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{{tropework}}
{{quote|''"All of the historical oddities and amazing true facts contained herein are lies, made up by me -- and it is this astonishing innovation that allows each entry to contain more truths than if it were merely factual... Truth may be stranger than fiction, goes the old saw, but it is never as strange as lies, or for that matter, as true. Proof of which maxim is the fact that I just made it up."''|from the audiobook introduction}}
 
Short for:<br />''An Almanac of Complete World Knowledge Compiled with Instructive Annotation and Arranged in Useful Order by Me, John Hodgman, a Professional Writer, in '''[[Title Drop|the Areas of My Expertise]]''', which Include: Matters Historical; Matters Literary; Matters Cryptozoological; Hobo Matters; Food, Drink, & Cheese (a Kind of Food); Squirrels & Lobsters & Eels; Haircuts; Utopia; What Will Happen in the Future; and Most Other Subjects; Illustrated with a Reasonable Number of Tables and Figures, and Featuring the Best of "Were You Aware of It?", John Hodgman's Long-Running Newspaper Novelty Column of Strange Facts and Oddities of the Bizarre''.
 
As the name implies, it is a book of trivia written by John Hodgman, better known as [[Mascot|a PC]], and as ''[[The Daily Show]]'''s "Resident Expert". Every single fact in it is a lie ... or is it?
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The first in the ''[[Complete World Knowledge]]'' trilogy, followed by ''[[More Information Than You Require]]'' and ''[[That Is All]]''.
 
----
==={{tropelist|''The ThisAreas bookof My Expertise'' provides examples (of, and parodies), of:the ===following tropes:}}
* [[Alien Geometries]]: One house with a 666 phone number is described as having no right angles.
* [[Ancient Conspiracy]]: Subverted: The Skulls and Bones are said to have failed in their bid for world domination, and now spend all their time masturbating and tending to the pterodactyls on their private island. The Masonic symbols allegedly hidden in Washington DC's architecture are also parodied.
* [[Attack of the Killer Whatever]]: [[Discussed Trope|Discussed]].
* [[Beware of Hitch -Hiking Ghosts]]
* [[Brian Blessed]]:In the BBC adaptation, in the role of "Old John Hodgman, After He Accidentally Becomes British".
* [[Bunny Ears Lawyer]]: "Idiosyncrasies of the Great Detectives", parodying:
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** [[Nero Wolfe]]
** [[Miss Marple]]
** [[Brother Cadfael (Literature)|Brother Cadfael]]
** [[Kid Detective|Kid Detectives]] in general
* [[Call a Rabbit Aa Smeerp]]: There was a species of otter called a "lobster", now driven to extinction by the New Lobsters. There's also a joke about how during the 1920s, when "gorilla" was a slang term for tough guy, the term for an actual gorilla was "mega-chimp"
* [[The Con]]
** One of which involves impersonating a [[Ninja]], and requires, as part of the con, the summoning of [[Mons]].
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* [[Creepy Child]]: The Virtuous Child, Child Prodigies.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: "You know what?" I say. "Fuck you."
* [[Exactly What It Says Onon the Tin]]
* [[Flanderization]]: [[The Several States|Our 51 United States]].
** [[The Big Easy]]
** [[Down Onon the Farm]]
** [[Everything Is Big in Texas]]
** [[Hollywood New England]]
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** [[The Windy City]]: Hodgman claims Chicago is only a myth.
* [[The Great Depression]]: What You Did Not Know About Hoboes.
* [[Historical in In-Joke]]: Loads.
* [[Homage]]:
** The mountains of Colorado (state nickname: [[The Lord of the Rings|The Dwarrowdelf]]) are described as "large and fairly [[The Lord of the Rings|Balrog]]-free".
** When describing the correct manner of raising rabbits, Hodgman describes the phenomenon of [[Watership Down|El-Ahrairah worship]]
** When building a snow fort, "watch out for [[Star Wars|wampas]]."
** Repeated references to ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'', including using a picture of Cybermen for "typical cyborg mischief".
** Repeated references to the ''[[Evil Dead]]'' series, such as the claim that George W. Bush has a [[Chainsaw Good|chainsaw]] for [[Arm Cannon|a hand]]. John Hodgman was Bruce Campbell's literary agent, and Campbell is listed as an expert consulted on the subject of fake blood [likely not a joke].
* [[Joisey]]: Listed as the "Too-easy-to-Mock State".
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* [[Planet of Steves]]: The ringtail cats, who, by a curious coincidence, are all named John McCain.
* [[The Roaring Twenties]]
* [[Running Gag]]: [[Our Werewolves Are Different|The different varieties of werewolf]], [[A Date Withwith Rosie Palms|masturbation]], eels, zeppelins, cheese, [[Hair Tropes|haircuts/facial hair]], distrust for people who use pseudonyms, Henry David Thoreau, giant Brazilian monkeys, Alexander Graham Bell, Yale University, crabs and lobsters (although the term "lobster" originally referred to a type of sea otter), the non-existence of Chicago, getting either [[Intoxication Ensues|"very high or very autistic"]], common flammable gels, Percoset, and, of course, the hoboes.
* [[Shout -Out]]: "The Amazing Duo of [[They Might Be Giants|Flansburgh]] and Goldwasser", Bruce Campbell, "[[Elf Quest|Skywise the Sexual Elf"]].
* [[Shown Their Work]]: Ironically enough.
* [[Serious Business]]: "If you wish for sports information, might I kindly refer you to every other aspect of our culture?"
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* [[You Can Panic Now]]: One minor character is afraid that terrorists will attack the Mall of America.
----
=== Hodgman also gives us The Fifty-Five Dramatic Situations: ===▼
 
