Mental Floss

LISTS

Criteria include ingenuity, staying power, the puzzles’ effect on history—and whether they gave the author a good kind of headache or bad kind of headache.

A.J. Jacobs






Though much of Charlotte Brontë's life was marked by tragedy, she wrote novels and poems that found great success in her lifetime and are still popular nearly 200 years later.

Suzanne Raga


The past was a stinky place to be.

The nostrils of our ancestors were constantly assaulted by unimaginable odors. Here are six reasons that you should be happy you and your nose in modern times. 

A.J. Jacobs






Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn in 'Better Call Saul.'

'Better Call Saul' is preparing to go off to that great big Cinnabon in the sky, and fans of the series have a lot of questions—and some truly bizarre theories about how it will all end.

Kristin Hunt


These fun facts will spice up your Tax Day.

Why does Tax Day fall on April 15? How much time do we spend doing our taxes? And which world leader taxed beards? Read on for answers to those questions and other fun facts about taxes.

Stacy Conradt
This L is going to da Loop.

Admitting you don’t know the meaning behind any of Chicago’s long-standing slang terms is akin to slathering your hot dog with ketchup.

Kate Schweitzer


Learn more about the traditions behind Passover.

The festival of Passover (or Pesach) commemorates the story of the Jews' escape from Egypt—and is one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar.

Austin Thompson


A Russian beard tax token.

History is full of kings and governments who have tried to earn money by taxing anything from beards to bachelors.

Tony Dunnell




Bob Odenkirk stars in 'Better Call Saul.'

Bob Odenkirk is best known for playing ethically-malleable lawyer Saul Goodman, but he has enjoyed a decades-long career as a versatile writer and performer.

Jake Rossen