Mental Floss

LISTS

Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller had a turbulent marriage.

For famous writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, turbulent real-life relationships rivaled the dramas that played out on the page.

Shannon McKenna Schmidt, Joni Rendon




Poe's poem “The Raven” has inspired many a creative thinker since it was first published in 1845, so in honor of what would have been his 205th birthday yesterday, here are a few renditions of the chilling classic.

Stacy Conradt


YouTube

Lebowski ​isn't just a comedy about the misadventures of a lovable stoner—the movie uses sophisticated words and concepts for some intellectual humor. Use any of these 10 words in casual conversation, and you can hold your head up high.

College Weekend


ThinkStock

Classical music seems to have a reputation for being straight-laced, stuffy, and obsessed with rules. But over the centuries, hundreds of composers have tested the boundaries of musical expression in strange and unique ways. Here are ten prime examples.

College Weekend
Getty Images

Russell Johnson, the actor who portrayed Professor Roy Hinkley on Gilligan's Island, passed away on January 16 at the age of 89. In honor of the man who will forever live on in pop culture history as the person we'd most like to get trapped on a desert is

Stacy Conradt








ThinkStock

Some creators say a work of art is never finished, merely abandoned. Others would point out that seriously, these aren’t finished.

Editorial Staff
Jason Wallis

John Green’s led a remarkable life, and he’s never shied away from offering advice to aspiring scribes and storytellers of all ages. Here are 14 of his best pointers.

Mark Mancini
Wikimedia Commons

This week the Chicago Cubs unveiled a new mascot, Clark. While the Cubs described him as "a young, friendly Cub who can’t wait to interact with our other young Cubs fans," the Internet focused on his lack of pants. But give Clark a break! Unlike these mas

Mark Mancini


BookofJoe.com

Western cultures often frown on the practice of eating insects of any sort. But for reasons ranging from health and wellness to eco-friendliness, foodies the world over have tried punching up everyday dishes with creepy-crawly ingredients. Hey, at least t

Mark Mancini






Thanks to the miracle of concept art and screen tests, there’s an alternate dimension of blockbusters where Nic Cage was Superman, Jeremy Sisto has Leonardo DiCaprio’s career, and a Sam Kinison biopic dominated the box office.

Kate Erbland