A Less Boring History of the World

A Less Boring History of the World PDF Author: Dave Rear
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1446444848
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Book Description
Refreshes the parts other history books can’t reach... A bit ropy on the Renaissance? In the dark about the Enlightenment? Or, in fact, do you need a revision course on the entire history of the world and want to read a witty, irreverent, definitely not boring romp through everything that has ever happened on planet earth – from 15 billion years BC to the present day? Good. A Less Boring History of the World tells you everything you need to know from the Big Bang to Barack Obama, taking in the Byzantines, the Black Death, Bin Laden and the fall of bankers along the way, all boiled down to bite size chunks so that you can finally piece together all the different bits of history - and see how on earth we ended up in the mess we are today. A Less Boring History refreshes your memory and broadens your mind. And, if that’s not enough, it will also make you laugh. A lot.

A Less Boring History of the World

A Less Boring History of the World PDF Author: Dave Rear
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1446444848
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 290

Get Book

Book Description
Refreshes the parts other history books can’t reach... A bit ropy on the Renaissance? In the dark about the Enlightenment? Or, in fact, do you need a revision course on the entire history of the world and want to read a witty, irreverent, definitely not boring romp through everything that has ever happened on planet earth – from 15 billion years BC to the present day? Good. A Less Boring History of the World tells you everything you need to know from the Big Bang to Barack Obama, taking in the Byzantines, the Black Death, Bin Laden and the fall of bankers along the way, all boiled down to bite size chunks so that you can finally piece together all the different bits of history - and see how on earth we ended up in the mess we are today. A Less Boring History refreshes your memory and broadens your mind. And, if that’s not enough, it will also make you laugh. A lot.

History Without the Boring Bits

History Without the Boring Bits PDF Author: Ian Crofton
Publisher: Quercus
ISBN: 1623652448
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 475

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Book Description
Conventional chronologies of world history concentrate on the reigns of kings and queens, the dates of battles and treaties, the publication dates of great books, the completion of famous buildings, the deaths of iconic figures, and the years of major discoveries. But there are other more interesting stories to tell--stories that don't usually get into the history books, but which can nevertheless bring the past vividly and excitingly to life. Imagine a history lesson that spares you the details of such seminal events as the 11th-century papal-imperial conflict, that fails to say much at all about the 1815 Congress of Vienna--and that neglects entirely to mention the world-changing moment that was the 1521 Diet of Worms. Imagine instead a book that tells you the date of the ancient Roman law that made it legal to break wind at banquets; the name of the defunct medieval pope whose putrefying corpse was subjected to the humiliation of a trial before a court of law; the identity of the priapic monarch who sired more bastards than any other king of England; and last but not least the date of the demise in London of the first goat to have circumnavigated the globe twice. Imagine a book crammed with such deliciously disposable information, and you have History without the Boring Bits. By turns bizarre, surprising, trivial, and enlightening, History without the Boring Bits offers rich pickings for the browser, and entertainment and inspiration aplenty for those who have grown weary of more conventional works of history.

A Short History of the World

A Short History of the World PDF Author: Geoffrey Blainey
Publisher: Ivan R. Dee
ISBN: 1461709865
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 480

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Book Description
A superb history of the world's people during the last four million years, beginning before the human race moved out of Africa to explore and settle the other continents. Mr. Blainey explores the development of technology and skills, the rise of major religions, and the role of geography, considering both the larger patterns and the individual nature of history. A delightful read, gracefully written, and full of odd and interesting pieces of information as well as thoughtful comparisons that span both time and space. —William L. O'Neill

A Little History of the World

A Little History of the World PDF Author: E. H. Gombrich
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300213972
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 401

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Book Description
E. H. Gombrich's Little History of the World, though written in 1935, has become one of the treasures of historical writing since its first publication in English in 2005. The Yale edition alone has now sold over half a million copies, and the book is available worldwide in almost thirty languages. Gombrich was of course the best-known art historian of his time, and his text suggests illustrations on every page. This illustrated edition of the Little History brings together the pellucid humanity of his narrative with the images that may well have been in his mind's eye as he wrote the book. The two hundred illustrations—most of them in full color—are not simple embellishments, though they are beautiful. They emerge from the text, enrich the author's intention, and deepen the pleasure of reading this remarkable work. For this edition the text is reset in a spacious format, flowing around illustrations that range from paintings to line drawings, emblems, motifs, and symbols. The book incorporates freshly drawn maps, a revised preface, and a new index. Blending high-grade design, fine paper, and classic binding, this is both a sumptuous gift book and an enhanced edition of a timeless account of human history.

A History of the World in 100 Objects

A History of the World in 100 Objects PDF Author: Neil MacGregor
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141966831
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 564

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Book Description
This book takes a dramatically original approach to the history of humanity, using objects which previous civilisations have left behind them, often accidentally, as prisms through which we can explore past worlds and the lives of the men and women who lived in them. The book's range is enormous. It begins with one of the earliest surviving objects made by human hands, a chopping tool from the Olduvai gorge in Africa, and ends with an object from the 21st century which represents the world we live in today. Neil MacGregor's aim is not simply to describe these remarkable things, but to show us their significance - how a stone pillar tells us about a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance to his people, how Spanish pieces of eight tell us about the beginning of a global currency or how an early Victorian tea-set tells us about the impact of empire. Each chapter immerses the reader in a past civilisation accompanied by an exceptionally well-informed guide. Seen through this lens, history is a kaleidoscope - shifting, interconnected, constantly surprising, and shaping our world today in ways that most of us have never imagined. An intellectual and visual feast, it is one of the most engrossing and unusual history books published in years.

