What makes Finland so great? If Plato came back to life, what would he think of modern democracy? And why do Vikings wear those silly helmets? Using line drawings, graphs, and charts, Joseph Pisenti explores the nonsensical humor of the universe with in-depth analysis of empires, economies, and ecosystems as he helps answer scores of questions that are verifiable (how does a country qualify to be a country?) or unknowable (where can I move to so that I'm never tempted by McDonald's again?)