1

Measuring

This is a difference most Americans are aware of: most countries use the metric system rather than U.S. customary units, and most use Celsius instead of Fahrenheit. Countries such as the UK and Canada still use some imperial units in everyday life, but they mainly use the metric system. Another measure that confuses foreigners is the particular way ingredients are measured in American recipes, which often use cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons rather than measurements by weight.

Fun fact: The only other countries that use the Imperial system officially are Liberia and Myanmar.

2

Sales tax

Do you find having to calculate sales taxes annoying? That’s a unique American experience. In the majority of the world, the price you see is the price you pay , because it has the sales tax already added.

Why is it different in America? Sales taxes vary across states , so retailers find it easier to showcase the base price and then calculate the total at checkout.

3

Cutlery use

Many Americans abroad are surprised by the realization that not everyone uses a knife and fork in the same way they do . In fact, no one else does. While most Americans have learned the American style —also called the zig-zag or fork switching method— that involves using the fork in the left hand for cutting and then changing it to the right to pick up the food, European and Latin American countries don’t do this . It might seem like a small difference, but it completely changes the way you eat.

4

Iced drinks

Do other countries not have ice? They do, but they don’t necessarily assume everyone will want it. While serving water and other beverages with ice is customary in America, in many other countries, you need to request it —even during the hottest of summers.

But even if you get ice, many times you will need to specify the amount : the same drink that would be filled with ice cubes in America might come to you with just two or three cubes elsewhere.

5

Date formatting

The U.S. is not completely alone on this one, but there’s a difference big enough to be worth mentioning. The standardized way of recording the date in America is month-day-year , a convention also followed by some Caribbean and Asian countries. But in the rest of the Western world, the conventional format is day-month-year , which can lead to confusion for Americans. In most Asian countries , the most commonly used format is year-month-day .

6

The word ‘American’

In the English language, ‘American’ is the only way to refer to people with U.S. citizenship . Other words, such as ‘Usian’ or ‘Unitedstatian’ have been proposed, but never stuck. This is why many Americans are surprised when other countries —Latin American countries in particular— use ‘American’ for anyone in the American continent , or continents, another big difference. In most European and Latin American countries, there is a different word for U.S. citizens, such as the Spanish ‘estadounidense’ or the Portuguese ‘estadunidense’ .

7

Moving out at 18 years old

This one is not so black and white, but more like a general tendency. Compared with most of Europe, Latin America, and Asia, Americans give serious consideration to the possibility of moving out after high school. Not everyone does, and not everyone can afford it, but it's fairly common.

In other countries, young adults generally move out if their job or education requires it , but they tend to stay at home a few more years if they can.

8

Driving a car as a teenager

America is quite car-centric , especially if you live outside of the big cities. While not everyone can afford to have a personal car —even a second-hand one—, it is common for 16 and 17-year-olds to legally drive their parents’ car, or save for their own.

In the rest of the world, the chances of high schoolers driving themselves to school are much lower, as most countries don’t allow underage kids to get a driving license .

9

Solo cups

Do plastic cups exist outside of the U.S.? They do, but they are not as iconic or as widely used as Solo cups, introduced in the 1970s as a disposable but sturdy cup for parties and events. Many foreigners visiting America are surprised when they realize that solo cups are a real thing , and not something that just happens in movies.

10

Filing taxes

Taxes in the U.S. are not that different from taxes in other countries, except for how they are filed . During tax filing season, thousands of Americans direct their efforts to ensure they have properly reported their income and that their return will match the IRS’s data.

In other parts of the world, however, the one responsible for calculating and filing taxes is the government , while citizens merely corroborate that everything is in order.

1

Brothers

Image: Juan Pablo Rodriguez

If you have siblings, you know that the relationship is often a mix of joy, complicity, and occasional rivalry.

The Wright brothers' bond was like that of any other pair of siblings. Wilbur, the eldest, was born on April 16, 1867, in Millville, Indiana. Four years later, he welcomed Orville, his younger brother and fellow adventurer, who was born on August 19, 1871, in Dayton, Ohio.

