book data
162 ratings, 4.36 average rating, 24 reviews
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published
March 1st 1998
by David R. Godine Publisher
binding
Paperback, 256 pages
setting
Unknown
isbn
0879235144
(isbn13: 9780879235147)
description
So you think you know most of what there is to kow aboyt people like Nero and Cleopatra, Allexander the Great and Attila the Hun, Lady Godica and Mile...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 237)
recommends it for:
Everyone
If I was a history teacher, this would be my textbook. It's the kind of book that you can't read by yourself because all you want to do is read the funny parts out loud to people. It is total comedy genius, plus it's a brilliant history book. The best part of the whole book is the chapter on Hannibal, and about his journey over the Alps via elephant caravan, which is pretty much the most ridiculous way you could think of to cross the Alps, and how every time Hannibal wrote home to Carthage to...more
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1 comment
Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone with a sense of humor
I learned that if you dont want to synthesize thousands of pages of biographies of famous historical people, you get all the juicy tidbits from reading this book / Personality quirks, habits, favorite foods, and salacious stories are in every page
Will Cuppy has a really funny sense of humor, and his footnotes and asides are as funny to me in 2007 as they were to readers in the 1950, when the book was written
This book is a family tradition, I got it from my brother, who got it from our ...more
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Read in January, 2008
This is a re-reading of this book for me, but I enjoyed it so much again, just as I remember. It is such a whimsical, funny, sharp look at various figures through history. It is an utter delight to read, and it's amazing that the accuracy is as dead-on as it supposedly is-- it seems like reality couldn't really be that surreal and funny. The introduction and conclusion of the version I have make me somewhat sad about Cuppy's life, but this work of his is bristling and sharp and wonderful.
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
people who like funny books
I listened to this book and now I want to get a copy of it to keep. It is HILARIOUS! Cuppy's dry, tongue-in-cheek humor kept me chuckling to myself and kept me interested. His nod-nod, wink-wink asides made me wonder how much was true and how much he made up because it all sounded plausible I highly recommend it.
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I stumbled on this book one day while perusing the college bookstore between classes. I never made it to class.
Tongue planted firmly in cheek history on everyone from Cleopatra to Henry VIII plus. Definitely worth a second (or third or fourth) read.
Tongue planted firmly in cheek history on everyone from Cleopatra to Henry VIII plus. Definitely worth a second (or third or fourth) read.
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recommends it for:
human beings
This is my desert island book. I've read each of Cuppy's irreverent historical bios at least 40 times since I first picked it up, and I still end up laughing until my face turns red and tears trickle down my cheeks. Honestly, most humor from this period seems completely dated to me. Not Cuppy's! His humor is transcendent, timeless, immortal, and whatever other cliched adjective you can think to insert.
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This book is pretty funny so far, though I have to keep in mind that it was originally published in 1950, so some of Cuppy's views are a bit "unenlightened". Also, I think Cuppy expects the typical reader to have a vast knowledge of ancient history, as he refers to people and events in a very nonchalant manner without full explanation. Still, it is amusing and informative, not to mention a fast read.
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
history buffs and those who like intelligent humor
Of course I'd read bits of this before, but did not read the full book until now (January 2008). It was beautifully done. The biographical sketches were full of fascinating and fully accurate facts, and they were hilarious in a way that would appeal to people of all ages. This book is wonderful way to get people interested in history. I would recommend it for high schools and colleges.
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Requires a pretty good grounding in history to appreciate Cuppy's humor. It's synopses of historical figures -- from Cheops on up to modern times, written with tongue in cheek. find Cuppy's prose a bit dated and strained at times, but there are definitely moments, all harking back to a leit motif of humanity's foibles.
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This book was really funny. If you ever want to learn about history, but you're not great with scholarly pusuits, I'd definitely recommend this book. Very British.
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That the history of western civilization is quite a hoot! It's an easy read and really is hilarious. It might be my favorite book of all times.
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Read in March, 2002
Short historical essays -- very flippant (especially the footnotes!) and well-researched. The sketches fit the style of writing perfectly.
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I suppose I hadn't heard about this because I'm young and it isn't popular anymore. All the same though, WTF?.. this needs to be read.
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5 comments
Everyone should read this book. It is witty and well-researched and an easy read. I have read it twice.
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Humorous essays on little known facts about well known figures in history. Witty and entertaining.
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Read in March, 1994
Cuppy gives some rather amusing anecdotes and factoids about many 'bigger' historical events.
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Very interesting...I will never again say, "Entertaining non-fiction is an oxymoron."
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Hilarious, the details one never learned in high school history class!
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2 comments
one of the most hilarious books I've EVER had the pleasure of reading
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