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1st out of 44 books
—
13 voters
The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody: Great Figures of History Hilariously Humbled
Ever wonder what Nero did before he began fiddling about in Rome, or wanted the bare facts about Lady Godiva? Maybe you've found the story of Lucrezia Borgia a bitter pill to swallow, or wanted the straight skinny on corpulent King Henry the Eighth, but you haven't the stomach for stuffy history books. Now these and twenty-two more of history's most famous personages are b...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
April 30th 1992
by Barnes & Noble
(first published 1950)
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Oct 07, 2012
P.J. Sullivan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who can laugh and chew gum at the same time
I bought this book at a book fair in 1954 for twenty-five cents. Best quarter I ever spent! I still have the book and reread it now and then. It is still funny, after all these years. Wouldn’t think of parting with it. I liked it so much I couldn't resist writing a sequel to it. My version is called “Mostly Rapscallions” and was published in 2008. Came out in a second edition in 2010.
This book has two things to offer: the history is valid and the humor is funny. You can laugh and learn both. Cu...more
This book has two things to offer: the history is valid and the humor is funny. You can laugh and learn both. Cu...more
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 se...more
6 likes · like · see review
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 dad.
Viva l...more
Jan 12, 2008
Meaghan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
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.
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.
4 likes · like · see review
Oct 03, 2009
Maria Bustillos
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone with a sense of humor; history teachers
If only this hilariously droll send-up of historical figures were used as a middle-school textbook, every kid would adore history and go on to become a genius. Cuppy worked on this book for sixteen years; the history in it is meticulously researched, though his treatment of it is far from stuffy. This book was published posthumously in 1950, so you'd think the humor would be dated. Not so. It holds up spectacularly well. "Egypt has been called the Gift of the Nile," he begins. "Once every year t...more
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.
This is a delightful and wonderfully creative look at historical figures from long ago, including Nero, Cleopatra, Peter the Great, Christopher Columbus, and more. Will Cuppy's genius is to have written very short and extremely entertaining vignettes that are based on very thorough research and includes lesser known facts about these men and women.
Here are a few samples:
From the chapter on Cleopatra: "Caesar was fifty-four to Cleopatra's twenty-one, but he was still a ladies' man -- the thin, w...more
Here are a few samples:
From the chapter on Cleopatra: "Caesar was fifty-four to Cleopatra's twenty-one, but he was still a ladies' man -- the thin, w...more
این کتاب سال هاست که در ایران تجدید چاپ نشده است که البته در بساط دست دوم فروش های خیابان انقلاب پیدا می شود و همین طور در اینترنت
نجف دریابندی به قدری خوب در زبان فارسی این داستان های طنز تاریخی را ترجمه کرده که مدت های مدید به او تهمت می زدند که در واقع ویل کاپی در کار نیست و اینها ساخته و پرداخته خود نجف خان هستند
اما در واقع ویل کاپی وجود داشته و این شاهکار ترجمه حاصل استادی و مهارت دریابندری در بازسازی این داستان ها در زبان شوخ فارسی است که به سبک و سیاق همین کتاب احمد شاملو را هم بی نصیب نگذ...more
نجف دریابندی به قدری خوب در زبان فارسی این داستان های طنز تاریخی را ترجمه کرده که مدت های مدید به او تهمت می زدند که در واقع ویل کاپی در کار نیست و اینها ساخته و پرداخته خود نجف خان هستند
اما در واقع ویل کاپی وجود داشته و این شاهکار ترجمه حاصل استادی و مهارت دریابندری در بازسازی این داستان ها در زبان شوخ فارسی است که به سبک و سیاق همین کتاب احمد شاملو را هم بی نصیب نگذ...more
this is one of the favorite books of Andrew Ramer, who wrote one of my favorite books, Little Pictures: Fiction for a New Age, a collection of minute mythologies. this book is a collection of comedic portraits of historic figures, including hannibal, queen elizabeth, miles standish, and montezuma. it is extremely funny, and-- word is-- scrupulously researched and accurate. basically, every paragraph is a perfectly formed joke, and every chapter one you want to read out loud. to everyone you know...more
1 like · like · see review
For some reason, I kept hearing Stephen Colbert's voice while I was reading this book. It's probably the comedic writing style coupled with the way footnotes are used to make commentary and not actual citations, but I'm giving this book 3/5 right now because I haven't had the chance to go back through and check the historical validity of some of his statements. Once I've checked those out (with leeway since this book was written in the 1930s-40s), then I might adjust my scoring. ˆ.ˆ
1 like · like · see review
One of my all time favorite books, and if I was to be marooned on an island and had to choose just one book, I'd be very tempted to bring this one (probably wouldn't since this book is only 230 pages--but if I could bring 2 books, then yes, this would be one).