▲=== {{examples|Hodgman also gives us The Fifty-Five Dramatic Situations: ===}}
|| border=1
 
|| '''Man/Woman v. Man/Woman''' || '''Man/Woman v. Nature''' || '''Man/Woman v. Society''' || '''Man/Woman v. Him-/Herself''' || '''Man/Woman v. Cyborgs''' ||▼
{| class="wikitable"
|| Boy vs. Girl || Mountains thwart progress || [[The Drifter|A stranger]] comes to town || Triumph over ennui || [[Terminator|Threat of cyborgs from the future]] ||▼
 
|| [[Older and Wiser|Cop]] v. Rookie || [[Turned Against Their Masters|Zoo animals attack zookeepers]] || A town springs up magically around a stranger || [[Why Did It Have to Be Snakes|Success thwarted by phobia]] || [[Robot War|Threat of present-day cyborgs]] ||▼
|-
|| [[Umineko no Naku Koro Ni|Magicians v. Detectives]] || [[Attack of the Killer Whatever|All animals attack all humans]] || [[The New Rock and Roll|Society persecutes inventor of revolutionary fabric or vehicle]] || [[Betty and Veronica|Hero must choose between excellent sexual partner and stable companion]] || [[Steampunk|Return of Civil War-era cyborgs that are powered by steam]] ||▼
▲|| '''Man/Woman v. Man/Woman''' || '''Man/Woman v. Nature''' || '''Man/Woman v. Society''' || '''Man/Woman v. Him-/Herself''' || '''Man/Woman v. Cyborgs''' ||
|| [[Save Our Students|Teacher v. Unruly class; both learn lessons]] || [[Do Not Touch the Funnel Cloud|Hunted by tornadoes]] || Self-satisfied loner flouts irrational laws, reveals [[Strawman Political|absurdity of society]], congratulates self || [[Amnesiac Dissonance|Past life reasserts itself]] || [[Enemy Within|Cyborg fights the man within]] ||▼
|-
|| [[Les Misérables|Pursuit throughout life]] by [[Inspector Javert|a French constable whose determination exceeds his reason]] || [[Convection Schmonvection|Volcanoes come to town]] || [[Torches and Pitchforks|Hero is chased by townspeople bearing torches]] || [[Divide and Conquer|Hero wonders if closest friend is actually his archenemy, then lives in fear]] || [[I Know You Are in There Somewhere Fight|Man seeks control of his own cybernetic brain]] || ▼
▲|| Boy vs. Girl || Mountains thwart progress || [[The Drifter|A stranger]] comes to town || Triumph over ennui || [[Terminator|Threat of cyborgs from the future]] ||
|| [[Country Mouse]] v. [[City Mouse]] || One partially blinded by bear seeks [[Revenge]] || [[Stylistic Self Parody|Person living in two-dimensional world]] encourages [[Conspicuous CG|embrace of third dimension]] [[Flatland|and is shunned]] || [[The Grotesque|A horrible physical deformity is overcome]], only to be revealed that [[All Just a Dream|it is all in the protagonist's imagination]] || [[Only Sane Man|Only the hero can see the cyborgs]] who [[Conspiracy Kitchen Sink|secretly run our government and media]] || ▼
|-
|| [[Cranky Neighbor|Devil worshippers]] v. [[Odd Couple|Apartment dwellers]] || [[Journey to Find Oneself|Wilderness becomes crucible in which asthmatic learns to grow a beard]] || Conscience prevents acceptance of [[Soylent Green]] || [[Animal Nemesis|One partially blinded by bear overcomes need for revenge]] || [[Et Tu Brute|Family discovers pet to be cyborg]] || ▼
