The first issue appeared when George Washington was president. Ever since, Americans have turned to The Old Farmer's Almanac for a yearly dollop of homespun wit, tried-and-true advice, amazing trivia, and, of course, remarkably accurate weather predictions. Editor Judson Hale has revisited two centuries' worth of back issues, and culled the most revealing, remarkable, entertaining, and irreverent articles, advertisements, and essays. The result is an enduring treasury of tips, cures, recipes, and curios -- and a fascinating, nostalgic journey through American folk history. Here's some of the unpredictable information you'll find in this first-ever Old Farmer's Almanac anthology: -- The lowdown on how a pig may have provoked the War of 1812. -- A fail-safe method for hypnotizing a lobster. Time-tested tips on how to find the perfect mate. A "sure-fire" remedy for the common cold. And much more, including the answer to that age-old question Which came first, the chicken or the egg? -- A report on the first case of artificial insemination by a bullet. Illustrated with more than three hundred cartoons, photographs, woodcuts, and movie stills, and leavened with intriguing historical sidelights -- including how Abraham Lincoln used the Almanac to free a wrongly accused murderer -- this one-of-a-kind collection is a book you'll dip into again and again whenever you need a lift, a laugh, or a bright idea. From the Trade Paperback edition.