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14th out of 37 books
—
8 voters
My rating:
add to my books
Badass: A Relentless Onslaught of the Toughest Warlords, Vikings, Samurai, Pirates, Gunfighters, and Military Commanders to Ever Live
by
Ben Thompson (Goodreads Author)
An unstoppable collection of the most hardcore figures who ever strapped on chain mail and ran screaming into battle
Throughout history--from the bone-crushing age of antiquity to the sack-tearing modern era--there have been larger-than-life ass-kickers with a natural talent for unleashing their epic bloodlust on anyone who crossed them. They built empires, smashed armies,
...morePaperback, 352 pages
Published
October 27th 2009
by Harper Paperbacks
(first published 2009)
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Stephen
rated it
Shelves:
history,
non-fiction,
2006-2010,
ebooks,
audiobook,
humor-and-satire,
kings-of-badassia,
the-way-we-war
History…complete with locker-room colloquialisms, nut scratching and the occasional fist and/or chest bump.
This is less a history book and more like a drunk conversation during a football game with your college roommate who’s majoring in history and pulling straight A’s despite living almost exclusively on Big Macs and bong resin. This is world history taught by the triumvirate of Sylvester Stallone, Samuel Jackson and John Madden.
....and I thought it was soooooooooooooo...more
This is less a history book and more like a drunk conversation during a football game with your college roommate who’s majoring in history and pulling straight A’s despite living almost exclusively on Big Macs and bong resin. This is world history taught by the triumvirate of Sylvester Stallone, Samuel Jackson and John Madden.
....and I thought it was soooooooooooooo...more
view all 37 comments
This book is a silly, mocking farce of mankind's propensity to smite one another. It is written with the cleverness that only a person well versed in history could manage. Just don't expect a fair-and-balanced portrayal...this is the arrested development, adolescent sort of representation of mankind that Monty Python is famous for.
And yes, I had a ball reading this book (but I also own a tiny working model of a catapult.)
So who exactly is this book for? (I'm so glad you...more
And yes, I had a ball reading this book (but I also own a tiny working model of a catapult.)
So who exactly is this book for? (I'm so glad you...more
I'm a big fan of getting books from the library. Part of it stems from the fact that I'd rather spend my money on beer and sandwiches. I know, I know, I am a terrible person. I will tell you about how terrible I am freely. Part of it is because I think it's neat to find stuff in books, Badass didn't come with a shopping list/bookmark but a warning:
This is a POOR, ie, BAD, WRITER This is a STUPIDLY written book. This book seems to be written for ignorant, low IQ teenaged boys.
S...more
This is a POOR, ie, BAD, WRITER This is a STUPIDLY written book. This book seems to be written for ignorant, low IQ teenaged boys.
S...more
What do you do with an honors graduate with degrees in history and political science? Why, write a book, of course! Thompson proves that BA degrees aren’t as useless as they seem by penning a raucous, rollicking ride through history filled with testosterone-fueled back-handed badassery. Although there doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason as to how Thompson chose his historical subjects – some are genocidal maniacs, and others true patriots defending themselves from such people – Thompson’s wr...more
A history book that describes various kick ass people in detail? Sounds like a great idea! Too bad the execution sucked.
The problem is that the writer is too busy using modern hyperbole to describe each person that it just becomes silly. For instance in one description the viking Harald Hardrada is described as doing a top rope elbow drop, while in another Miyamoto Musashi is described as rocking out to 80s metal. Seriously, it ends up feeling like a 14 year old boy wrote the boo...more
The problem is that the writer is too busy using modern hyperbole to describe each person that it just becomes silly. For instance in one description the viking Harald Hardrada is described as doing a top rope elbow drop, while in another Miyamoto Musashi is described as rocking out to 80s metal. Seriously, it ends up feeling like a 14 year old boy wrote the boo...more
This was such a ridiculously fun book to read. If it were appropriate to use in a public high school to teach students to get excited about history, I'd totally recommend it for the age group--especially teenage boys.
Now, I'm no longer a teenage boy myself, but I do appreciate obnoxious sarcasm from time to time, and I certainly enjoy a good hyper-masculine, testosterone-fueled look back at historical figures.
Combine that with a proclivity for words one rarely hears in p...more
Now, I'm no longer a teenage boy myself, but I do appreciate obnoxious sarcasm from time to time, and I certainly enjoy a good hyper-masculine, testosterone-fueled look back at historical figures.
Combine that with a proclivity for words one rarely hears in p...more
Zo
added it
This book had the potential for perfection. I will give 4 stars for introducing me to an array of neglected, unappreciated historical characters from around the world that simply kicked ass. I love the international flavor of the chapters. Not out of political correctness but because there are some warriors in India, Egypt, and Scandinavian countries that have yet to receive their proper due. This is a great book for teenagers to read to get interested in history. I must give a huge caveat about...more
As is pretty typical with anyone who uses humour in writing, people are bound to hate it for being too 'this' or not enough 'that'. And obviously (as I can see from other reviewers) I'm not the first to tout Ben Thompson's first book as being a little over the top, but only at certain times. But I'm more than a little suspicious that this book had so many bad reviews despite the fact that it distinctly reminds me of movies like the Hangover, Wedding Crashers, and anything on the Spike channel,...more
You've never read a history lesson quite like this, and in doing so you learn about people that you've never heard of in your normal history class. Ben Thompson has been a long time student of history, and you can tell. This book is well researched, with a nine and a half page bibliography, which is badass in it's own right (size does matter here). Infused in this book is enough testosterone to make females change gender in the process. The best part of this book is learning about all these unsu...more
Let me be clear on this: This book is rude, profane, and is directed to people with the emotional maturity of a seventh grader.
