Sign-In
Cart
Who Decided That?: The Strange Origins of 100 Everyday Rules, Objects, and Systems
Paperback
Dictionaries & EncyclopediasGeneral ReferenceGeneral World History
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Sep 10 2026
Pages: 106
Weight: 0.34
Height: 0.22 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Why does February have fewer days? Why does a keyboard begin with QWERTY? Why are traffic lights red, yellow, and green? And who decided an hour should contain exactly sixty minutes?
Most of the rules and systems around us feel inevitable only because they were already here when we arrived.
Who Decided That? explores the surprising stories behind 100 ordinary things we rarely stop to question-from clocks, calendars, measurements, and language to technology, transportation, food, money, social customs, and the design of everyday objects.
Discover how ancient counting systems still control your clock, why countries ended up driving on different sides of the road, how familiar symbols became standards, why common objects have their peculiar shapes, and which popular origin stories are much less certain than they sound.
Each question is answered in a short, clear, entertaining explanation designed to deliver one satisfying realization:
So THAT'S why.
Open it anywhere. Read one question or twenty. The ordinary world may never look quite so ordinary again.
Also from
Bhardwaj, Priyanshu
Is That Actually True?: 200 Everyday Claims, Myths & "Facts" Put to the Test
Bhardwaj, Priyanshu
Paperback
Say It Without a Speech: What to Say When You Need to Say No, Disagree, Ask for Help, or Repair a Conversation
Bhardwaj, Priyanshu
Paperback
The First 24 Hours: What to Do Immediately When Something Important Goes Wrong
Bhardwaj, Priyanshu
Paperback
The Manual You Were Supposed to Get: Practical Life Skills for Young Adults
Bhardwaj, Priyanshu
Paperback
Also in
General Reference
The Science Magpie: Fascinating Facts, Stories, Poems, Diagrams and Jokes Plucked from Science
Flynn, Simon
Paperback
Peculiar Questions and Practical Answers: A Little Book of Whimsy and Wisdom from the Files of the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
Hardcover
Lost in Space: 5,000 Facts for Navigating the Universe
Walker, Lindsey Nyx
Tyson, Neil Degrasse
Hardcover
The New Dark Ages: The Death of Reading and the Dawn of the Post-Literate Society
Marriott, James
Hardcover
The Book of Unusual Knowledge: Big Book of Fascinating Facts & Information Hardcover Gift for Trivia Buffs, Curious Minds, Adults, Dad & Knowledge See
Publications International Ltd
Hardcover
Canning & Preserving: The Techniques, Equipment, and Recipes to Get Started
Harmeling, Michele
Paperback
Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers Volume 1
Roux, Jessica
Hardcover
The New Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Expert Advice for Extreme Situations
Borgenicht, David
Piven, Joshua
Hardcover
Mushrooms of the Upper Midwest: A Simple Guide to Common Mushrooms
Yerich, Kathy
Marrone, Teresa
Paperback
White Elephant Gifts for Adult: 500 Serial Killers Encyclopedia Facts and Figures
Murdle, K.
Paperback
The Bookshop: A History of Bookselling from the Dawn of Print to the Twenty-First Century
Pettegree, Andrew
Hardcover
Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool
Oster, Emily
Paperback
The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents: From Rejection to Representation in 8 Steps
Matesic, Alyssa
McDonald, Patrick
Paperback
Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence
Leo XIV, Pope
Paperback
Within the House of Murdaugh: Amid a Unique Friendship, Blanca and Maggie
Turrubiate-Simpson, Blanca
Weaver, Mary Frances
Paperback
Chase's Calendar of Events 2027: The Ultimate Go-To Guide for Special Days, Weeks and Months
Chase's, Editors Of
Paperback
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need
Brody, Jessica
Paperback
American Sign Language Made Easy for Beginners: A Visual Guide with ASL Signs, Lessons, and Quizzes
Belmontes-Merrell, Travis
Paperback
The Trusted Advisor: 20th Anniversary Edition
Maister, David H.
Galford, Robert
Green, Charles
Paperback
Take It from Me: An Agent's Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career from Scratch
Habib, Alia Hanna
Hardcover
The Writing Rope: A Framework for Explicit Writing Instruction in All Subjects
Sedita, Joan
Paperback
The Writing Revolution 2.0: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades
Hochman, Judith C.
