The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects
Product ID: 112263453
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Discover the Surprising History of Ordinary Things "Emily magically weaves a vibrant history of simple everyday objects we often take for granted. The Story Behind will surprise and delight..." ─ Deana Marie , Creator & Host of the Twisted Philly podcast #1 Best Seller in Trivia & Fun Facts, Art History, Design History & Criticism, Reference, Decorative Arts & Design, and History of Technology Learn the fascinating history and trivia you never knew about things we use daily, from the host of The Story Behind podcast. Everyday objects and major events in history. Every single thing that surrounds us has a story behind it. Many of us learn the history of humans and the major inventions that shaped our world. But what you may not have learned is the history of objects we surround ourselves with every day. You might not even know how the major events in history (World Wars, ancient civilizations, revolutions, etc.) influenced the inventions of things we use today. The history and science behind the ordinary. From the creator of The Story Behind podcast comes one of the coolest coffee table books ever written. The Story Behind provides insight into everyday objects we don’t think much about as we use them. Topics covered in Emily’s podcast are examined in more detail along with new fascinating topics. Learn how lollipops got started in Ancient Egypt, how podcasts were invented, and why Comic Sans was created. Learn the torture device origins of certain exercise equipment and the espionage beginnings of certain musical instruments. Ordinary things from science to art, food to sports, customs to fashion, and more are explored. Inside: Learn obscure history and fun facts and change the way you see the world Discover how major historic events still affect us today Become a formidable trivia master If you have enjoyed books such as Now I Know , What If? , Ever Wonder Why? , The Greatest Stories Never Told , or Atlas Obscura ; you will be entertained by The Story Behind . Review: A Fun Book - The stories in this book are interesting and some are surprising. For example, the words of many lullabies are the opposite of what one would expect. Review: Fascinating Stories about Ordinary Objects - I found the stories Emily Prokop describes about many of our everyday objects simply fascinating. However, she should have done a better job of researching her history, because the accuracy of her various chapters are a mixed bag. For example, in the chapter on gas masks, Prokop writes that gas attacks in World War I began in 1914, and that early attempts by soldiers to protect themselves involved using urine-soaked cloths. The respected historian John Keegan, in his book The First World War, reports that the first chemical attack on the Western Front took place on April 22, 1915, and that early attempts at protection against gas attacks were the use of cloths soaked in water, since chlorine, the agent used, is water-soluble. On the other hand, in her chapter on the term "Mad Hatter," Prokop correctly relates that Boston Corbett, the man responsible for killing John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin, was committed to an asylum after holding up the Kansas State Legislature. (This information can be confirmed in James Swanson's excellent book Manhunt: The 12-Day Hunt for Lincoln's Killer.) My best advice is to encourage readers to do their own homework to investigate the veracity of Prokop's information. Despite this shortcoming, one thing I really enjoyed about this book was the realization that so many of the inventions we use in our everyday lives were created by ordinary people -- people whom most of us have never heard of. I find this very encouraging, because these stories tell us that we don't have to be rich, famous, or powerful to make a difference in our world -- even ordinary people can make important contributions to society. If this book inspires you to dig further into the history behind some of the inventions she writes about, then I think Prokop's book is well worth the effort she put into it, despite the book's shortcomings.
| Best Sellers Rank | #42,033 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #71 in Trivia & Fun Facts (Books) #96 in Trivia (Books) #108 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 928 Reviews |
R**K
A Fun Book
The stories in this book are interesting and some are surprising. For example, the words of many lullabies are the opposite of what one would expect.
D**S
Fascinating Stories about Ordinary Objects
I found the stories Emily Prokop describes about many of our everyday objects simply fascinating. However, she should have done a better job of researching her history, because the accuracy of her various chapters are a mixed bag. For example, in the chapter on gas masks, Prokop writes that gas attacks in World War I began in 1914, and that early attempts by soldiers to protect themselves involved using urine-soaked cloths. The respected historian John Keegan, in his book The First World War, reports that the first chemical attack on the Western Front took place on April 22, 1915, and that early attempts at protection against gas attacks were the use of cloths soaked in water, since chlorine, the agent used, is water-soluble. On the other hand, in her chapter on the term "Mad Hatter," Prokop correctly relates that Boston Corbett, the man responsible for killing John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin, was committed to an asylum after holding up the Kansas State Legislature. (This information can be confirmed in James Swanson's excellent book Manhunt: The 12-Day Hunt for Lincoln's Killer.) My best advice is to encourage readers to do their own homework to investigate the veracity of Prokop's information. Despite this shortcoming, one thing I really enjoyed about this book was the realization that so many of the inventions we use in our everyday lives were created by ordinary people -- people whom most of us have never heard of. I find this very encouraging, because these stories tell us that we don't have to be rich, famous, or powerful to make a difference in our world -- even ordinary people can make important contributions to society. If this book inspires you to dig further into the history behind some of the inventions she writes about, then I think Prokop's book is well worth the effort she put into it, despite the book's shortcomings.
A**N
Perfect Christmas Gift
I got this as a Christmas gift. I can not wait to give it to them!
D**L
Interesting and Fun Facts Book!
Great coffee table book to pick up anytime- great addition to our mountain cabin bookshelf!
R**K
Some good info...
I enjoy pop history books, especially those that explore the history of everyday objects. This book is straightforward and easy to read, with most objects covered in just two to three pages. However, I found the “TL;DR” section unnecessary—why include a feature that encourages skipping content in a book meant to be read? While there are better options available, this one is best suited for someone who enjoys trivia nights at their local bar rather than a deep dive into history.
S**H
Great read!
Wonderful and fun read!
L**E
Christmas present
Looks like a fun and interesting read. Bought this for a Christmas present. I'm thankful it arrived before the said time. The only thing that upset me was how it was packaged and sent. It arrived in the same bag as my electrolite powder. So it came banged up and the pages were pressed over. I had to put it under a heavy box to flatten it out. It worked but it looks like it's been used. A lack of care makes others suffer.
C**S
Better than even expected
Nice quality! Purchased as a gift it was well liked
M**S
What a fun read
I loved reading this book. Each story only takes a few minutes to complete and makes for great bedtime reading. Some of them I remember hearing on the podcast but there are plenty of new stories as well. The podcast also has many stories that are not in this book so I highly suggest you subscribe to it. It's free after all.
N**.
Book
Good book
B**H
service
fact fun
F**E
Fun trivia read. Something to peck away at over time
Fun trivia read for the cheap kindle price
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