And I laughed until it hurt.
What I imagined was some marginally literate surfer dude who was given an encyclopedia of military history, and who keeps rushing into your dorm room screaming, "You gotta get a load of THIS!" and then paraphrases what he read about some skull-crushing, throat-tearing Conan the Barbarian type. The exuberance and enthusi...more
And I laughed until it hurt.
What I imagined was some marginally literate surfer dude who was given an encyclopedia of military history, and who keeps rushing into your dorm room screaming, "You gotta get a load of THIS!" and then paraphrases what he read about some skull-crushing, throat-tearing Conan the Barbarian type. The exuberance and enthusi...more
This is a collection of essays about figures from history who are "Badass" by the author's definition. It is written somewhat like a humorous blog (which you can see by looking at the author's webpage, badassoftheweek.com). In fact, after looking at the webpage again, the only thing that the book has over it is the entertaining comic-bookish art. It was very entertaining, but the "nonfiction" label should be taken with a grain of salt. It is mostly based on fact, but it does ...more
I thought this book might just be a colorful title, but it turns out the title was just an indicator of everything that was inside. The author took a bunch of historic figures, most of them military but a handful of law enforcement types, Nikola Tesla, and Bruce Lee, then wrote up biographies explaining why they were badasses. If he didn't write like a 14 year old wrestling fan, it might have been better. Sadly, his style seems to repeat itself a lot, with goofy lists, odd similes, and lots o...more
Coarse, crude, offensive.
It's history meets shock disc jockey. That might work if there was something clever in the shock but it's pedestrian and repetitive. It also uses references to US culture and society that I'm not familiar with and hence I'm lost by it.
Here's some irony. He writes about how the Spartans would banish "pussies" to Athens, those who wanted to study and read books instead of being a Spartan who focused on being a warrior. It seems the author...more
It's history meets shock disc jockey. That might work if there was something clever in the shock but it's pedestrian and repetitive. It also uses references to US culture and society that I'm not familiar with and hence I'm lost by it.
Here's some irony. He writes about how the Spartans would banish "pussies" to Athens, those who wanted to study and read books instead of being a Spartan who focused on being a warrior. It seems the author...more
Okay, kid gloves are off. You take the title of this book and multiply that bitch by like 10 or something. Then, go and punch a shark in the junk. And you STILL won't be as Badass as this book.
To come close you'd have to conquer a nation...or TWO...and then do a fricken backflip for no fucking reason other than to kick GOD himself in his bearded chin. (You know...to prove that you could.)After that, you'd have to survive some insurmountable odds...like WAY worse than that 300 shit y...more
To come close you'd have to conquer a nation...or TWO...and then do a fricken backflip for no fucking reason other than to kick GOD himself in his bearded chin. (You know...to prove that you could.)After that, you'd have to survive some insurmountable odds...like WAY worse than that 300 shit y...more
Thompson writes for our generation; the generation of people born in the later decades of the 20th century who want sarcasm and memorable quips to be prevalent in every conversation and think all dialogue should resemble something scripted by Tarantino or, perhaps, Lemony Snicket. There’s no beautiful prose here but you will laugh out loud at least once in every chapter, and when people look at you strangely as you giggle uncontrollably in a cafe you can think smugly that – were Blackbeard still...more
While an interesting book full of historical figures I haven't heard of and wish to know more about, Badass has too casual tone and is full of over the top hyperbole to make it actually informational. He uses modern phrases to describe ancient warriors and gets so caught up in the "badassery" that the historical context gets buried. I wouldn't even recommend giving this to teens to read due to the graphic language and descriptions used, as well as the overly casual nature. I intend t...more
Ben Thompson has selected certain badass individuals from history and summarized their no-holds-barred lives by putting them up against his own '90s pop culture measuring stick for badasses. He covers 40 badasses through Antiquity, the Middles Ages, the Age of Gunpowder, and the Modern Era, and inside you will read on figures from Ramses to Vlad the Impaler to the Red Baron to Bruce Lee. In short, this book is enlightening at times, LOL-funny at times, and overall just face-explodingly victoriou...more
Lisa
rated it
Recommends it for:
adolescent boys (and girls) who love history, geography, and testosterone
Recommended to Lisa by:
it recommended itself
This is the sort of book Mark Leyner would write, if he were into history instead of gastroenterology; a profane, provocative survey of the world's greatest movers and shakers that will suck you in and send you spinning on a cross cultural thrill ride, beginning in antiquity with Ramses 11 "Everything I attempted I succeeded...I found enemy chariots scattering before my horses...Their hearts quaked with fear when they saw me and their arms went limp." I'm currently at Chandragupta, who...more
If you want a humorous look at some serious badasses in history this book is about as good as it gets. True to it's title it tells short histories of some extremely well-known (Blackbeard, Genghis Khan, etc) toughs, to the lesser known ones as well. Each profile gives a brief overview of why they're famous, plus some exploits to emphasize their 'badassness', along with some interesting side-notes placing them in history.
