History Literature / TheAreasOfMyExpertise

** The mountains of Colorado (state nickname: [[TheLordOfTheRings The Dwarrowdelf]]) are described as "large and fairly [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Balrog]]-free".

As the name implies, it is a book of trivia written by John Hodgman, better known as [[{{Mascot}} a PC]], and as ''Series/TheDailyShow'''s "Resident Expert". Every single fact in it is a lie ... or is it?

* ShoutOut: "The Amazing Duo of [[TheyMightBeGiants Flansburgh]] and Goldwasser", Bruce Campbell, "[[ComicBook/ElfQuest Skywise the Sexual Elf"]].

|| Evil cousins thwart romance || [[BigFriendlyDog Saint Bernards]] come first as rescuers, [[TheMole then reveal themselves as enemies]] || [[StarCrossedLovers Shark loves]] [[WestSideStory Jet]] (also can be [[InterspeciesRomance Man v. Nature]] or [[CrackPairing Nature v. Technology]]) || [[HelpingHands Body part is severed, gains mind of its own: Watch out]] || [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters Cyborg servants turn on master]] ||

* BewareOfHitchhikingGhosts

* TheCon

* DeadpanSnarker: "You know what?" I say. "Fuck you."

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin

* TheRoaringTwenties

* ShownTheirWork: Ironically enough.

** UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}}: Hodgman claims Chicago is only a myth written about by Carl Sandberg (who also didn't exist), or at best only comes to this plane of existence every once in a while, like {{Brigadoon}}.

** The mountains of Colorado (state nickname: [[TheLordOfTheRings The Dwarrowdelf]]) are described as "large and fairly [[TheLordOfTheRings Balrog]]-free".
** When describing the correct manner of raising rabbits, Hodgman describes the phenomenon of [[WatershipDown El-Ahrairah worship]]

** TheWindyCity: Hodgman claims Chicago is only a myth written about by Carl Sandberg (who also didn't exist), or at best only comes to this plane of existence every once in a while, like {{Brigadoon}}.

|| [[CrankyNeighbor Devil worshippers]] v. [[OddCouple Apartment dwellers]] || [[JourneyToFindOneself Wilderness becomes crucible in which asthmatic learns to grow a beard]] || Conscience prevents acceptance of SoylentGreen || [[AnimalNemesis One partially blinded by bear overcomes need for revenge]] || [[EtTuBrute Family discovers pet to be cyborg]] ||

** ''MoreInformationThanYouRequire'' takes this even further.

The audiobook version, which in many ways is even more hilarious, is read by Hodgman in his trademark deadpan style. It also features JonathanCoulton singing the book's theme song, the songs of the various American states, and generally acting as Hodgman's foil and straightman throughout.

* TakeThat: Parodied with the "attack ad" segments, in which he jokingly accuses JonathanCoulton of being an awful catsitter, and another person of masturbating out a window ''on two separate occasions'', while John Hodgman has only masturbated out a window ''once''. Also, one of the Hobo Names is Creator/NickNolte.

|| Boy vs. Girl || Mountains thwart progress || [[TheDrifter A stranger]] comes to town || Triumph over ennui || [[{{Terminator}} Threat of cyborgs from the future]] ||

* EskimosArentReal: ''The Areas Of My Expertise'' has a running gag that Chicago is a myth, mostly as a joke on [[BigApplesauce how very New York the author's sensibilities are]]. Revisited in the follow-up ''ThatIsAll'', [[spoiler: when the mythical city rises at last from the swamp during the [[MayanDoomsday End Times of 2012]].]]

*** ''ThatIsAll'' brings the Creator/NickNolte TakeThat to its inevitable conclusion [[spoiler: declaring him a cosmic horror]].

* RunningGag: [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent The different varieties of werewolf]], [[{{A Date With Rosie Palms}} masturbation]], eels, zeppelins, cheese, [[HairTropes 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 [[IntoxicationEnsues "very high or very autistic"]], common flammable gels, Percoset, and, of course, the hoboes.

* TakeThat: Parodied with the "attack ad" segments, in which he jokingly accuses JonathanCoulton of being an awful catsitter, and another person of masturbating out a window ''on two separate occasions'', while John Hodgman has only masturbated out a window ''once''. Also, one of the Hobo Names is Nick Nolte.

*** ''ThatIsAll'' brings the Nicke Nolte TakeThat to its inevitable conclusion [[spoiler: declaring him a cosmic horror]].