The Mental Floss History of the World

The Mental Floss History of the World PDF Author: Erik Sass
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0061980617
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 436

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Book Description
“An admirable job of covering 60,000 years of human history in one volume. . . . fascinating stories, hilarious oddities, and plenty of fun.” —School Library Journal The Mental Floss History of the World is an amazingly entertaining joyride through sixty millennia of human civilization. As audacious as it is edifying, here is a hilarious and irreverent—yet always historically accurate—overview of the ascent (or descent) of humankind, courtesy of the same rebel geniuses who brought you Mental Floss Presents Condensed Knowledge and Mental Floss Presents Forbidden Knowledge. The Mental Floss History of the World is proof positive that just because something’s true doesn’t mean it’s boring. “Filled with amusing tidbits and accurate and compelling information.” —Publishers Weekly

Historical Tweets

Historical Tweets PDF Author: Alan Beard
Publisher: Villard Books
ISBN: 034552263X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 146

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Book Description
Beard and McNayr introduce thousands of years of tweets, from Adam's first tweet through the beginnings of the modern world to major events of the recent past, in this smart and creative take on the twitter phenomenon. Full color throughout.

On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down

On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down PDF Author: James Fell
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0593724089
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 433

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Book Description
The hilarious, irreverent guide to world history you never knew you needed, featuring 366 profanity-filled tales of triumph and terror, science and stupidity, courage and cowardice Those who cannot remember the past . . . need a history teacher who says “f*ck” a lot. Nazis are bad. The worst kind of bad. There are no very fine people among them. If you disagree, you won’t like this book. Still here? Cool. You are about to receive an education unlike any you’ve previously experienced. In this uproarious and informative tour from ancient times to the modern day and everything in between, James Fell, the self-proclaimed “sweary historian,” reveals a past replete with deeds both noble and despicable. Throughout the book, he provides insightful analysis of all the sh!t that went down. Behold! • In 1927, actress Mae West was sent to jail for “corrupting the morals of youth” with her first Broadway play, titled Sex. She served the time and followed up with a play about homosexuality. • In 1419, church reformers in Prague, vexed over their leader having been burned at the stake, defenestrated city leaders from a high window. They died, because those kinds of Czechs don’t bounce. • If you were in the province of Shaanxi in China on January 23, 1556, then it sucked to be you. It wasn’t the biggest earthquake ever, but it was the deadliest day in history. • In 362 B.C.E., a battle between Greek city states debilitated both sides, making the region ripe for conquering by Phillip of Macedon—aka Alex the Great’s dad—and spelling the end of Greek democracy. • In 1343, the husband of noblewoman Jeanne de Clisson was unjustly executed by the king of France. Furious, Jeanne became a pirate, selling all her possessions to fund a fleet and exact revenge. • During World War II, three Dutch teens used their beauty to lure Nazis into the forest with the promise of a good time, then out came the guns and BLAM! They sent them off to Nazi hell. If reading history doesn’t make you want to swear like a mom with a red-wine hangover walking barefoot through a LEGO-filled living room, then you’re not reading the right history. Across the ages, over 100 billion humans have lived and died. Some were motivated by greed, others by generosity. Many dedicated themselves to the art of killing, while others were focused on curing. There have been grave mistakes, and moments of greatness. And that is why . . . sh!t happens. Every day.

History of the World

History of the World PDF Author: Roshen Dalal
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781849311397
Category : World history
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
From the emergence of hominids millions of years ago, up to the present day, this book is a huge compilation of facts, features, and images covering all aspects of human history. The History of the World records significant world events, presented as chronologically listed entries, running across the base of each spread. Subjects covered include wars, scientific discoveries, art and architecture, births and deaths of famous people, and other major milestones. Juxtaposed with this timeline, are narratives and features on broader aspects of history, for example, 'Early Civilizations 5000 - 1500 BCE' describes the Egyptian and Minoan civilizations. Box features also take a closer look at Egyptian Pyramids and a Neolithic Scottish settlement, dating from the same period. The well-organised presentation of such a vast subject, illustrated by hundreds of photographs, maps, and illustrations, makes The History of the World a comprehensive first-stop reference book for lay readers as well as students.

The Project

The Project PDF Author: Brian Falkner
Publisher: Ember
ISBN: 0375871888
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Book Description
Brian Falkner delivers in this sci-fi thriller with a Da Vinci Code twist! It begins with a book. The most boring book in the world. A book so boring no one could ever read it—the perfect place to hide a dangerous secret. When best friends Luke and Tommy volunteer to help move books from their library's basement to higher ground during a quick-rising flood, they discover the only surviving copy of the world's most boring book: Leonardo's River, lost for over a hundred years. Mysteriously connected to Leonardo da Vinci, the book is worth millions, so Luke and Tommy return that night to steal it. Unfortunately, they're not the only ones with that plan. . . . Brian Falkner, author of The Assault, Brain Jack, and The Tomorrow Code, weaves another page-turning thriller full of heart-pounding action--this time, with a secret from Leonardo da Vinci that could determine the fate of history. Hand this to a reluctant boy reader or any reader who loves action and mystery. "Falkner delivers a thriller that melds humor, danger and history. . . . The result is an entertaining mystery with plenty of enjoyable twists and turns." —Publishers Weekly "[The Project] reads like an action movie, with plenty of chases, explosions, and by-a-hair escapes." —School Library Journal