I actually listened to this book while at the gym, and it was perfect...more
I actually listened to this book while at the gym, and it was perfect...more
If you're at all familiar with Ben Thompson's website (www.badassoftheweek.com), then you've likely already read this book. Not in its dead tree form, of course, but online you've gotten the basic experience. So you should buy this book as an archive, in preparation for the downfall of civilization and the internet.
If you're not familiar with the site, and just like the idea, I have to warn you: Thompson's writing style is an acquired taste.
Perhaps the title of the book s...more
If you're not familiar with the site, and just like the idea, I have to warn you: Thompson's writing style is an acquired taste.
Perhaps the title of the book s...more
Now let me explain. Just because I gave this book 4 stars does not mean it is on par with other "serious" books I would give 4 stars to (e.g. Heart of Darkness). But Badass sets out to do two things: 1- Give a brief history of some of the manlies men (and women) in human history. 2- Be fucking hysterical. It accomplishes both things. I read this book while I was sitting in Barnes & Noble and I literally had tears streaming down my face because I was trying not to laugh like a hyen...more
Reading this book gave me the impression that it could have been written by Beavis and Butthead, if they had a major in history. I would have been more impressed (and probably given more stars) if the author took even the slightest effort to be a little more serious. The stories are very interesting but a lot of times I found myself questioning if the "badass" in question actually did what the author attributes to him/her or if it's another attempt by the author to show off their wit, ...more
This is basically world history for 13-year old boys, which suits my intellect fine. It is written with locker-room vernacular and a video-game mentality for violence. There's no real theme other than short profiles of the baddest dudes and a few dudettes in history. Some, especially those about lesser knowns, were very entertaining. Some broke no new historical ground (Napoleon) and I don't care how cool you think he is, Bruce Lee is not a major historical figure.
Thomson brilliantly and in a very, funny fashion presents the lives of those individuals who proved that the meek better just get out of the way because they aren't going to rule a darn thing. Not the nicest group of folks you would want to encounter, but certainly people who made a name for themselves, often despite huge odds. From soldiers and pirates to heroes and rogues you won't be bored. Thomson did do his research, but be prepared for some not so historically accurate "dialogue"...more
The book was totally hilarious, the vocabulary, the writing style, the dialogue, the wit and how all these created the entirety of the book. I loved how he tried to give it energy and spunk into the descriptions and the actions of the people mentioned in the book but there were just some descriptions that did not go well with the person that it was attributed to for example, Miyamoto Musashi. He also overlooked a few badasses that I believe were supposed to be in the book as well namely Emperor ...more
Really entertaining read. Couldn't have come at a better time. Just a hilarious (and somehow educational) look at some of the larger than life historical characters from Egypt to the modern world. Glad I read it, and was able to do so in far less than a week. If I'd had this during the blizzard I could have read it straight through in one sitting. An good bonus is that the illustrations are quality, giving an additional layer of appreciation for the history Thompson is telling. Although so...more
Enjoyable... some parts are funny enough to make me spit milk out my nose (literally). I found that I ended up reading this book with my laptop open and Wikipedia up in my browser, just to fact-check each account, and every time, I said, "Son of a gun... that actually HAPPENED??!!" Thompson's style is a bit over the top, but this book was a quick read, and thoroughly enjoyable.
the golden witch.
rated it
This book makes learning about history fun again.
I mean, we've all been through it - the dry grade school lectures (unless you were able to find a teacher cool enough to make things interesting) droning on about world history to the point where even the class clowns were getting sleepy.
But this book really lives up to its title. I seriously have to give props to the author, who not only knows his stuff, but has recrafted history in a way that will not only interest younge...more
I mean, we've all been through it - the dry grade school lectures (unless you were able to find a teacher cool enough to make things interesting) droning on about world history to the point where even the class clowns were getting sleepy.
But this book really lives up to its title. I seriously have to give props to the author, who not only knows his stuff, but has recrafted history in a way that will not only interest younge...more
This book is freaking amazing! If I end up a History Professor this is totally an extra credit book! Should be required reading. The only question I really have is how can someone write a book named BADASS about the most BADASS people in history and not include Hannibal or Hamilcar Barca? I suppose that you have to draw the line somewhere but they had better make the sequel!
I really had a blast with this book -- I laughed aloud so many times I kept my wife up late at night more than once. It's not particularly deep (there's an understatement for you), but there are nice little tidbits of trivia that I appreciated. And the bibliography is awesome.
Now I'm going to load up Age of Empires and crush some civilizations my damn self.
Now I'm going to load up Age of Empires and crush some civilizations my damn self.
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