Their relationship, built on mutual respect and shared interests, led them to be the authors of nothing less than the first sustained, controlled flight in history.

2

The toy

Image: Yurii Khomitskyi

While most of us are familiar with the Wright brothers' historic achievement on December 17, 1903, you might not know how it all began.

Believe it or not, that great adventure started with a toy. That's right! In 1878, their father, Milton Wright, brought home a small flying toy made of cork and paper, which flew thanks to an elastic band. This simple object sparked the brothers' curiosity, which would later become the driving force behind their groundbreaking work.

3

Skilled mom

Image: Matt Artz

We all pick up a few tricks from our moms, don't we? Well, the Wright brothers were no exception. Their father wasn't the only one who fueled the little Wrights' curiosity; their mother, Susan Catherine Koerner Wright, also played a key role.

Susan had impressive mechanical skills and great practical problem-solving aptitudes. As the daughter of a wagon maker, she knew how to use tools to perfection, and often built household items and repaired appliances at home. Her mother's skills definitely influenced Orville and Wilbur's development!

4

Entrepreneurs

Image: Curdin

The brothers were not afraid of business and entrepreneurship—quite the opposite!

From a very young age, Wilbur and Orville dedicated their time and effort to different jobs tied to their passions. One of their earliest endeavors was a bicycle sales and repair business in Dayton, Ohio. Of course, they didn't just focus on repairs; they gave free rein to their irrepressible imagination. The pair of siblings began designing and building their own bicycles, gaining a reputation as skilled engineers and raising money to finance their experiments with flight.

5

All kinds of innovations

Image: Iqbal Pohan

On their path to becoming pioneering aviators, the Wright brothers made important contributions to transportation in many different ways.

Before them, bicycle wheels functioned adequately but often broke down and required regular maintenance. Luckily, Orville and Wilbur's ingenuity came to the rescue. The brothers created a system of greaseable wheel hubs, which provided better lubrication and, therefore, reduced the risk of failure. This innovation made bicycle maintenance less frequent and much more convenient.

6

Coin toss

Image: Derrick Treadwell

Sometimes, fate must be left to chance —and that’s exactly what Wilbur and Orville Wright did at a crucial historical moment.

When they had already succeeded in creating a machine capable of flying and transporting them, it was time for the test. But they couldn't decide which of them would be the first to test their invention, so they let a coin decide.

The coin toss declared Wilbur, the elder brother, as the first to fly their aircraft. However, that first attempt failed. So, On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville piloted the Wright Flyer for 12 seconds, covering a distance of 120 feet and becoming the first man to do so in history.

7

$1,000 plane

Image: History in HD

Did you know that the Wright Flyer—that impressive creation that allowed humans to fly sustainably for the first time in history—cost about $1,000?

That's right! For such an achievement, that price could be considered modest, right? However, the brothers worked very hard to reach their goal.

As you know, the money from their bicycle business, along with income from other ventures, provided the funds they needed to acquire the parts for numerous prototypes, conduct countless tests, and finally build and launch their spectacular airplane.

8

Together

Image: Chalo Garcia

Wilbur and Orville were inseparable since childhood, yet as surprising as it may seem, the brothers only flew together in an aircraft once! This historic event took place on October 5, 1905, when they flew the Wright Flyer III.

It seems it was crucial for one brother to pilot the aircraft while the other stayed on the ground, watching over the flight to ensure the other's safety. Although one stayed on the ground while the other soared through the air, all their work was the outcome of a careful and dedicated team effort.

9

Single

Image: Jack Douglass

As you might expect, the Wright brothers' intense focus on their work left little time for other pursuits, including love.

A fun fact about their personal lives is that neither Wilbur nor Orville ever married. While they formed friendships and social connections throughout their lives, there are no known partners, romantic relationships, or commitments of that nature. One thing is clear: the Wright brothers' one and only true passion was their work!

10

Neil Armstrong souvenir

Image: NASA

Wilbur and Orville’s dream was to reach as high as they could—and so they did. However, their memory not only reached the skies but went beyond that and also reached the moon!