▲|| [[Older and Wiser|Cop]] v. Rookie || [[Turned Against Their Masters|Zoo animals attack zookeepers]] || A town springs up magically around a stranger || [[Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?|Success thwarted by phobia]] || [[Robot War|Threat of present-day cyborgs]] ||
|| [[Foe Yay|Rivals in business become partners in bed]] || [[Failure Is the Only Option|The ocean arrives to put an end to well-laid plans]] || True talent [[Straw Critic|overlooked]] in favour of kiss-asses || [[Enemy Within|Struggle to overcome]] the effects of [[Brainwashed|brainwashing/hypnosis]] || Young, handsome [[Cybernetics Eat Your Soul|cyborg Army officer kills his own family]], [[You Can Panic Now|blames hippies]] || ▼
|-
|| Former lovers who are [[Adventurer Archaeologist|archeologists]] seek same [[Public Domain Artifact|ancient curio]] || [[The Determinator|Petty jealousy inspires tireless pursuit]] of [[Moby Dick|whale]] || [[Cloning Blues|New numbering system for clones proves problematic for non-clones]] || [[All Just a Dream|Everything turns out to be a dream]] || Man creates cyborg who wishes [[Become a Real Boy|to become a real boy]] || ▼
▲|| [[Umineko no Naku Koro Nini|Magicians v. Detectives]] || [[Attack of the Killer Whatever|All animals attack all humans]] || [[The New Rock and Roll|Society persecutes inventor of revolutionary fabric or vehicle]] || [[Betty and Veronica|Hero must choose between excellent sexual partner and stable companion]] || [[Steampunk|Return of Civil War-era cyborgs that are powered by steam]] ||
|| Evil cousins thwart romance || [[Big Friendly Dog|Saint Bernards]] come first as rescuers, [[The Mole|then reveal themselves as enemies]] || [[Star Crossed Lovers|Shark loves Jet]] (also can be [[Interspecies Romance|Man v. Nature]] or [[Crack Pairing|Nature v. Technology]]) || [[Helping Hands|Body part is severed, gains mind of its own: Watch out]] || [[Turned Against Their Masters|Cyborg servants turn on master]] || ▼
|-
|| Professional debunker v. Popular spoon-bending psychic || [[Reptiles Are Abhorrent|Snakes lie in wait]] || Child [[Raised By Wolves|raised by Saint Bernard assassins]] seeks [[The Atoner|acceptance and forgiveness of human society]] || [[Who Dunnit to Me|Hero in coma seeks to solve own murder]], discovers [[The Killer in Me|culprit is himself]] || Cyborgs seek fortune on Broadway, settle for bartending gig, [[Almighty Janitor|and learn much about human life]] ||▼
▲|| [[Save Our Students|Teacher v. Unruly class; both learn lessons]] || [[Do Not Touch the Funnel Cloud|Hunted by tornadoes]] || Self-satisfied loner flouts irrational laws, reveals [[Strawman Political|absurdity of society]], congratulates self || [[Amnesiac Dissonance|Past life reasserts itself]] || [[Enemy Within|Cyborg fights the man within]] ||
|-
▲|| [[Les Misérables|Pursuit throughout life]] by [[Inspector Javert|a French constable whose determination exceeds his reason]] || [[Convection, Schmonvection|Volcanoes come to town]] || [[Torches and Pitchforks|Hero is chased by townspeople bearing torches]] || [[Divide and Conquer|Hero wonders if closest friend is actually his archenemy, then lives in fear]] || [["I Know You Are're in There Somewhere" Fight|Man seeks control of his own cybernetic brain]] ||
