New York Public Library's 10 most checked-out books of all time

The most popular books of the past 125 years, and where to get them.

NYPL/Public Domain
  • New York Public library is celebrating its 125th birthday in 2020. With over 90 locations across New York City's boroughs, it is the nation's largest public library system.
  • Based on circulation data, popularity, trends, and other criteria dating back to 1895, these books are considered the library's most checked-out titles of all time.
  • "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats was checked out 485,583 times and takes the top spot, but one librarian's hatred of another book may have robbed it of the crown.
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The secret to Mark Twain's friendship with Nikola Tesla

Twain and Tesla had similar passions and an amusing friendship.

  • Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and Nikola Tesla shared a friendship starting in 1890s.
  • Tesla read a lot of early Twain when recovering from a serious illness.
  • The two shared an interest in electricity.
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New theories reveal the ferocious T-Rex as… adorable?

The American Museum of Natural History presents the new, more accurate T. rex.

Image source: American Museum of Natural History
  • Hatchling, four-year-old, and adult models show us new sides of the famous predator.
  • They're part of the T. rex: The Ultimate Predator exhibit running from March 2019 to August 2020.
  • Attention time travelers: You may want to pet the feathered hatchling. Don't.
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Fall is a bad time to hold elections. Here's why.

Millions of Americans didn't vote during the midterms — excuses there are many. Some are valid.

Photo credit: Joshua Lott / Getty Images
  • Usually, only about 40 percent of eligible voters participate in midterm elections.
  • Political philosopher John Stuart Mill believed it would be for the collective good if everybody voted.
  • Because of logistics, we may need to change the time of year we vote.
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Explosives scare at CNN, suspicious packages sent to Clintons and Obamas

It's a little scary out there, folks.

(Photo credit NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)
  • CNN was evacuated live on air.
  • The targets of the bomb threats are frequently attacked by some in our political landscape.
  • It's unknown how many more suspicious packages are in the mail.
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