Letters From Mr. J B Fact Finder

A Weekly Letter on History Trivia

Non-Fiction - Education
120 Pages
Reviewed on 03/03/2024
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

In Letters from Mr. J B Fact Finder: A Weekly Letter on History Trivia by Joe W. Boyd, the titular Mr. Fact Finder taps into facts through a letter format. He explores a wide range of topics, from historical figures like Levi Strauss and Milton S. Hershey to the origins of products such as Bic pens and Oreo cookies. He covers pivotal events like the completion of the transcontinental railroad and the Great Depression's impact on industries. Additionally, he discusses cultural phenomena like "The Sound of Music" and "The Wizard of Oz" and American traditions and holidays such as Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. He shares nuggets of facts about notable individuals like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, as well as entertaining trivia spanning odd laws, burial practices, classical music composers, horse racing, and toys, offering a comprehensive exploration of diverse subjects and historical milestones.

Joe W. Boyd uses an accessible creative approach to conveying facts in Letters from Mr. J B Fact Finder, which helps break down the topics into bite-sized pieces. Boyd employs a straightforward conversational writing style, making it easy for readers to understand the information presented. Some of the references may seem outdated to contemporary youth with inclusions like "Gone with the Wind" and the space dog Laika likely to draw warranted scrutiny, but there is no doubt that the book will evoke some good nostalgia for those of us “of a certain age.” Out of all the topics covered, the historical insight into the American company Kodak emerged as a standout to me as memories resurfaced of dropping rolls of film off at the drug store to be developed. I also remember Kodak stores, which elicited a laugh between myself and my sister. Overall, Boyd provides a well-written, thoughtful, and fun little romp through time. Recommended.

Luwi Nyakansaila

Letters From Mr. J B Fact Finder by Joe W Boyd is a compilation of fascinating facts on various topics. The facts are presented in letter form accompanied by bullet points. The author talks about renowned movies such as The Sound of Music, Gone With The Wind, and The Wizard of Oz, providing information behind the scenes. He also discusses holidays such as Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, Christmas, and New Year, along with unusual facts like how peanuts are associated with many holidays. The author covers an array of topics like pets, racehorses, popular franchises, breakfast cereals, and famous inventions. Joe also narrates stories about popular musicians, significant historical events, and silly state laws that do not make sense.

Letters From Mr. J B Fact Finder is a captivating book that aims to inform and entertain readers. Topics also include fashion, sports, politics, music, and technology. Joe W Boyd does not just provide surface-level information that is easy to find. Instead, he delves deeper and uncovers little-known facts that are sure to capture readers' attention, like how Norwegian scientists have determined that Rudolph's red nose is likely the result of a respiratory infection and Mozart was locked in his room to prove that he was truly the one composing his music and not his father. The casual tone and engaging dialogue make this an enjoyable and easy read. I found myself engrossed in the pages and did not want it to end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves learning interesting trivia about a wide range of topics.

Philip Van Heusen

If you love history, you will love Letters from Mr. J B Fact Finder: A Weekly Letter on History Trivia by Joe W Boyd. Even if you don’t love history but enjoy trivia, this book will be one of the most delightful reads you will ever enjoy. Each chapter reveals fascinating trivia about various subjects, including the Olympics, Levi Strauss, strange laws, the Hershey Company, ball-point pens, Tupperware, Mt. Vernon, and many more. Do you know what the companies started by Post, Kellogg, and Ford all have in common? After you read this book, you will know the answer and more trivia. Joe covers a wide variety of historical events and gives trivia you probably won’t find anywhere else. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope Joe W Boyd will write many more. I wish he had a website where he posted “weekly” letters.

In Letters from Mr. J B Fact Finder, Joe W Boyd shares a huge number of trivia facts. His writing style is engaging and fun. Reading this book is almost like sitting next to a trivia genius, listening as he shares his great knowledge. Some believe trivia is a waste of time; however, this book and all the trivia will provide hours of enjoyment and entertainment. Joe links some trivia to other events or people in history. For instance, did you know that Beethoven took music lessons from Mozart? Not only does Joe share trivia, but he sometimes gives a humorous commentary on the facts. This book will delight you and become a go-to for information many don’t know. I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy history or trivia.

Courtnee Turner Hoyle

In Letters From Mr. J B Fact Finder, Joe W Boyd compiles information and presents this to readers as letters. The author explores odd and surprising laws, as well as touching on certain information about some of the early United States presidents. Boyd discusses the origins of particular words, holidays, and phrases, detailing the reason a person would "wear their heart on their sleeve" and the original color associated with St. Patrick's Day. He leads his readers through the discovery of certain foods and explains little-known facts about movies, like Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Boyd mentions past giants in the car industry and provides knowledge about the Pony Express and the Empire State Building.

Joe W Boyd has definitely done his research, going much further than many may expect and making connections to other related subjects. Boyd provides so many gems that you'll be wowing your friends with fascinating tidbits for hours! In addition to little-known facts, the author provides his own insights and humorous twists on the content. Each chapter has a witty title and a brief text that readers can read in a short time frame. Whether you read the book all at once or enjoy it by chapter, the material will stay with you. Every time you hear something related to one of the topics in the book, you can carry your conversations much further with the information from Boyd's book. Letters From Mr. J B Fact Finder is a great selection for readers who enjoy trivia and interesting facts about history and laws.

Edith Wairimu

Organized in the form of brief letters, the educative and humorous work, Letters from Mr. J B Fact Finder: A Weekly Letter on History Trivia by Joe W Boyd, explores intriguing historical events and notable people’s backgrounds in a fun and engaging way. In the first letter, Boyd writes about the story of Levi Strauss, a man whose impact on the fashion industry is still felt today. He documents the history of computers and covers when popular food items in America were first made. The histories of major companies such as Kodak and Ford are also included. The letters explain when popular holidays were first observed, including Thanksgiving and Labor Day, and offer interesting content about famous movies, people, and many more aspects of American culture and history.

Boyd writes in a conversational tone that is captivating. I liked that the content is offered in the form of letters, a unique and brilliant way of exploring historical events and characters. I loved that the information was laced with humor and the letters were concise. Boyd writes in an accessible way that can be understood by a wide range of readers including younger audiences. The content is comprehensive as it involves various elements of American history and includes many surprising, lesser-known facts that are part of American culture today. Letters from Mr. J B Fact Finder by Joe W Boyd is an informative collection of historical facts that readers will love. It is funny, eye-opening, and written in an appealing style.