Mental Floss

LISTS

Mia Goth in 'X.'

Though often dismissed as a bunch of movies about a crazy guy with a knife, there’s a sense of near-constant creativity at work within even the most low-budget, opportunistic slasher films.

Matthew Jackson


Seven years of bad luck would seem like a walk in the park to these people.

Grab your lucky rabbit’s foot and read up on the tales of some of the unluckiest people in history, from the man whose backyard became a battlefield (twice!) to an absurdly accident-prone instrument inventor and beyond.

Jason Serafino






Cuteness incoming!

It’s impossible to resist the fox-like charm of the Samoyed. Learn more about these fluffy dogs and their history in the tundra.

Rebecca OConnell
These creative gifts can help the artist in your life discover more ways to put their skills to use.

Whether they’re a rising star or a seasoned pro, the tattoo artist in your life will appreciate these creative gifts.

Michele Debczak






A self-portrait of Junji Ito with a cat.

From his first encounters with manga to his diverse range of artistic influences, here are a few things you might not know about the reigning king of horror manga.  

April Snellings










Clockwise from left: Kazuo Ishiguro, Toni Morrison, Gabriel García Márquez, and Nadine Gordimer.

The Swedish Academy has been awarding Nobel Prizes in Literature since 1901; here are a few laureates whose books you might want to consider picking up.

Erin McCarthy
Cleopatra in a 1930s illustration

The queen has achieved legendary status more than two millennia after her death—which, contrary to rumor, may not have been caused by the bite of an asp.

Stacy Conradt