That's right, it was Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, who carried a memento of the Wright brothers on his mission aboard Apollo 11. When the astronaut achieved the iconic feat of reaching the moon on July 20, 1969, he had with him a small piece of fabric from the Wright brothers' 1903 Flyer.

Through that small gesture, Armstrong honored the memory of his fellow Americans who, just like him, took a giant leap for humankind.

1

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

A 2003 global bestseller later turned into a movie starring Tom Hanks, The Da Vinci Code, the second in Brown’s Robert Langdon series, thrilled millions with its fast-paced plot and conspiracy-laden narrative. Readers devoured its mix of history, religion, and puzzles.

Critics, however, slammed the novel’s writing as clunky and the characters as wooden . Many reviews mocked Brown’s prose and accused the book of historical inaccuracies and sensationalism.

2

Valley of the Dolls - Jacqueline Susann

Published in 1966, Valley of the Dolls became a sales phenomenon, later inspiring a camp classic film. Its scandalous look at fame, drug addiction, and the lives of glamorous young women captivated readers.

Critics were merciless, branding it vulgar, trashy, and poorly written . Literary elites dismissed it as pulp, with some refusing to review it at all.

3

Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

Published in 1957, Atlas Shrugged developed a cult following and continues to sell decades after publication. Rand's philosophical vision of objectivism inspired fierce devotion among fans.

The literary world, however, tore it apart. Critics found the dialogue stilted and the message overly didactic . Many viewed it as a bloated, moralizing tome with little literary merit.

4

Fifty Shades of Grey - E.L. James

This erotic romance, published in 2011, became a pop culture sensation, spawning multiple sequels and movies. Millions were drawn to its taboo themes, sparking debates and fan fervor worldwide.

Critics eviscerated the book for its repetitive prose and one-dimensional characters . It was widely mocked for poor grammar, simplistic plotting, and glorifying unhealthy relationships.

5

The Bridges of Madison County - Robert James Waller

This romantic novel, published in 1992, was a runaway hit, touching readers with its brief tale of a passionate affair between a photographer and a housewife, inspiring a film starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.

Critics, though, rolled their eyes. The book was labeled melodramatic, emotionally manipulative, and stylistically flat , with more schmaltz than substance.

6

The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield

This spiritual adventure novel, released in 1993, gained traction through word-of-mouth, eventually becoming a mega-bestseller. Its mystical insights resonated with readers interested in all things New Age.

Critics were unimpressed, calling it preachy and amateurish . Many dismissed it as pseudo-philosophy dressed up in a thin narrative , lacking depth or literary quality.

7

Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard Bach

Bach's fable about a seagull chasing transcendence captured the imagination of millions in the 1970s. Its short format and uplifting message struck a chord.

Yet reviewers derided it as shallow and overly sentimental . Critics said its philosophical posturing felt empty and simplistic.

8

The Shack - William P. Young

In 2007, The Shack found immense success, especially among religious readers. Its emotional story and portrayal of God in unconventional forms drew deep emotional reactions.

Theologians and critics, however, lambasted its theology and weak storytelling .

9

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

This vampire romance became a cultural juggernaut when it was published in 2005. Teens and adults alike were swept into Bella and Edward’s forbidden love story, fueled even further by three more books and the movies.

Critics were less kind. The writing was often mocked as juvenile, with characters deemed flat and the relationship dynamics problematic .

10

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

Though first published in Brazil, The Alchemist found enormous success in the U.S. in 1988. Readers praised it for its inspirational message and simple allegory.

Critics weren’t convinced. Many called it trite, vague, and overly didactic .

11

The Secret - Rhonda Byrne

This 2006 self-help bestseller promised readers they could manifest anything they desired. Its message of positive thinking struck a chord worldwide.

But critics lambasted it as pseudoscience . Detractors called it naïve and irresponsible , arguing it oversimplified real-world problems and encouraged magical thinking over action.

12

A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

This memoir of addiction recovery became an Oprah Book Club pick and soared in sales. Readers found its raw honesty and chaos compelling.

But then, much of the book was revealed to be fabricated . Critics turned on it, calling the prose self-indulgent and the deception unforgivable in a marketed memoir.