It was 1987 when Uncle John got the idea for what would become the greatest trivia book series of all time: Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader. The concept of reading in the bathroom is much older, as it’s a solo period of quiet reflection ideal for educating oneself with the written word in relatively small doses. And that’s how Uncle John found himself in such a moment of distress that it led to the creation of the perfect bathroom reading book. Stuck in a bathroom for a few minutes with nothing to read, it occurred to Uncle John that there ought to be a go-to book that all bathroom readers can enjoy, with interesting articles and fun facts on every subject imaginable, and in a variety of lengths, too, ensuring that there would always be something for all to enjoy and for their unique sitting period needs.

The original Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader hit stores in 1988, the first of 38 volumes (and counting). Uncle John, and his staff of BRI Stalwarts, have since fulfilled the bathroom reading needs of 10 million people and counting. The books have changed a bit — they’re twice as long as they were nearly four decades ago — but the spirit hasn’t. There’s just so much of that weird, wonderful world to cover, that Uncle John will never run out of stuff to bring to those who needed something to all those members of the Bathroom Readers’ Institute who want to sit down and be counted. And that goes for books and this very website. Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader: It’s the No. 1 name in trivia.

Go with the flow!