Wexler, Natalie
Paperback
Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Dolly Parton: Country Wisdom for Life's Little Challenges
Sharaf, Juliana
Hardcover
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th Edition
Balch, Thomas J.
Robert, Henry M., III
Honemann, Daniel H.
Paperback
French Short Stories: Thirty French Short Stories for Beginners to Improve your French Vocabulary
Moreau, Dylane
Paperback
Seberson Method: New Sat(r) Vocabulary Workbook: Over 700 High-Frequency Words to Master
Seberson, Katya
Paperback
Freeing the Natural Voice: Imagery and Art in the Practice of Voice and Language (Revised & Expanded)
Linklater, Kristin
Paperback
Read These Banned Books: A Journal and 52-Week Reading Challenge from the American Library Association
American Library Association (ALA)
Paperback
Next Steps in Literacy Instruction: Connecting Assessments to Effective Interventions
Smartt, Susan, PH. D.
Glaser, Deborah, Ed D.
Paperback
The Public Domain: Find and Use Free Content for Your Website, Book, App, Music, Video, Art, and More
Secor, Glen
Paperback
The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Literature, Revised and Expanded
Fadiman, Clifton
Major, John S.
Paperback
The Preparation: How To Become Competent, Confident, and Dangerous
Smith, Matt
Smith, Maxim
Casey, Doug
Hardcover
The Vocabulary Builder Workbook: Simple Lessons and Activities to Teach Yourself Over 1,400 Must-Know Words
Lele, Chris
Magoosh
Paperback
The Essentials of Adolescent Literacy: Integrating Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Instruction in Grades 5-12
Sedita, Joan
Paperback
Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals: A Guide to Successful Evaluations
Neal Jr, James E.
Paperback
The Reading Strategies Book 2.0: Your Research-Based Guide to Developing Skilled Readers
Serravallo, Jennifer
Paperback
True Facts That Sound Like Bull$#*t: 500 Insane-But-True Facts That Will Shock and Impress Your Friends 1
Carley, Shane
Paperback
The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College (Revised and Updated)
Cohen, Harlan
Paperback
5 Steps to a 5: AP English Language and Composition 2027: Practice AP Tests + AP Content Review + Digital Exams
Murphy, Barbara
Paperback
Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition: A Guide to Narrative Craft
Burroway, Janet
Stuckey-French, Elizabeth
Stuckey-French, Ned
Paperback
Elledge's Nontrivial Trivia: The Seriously Enlightening Stories Behind Supposedly Simple Facts
Elledge, Jonn
Paperback
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
Storr, Will
Paperback
Stuff Every Adult Should Know: A Pocket-Sized Guide to Grown-Up Know-How, from Taxes to Small Talk
Kalb, Alanna
Cohen, Brett
Favreau, Alyssa
Hardcover
Vanishing Culture: A Report on Our Fragile Cultural Record
Ziskina, Juliya
Freeland, Chris
Messarra, Luca
Paperback
The Essentials: The Art of Interior Design: A Guide to Furnishing, Decorating, and Styling Your Home
Flemming, Caitlin
Goebel, Julie
Hardcover
The New American Ephemeris for the 21st Century 2000-2100 at Midnight, Michelsen Memorial Edition
Michelsen, Neil F.
Paperback
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print
King, Dave
Browne, Renni
Paperback
Totally Awesome Book of Useless Information: A Delightfully Absurd Collection of Unusual Knowledge for Adults and Teens
Style, Life Daily
Paperback
The Book For Men Who Have Everything: Unusual Knowledge and Boredom Busters for Intelligent Men
Iq Street
Paperback
The Best Punctuation Book, Period (Revised Edition): A Comprehensive Guide for Every Writer, Editor, Student, and Businessperson
Casagrande, June
Paperback
7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It!
Zimmermann, Susan
Hutchins, Chryse
Paperback
Spelling High School Grades 9-10: Vocabulary and Writing Practice with Interactive Activities
Attard, Natasha
Paperback
180 Days(r) Reading for Fifth Grade, 2nd Edition: Practice, Assess, Diagnose
Levsey, Dylan
Kopp, Kathleen N.
Kopp, Kathy
Paperback
How to Survive Being a Grandparent: A Hilarious Guide for Grandmas and Grandads
Freeman, Kate
Hardcover