* ShoutOut: "The Amazing Duo of [[TheyMightBeGiants Flansburgh]] and Goldwasser", Bruce Campbell, "[[ElfQuest Skywise the Sexual Elf"]].

|| Former lovers who are [[AdventurerArchaeologist archeologists]] seek same [[PublicDomainArtifact ancient curio]] || [[TheDeterminator Petty jealousy inspires tireless pursuit]] of [[MobyDick whale]] || [[CloningBlues New numbering system for clones proves problematic for non-clones]] || [[AllJustADream Everything turns out to be a dream]] || Man creates cyborg who wishes [[BecomeARealBoy to become a real boy]] ||

* {{Flanderization}}: [[TheSeveralStates Our 51 United States]].

|| [[UminekoNoNakuKoroNi Magicians v. Detectives]] || [[AttackOfTheKillerWhatever All animals attack all humans]] || [[TheNewRockAndRoll Society persecutes inventor of revolutionary fabric or vehicle]] || [[BettyAndVeronica 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 || [[BigFriendlyDog Saint Bernards]] come first as rescuers, [[TheMole then reveal themselves as enemies]] || [[StarCrossedLovers Shark loves Jet]] (also can be [[InterspeciesRomance Man v. Nature]] or [[CrackPairing Nature v. Technology]]) || [[HelpingHands Body part is severed, gains mind of its own: Watch out]] || [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters Cyborg servants turn on master]] ||
|| Professional debunker v. Popular spoon-bending psychic || [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent Snakes lie in wait]] || Child [[RaisedByWolves raised by Saint Bernard assassins]] seeks [[TheAtoner acceptance and forgiveness of human society]] || [[WhodunnitToMe Hero in coma seeks to solve own murder]], discovers [[TheKillerInMe culprit is himself]] || Cyborgs seek fortune on Broadway, settle for bartending gig, [[AlmightyJanitor and learn much about human life]] ||

** Repeated references to the ''Franchise/EvilDead'' series, such as the claim that George W. Bush has a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw]] for [[ArmCannon a hand]]. John Hodgman was Creator/BruceCampbell's literary agent, and Campbell is listed as an expert consulted on the subject of fake blood [likely not a joke].

** Repeated references to the ''Franchise/EvilDead'' series, such as the claim that George W. Bush has a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw]] for [[ArmCannon 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].

|| CountryMouse v. CityMouse || One partially blinded by bear seeks {{revenge}} || [[StylisticSelfParody Person living in two-dimensional world]] encourages [[ConspicuousCG embrace of third dimension]] [[Literature/{{Flatland}} and is shunned]] || [[TheGrotesque A horrible physical deformity is overcome]], only to be revealed that [[AllJustADream it is all in the protagonist's imagination]] || [[OnlySaneMan Only the hero can see the cyborgs]] who [[ConspiracyKitchenSink secretly run our government and media]] ||

** TheWindyCity: Hodgman claims Chicago is only a myth.

* {{BRIAN BLESSED}}:In the BBC adaptation, in the role of "Old John Hodgman, After He Accidentally Becomes British".

* AcceptableTargets: Subverted; although Hodgman has an unreasonable fear of hoboes, he makes a clear distinction between [[MilkmanConspiracy actual hoboes]] and those who are simply unfortunate enough to live on the streets.

** Repeated references to the ''EvilDead'' series, such as the claim that George W. Bush has a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw]] for [[ArmCannon 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].
* {{Glurge}}: Parodied with the Six Oaths of the Virtuous Child.

|| CountryMouse v. CityMouse || One partially blinded by bear seeks {{revenge}} || [[StylisticSelfParody Person living in two-dimensional world]] encourages [[ConspicuousCG embrace of third dimension]] [[{{Flatland}} and is shunned]] || [[TheGrotesque A horrible physical deformity is overcome]], only to be revealed that [[AllJustADream it is all in the protagonist's imagination]] || [[OnlySaneMan Only the hero can see the cyborgs]] who [[ConspiracyKitchenSink secretly run our government and media]] ||

As the name implies, it is a book of trivia written by John Hodgman, better known as [[{{Mascot}} a PC]], and as ''TheDailyShow'''s "Resident Expert". Every single fact in it is a lie ... or is it?

|| [[LesMiserables Pursuit throughout life]] by [[InspectorJavert a French constable whose determination exceeds his reason]] || [[ConvectionSchmonvection Volcanoes come to town]] || [[TorchesAndPitchforks Hero is chased by townspeople bearing torches]] || [[DivideAndConquer Hero wonders if closest friend is actually his archenemy, then lives in fear]] || [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight Man seeks control of his own cybernetic brain]] ||

The first in the ''CompleteWorldKnowledge'' trilogy, followed by ''MoreInformationThanYouRequire'' and ''ThatIsAll''.