Michael Caine presents a mix of "facts" that include "I've heard this fact far too often and I fear that in fact many people know that", "this sounds extremely dubious", "this is flat out wrong" and "mildly interesting".

"Not many people know that" reaches no great heights and really the only thing in its favour was that profits from the book went to charity, although even that is no longer relevant this many decades on from its publication. ( )

Not Many People Know That! is a charming collection of trivia; the gimmick being that this one was compiled by the legendary actor (and national treasure) Michael Caine. Written in 1984, it wasn't a cash-in (all the royalties went to a charity) and Caine has always been a likeable character. He writes a few short anecdotal and autobiographical segments in the book which are enjoyable, particularly his bit about meeting General Eisenhower whilst he was doing his National Service.

As the book is quite old, some of its facts are no doubt outdated (it was peculiar to read of Rudolf Hess spoken of in the present tense) and some others seem of dubious accuracy. In the odd one or two, the facts were so outlandish I thought that Caine might be pulling our collective leg. I don't even know where to start; there's dozens of Caine's assertions which I am just itching to Google to see if they're true.

In some ways, Not Many People Know That! isn't all that different from other trivia books (aside from its odd sprinkle of Michael Caine stardust). Some of the facts are trivia book staples - some true, others have probably been debunked. However, a lot of the facts are interesting and some really make you think, and you should finish this book remembering at least a dozen new facts to impress (or annoy) people at parties. Whilst trivia books are a dime a dozen these days, Caine's compilation doesn't deserve to be forgotten. It is amiable and enjoyable - a nice little gem. It's a shame that not many people know that. ( )