinkly sound.

Jennifer Billock
Geoffrey Chaucer.

'The Canterbury Tales' author Geoffrey Chaucer's work spanned poetry and prose and ranged from the humorous to the scientific—but there's so much more to know about the "father of English poetry."

V.M. Braganza
bluejayphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Here’s a brief history of Canada’s national day—which celebrates the joining of the three original provinces—and how you can celebrate.

Miss Cellania