|-
▲|| [[Country Mouse]] v. [[City Mouse]] || One partially blinded by bear seeks [[Revenge]] || [[Stylistic Self Parody|Person living in two-dimensional world]] encourages [[Conspicuous CG|embrace of third dimension]] [[Flatland|and is shunned]] || [[The Grotesque|A horrible physical deformity is overcome]], only to be revealed that [[All Just a Dream|it is all in the protagonist's imagination]] || [[Only Sane Man|Only the hero can see the cyborgs]] who [[Conspiracy Kitchen Sink|secretly run our government and media]] ||
|-
▲|| [[Cranky Neighbor|Devil worshippers]] v. [[Odd Couple|Apartment dwellers]] || [[Journey to Find Oneself|Wilderness becomes crucible in which asthmatic learns to grow a beard]] || Conscience prevents acceptance of [[Soylent Green]] || [[Animal Nemesis|One partially blinded by bear overcomes need for revenge]] || [[Et Tu, Brute?|Family discovers pet to be cyborg]] ||
|-
▲|| [[Foe Yay|Rivals in business become partners in bed]] || [[Failure Is the Only Option|The ocean arrives to put an end to well-laid plans]] || True talent [[Straw Critic|overlooked]] in favour of kiss-asses || [[Enemy Within|Struggle to overcome]] the effects of [[Brainwashed|brainwashing/hypnosis]] || Young, handsome [[Cybernetics Eat Your Soul|cyborg Army officer kills his own family]], [[You Can Panic Now|blames hippies]] ||
|-
▲|| Former lovers who are [[Adventurer Archaeologist|archeologists]] seek same [[Public Domain Artifact|ancient curio]] || [[The Determinator|Petty jealousy inspires tireless pursuit]] of [[Moby Dick|whale]] || [[Cloning Blues|New numbering system for clones proves problematic for non-clones]] || [[All Just a Dream|Everything turns out to be a dream]] || Man creates cyborg who wishes [[Become a Real Boy|to become a real boy]] ||
|-
▲|| Evil cousins thwart romance || [[Big Friendly Dog|Saint Bernards]] come first as rescuers, [[The Mole|then reveal themselves as enemies]] || [[Star -Crossed Lovers|Shark loves Jet]] (also can be [[Interspecies Romance|Man v. Nature]] or [[Crack Pairing|Nature v. Technology]]) || [[Helping Hands|Body part is severed, gains mind of its own: Watch out]] || [[Turned Against Their Masters|Cyborg servants turn on master]] ||
|-
▲|| Professional debunker v. Popular spoon-bending psychic || [[Reptiles Are Abhorrent|Snakes lie in wait]] || Child [[Raised Byby Wolves|raised by Saint Bernard assassins]] seeks [[The Atoner|acceptance and forgiveness of human society]] || [[Who Dunnit to Me?|Hero in coma seeks to solve own murder]], discovers [[The Killer in Me|culprit is himself]] || Cyborgs seek fortune on Broadway, settle for bartending gig, [[Almighty Janitor|and learn much about human life]] ||
|}
 
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Comic Literature]]
[[Category:BooksNon-Fiction On TropeLiterature]]
[[Category:NonThe FictionAreas Literatureof My Expertise]]
[[Category:TheBooks Greaton DepressionTrope]]
[[Category:ThePages Areaswith Ofworking MyWikipedia Expertisetabs]]
[[Category:TropeCult Classic]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Areas of My Expertise, The}}
[[Category:oldtable]]
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