Probably is the book I've read and reread the most. Will Cuppy's enthusiasm on these famous people from history is infectious and it's a tragedy that he killed himself before finishing the book. Even in its rough state, still obviously ama...more
Probably is the book I've read and reread the most. Will Cuppy's enthusiasm on these famous people from history is infectious and it's a tragedy that he killed himself before finishing the book. Even in its rough state, still obviously ama...more
3 likes · like · see review
For better or worse, Will Cuppy has been a great influence on my writing style. In many ways he epitomizes the laid-back New Yorker humor of the Algonquin Round Table period; very dry, matter-of-fact and Stoic. Things and people are what they are and most can be tolerable from a safe distance. I don't believe he made much money from his writing, and his sad final years stand as a tombstone refutation to people who think America had "a great medical system before Medicare." Ill-health and poverty...more
If A Short History of Decay
and Child's History of the World
were Wonder Twins, they'd form-of this.
Cuppy frames history not as the usual procession of textbook saints but the "great con," as Cioran calls it. He treads a line between whimsy and invective, a proper balance of which is achieved in in many of his muted, hilarious footnotes; explaining Cleopatra's attraction to the grey, balding Caesar, he adds "This looks distinguished, if you have money." These giants of the past were just people af...more
and Child's History of the World
were Wonder Twins, they'd form-of this.
Cuppy frames history not as the usual procession of textbook saints but the "great con," as Cioran calls it. He treads a line between whimsy and invective, a proper balance of which is achieved in in many of his muted, hilarious footnotes; explaining Cleopatra's attraction to the grey, balding Caesar, he adds "This looks distinguished, if you have money." These giants of the past were just people af...more
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.
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.
2 likes · like · see review
Everyone should read this book. It is witty and well-researched and an easy read. I have read it twice.
May 23, 2011
Christina Sesok
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
history-non-fiction,
summer-reading-2011
A very intriguing book. The sarcasm was wonderful, as it is right up my alley. I enjoyed the brief history, it was all short, sweet and to the point. The footnotes are also incredibly entertaining and should be looked at as you read the book, as they more of a commentary on the facts based on Cuppy's opinions.
The one thing I disliked was the final two chapters of the book, which dealt with pranks and eating habits of historical figures. I honestly found these two chapters to be rather pointless,...more
The one thing I disliked was the final two chapters of the book, which dealt with pranks and eating habits of historical figures. I honestly found these two chapters to be rather pointless,...more
Truly enjoyable! Bought at British Library on an impulse and don't regret it.
It is slightly dated (written in the fifth decade of 20th century) but that does not matter.
As the cover says, it is a totally new way of writing and teaching history in a funny and delightful manner. It may be difficult for an Indian like me to relate to the characters in the book. Even than I finished the book in four days! And if the "Afterword" is to be believed, each of the facts mentioned is correct. It means im...more
It is slightly dated (written in the fifth decade of 20th century) but that does not matter.
As the cover says, it is a totally new way of writing and teaching history in a funny and delightful manner. It may be difficult for an Indian like me to relate to the characters in the book. Even than I finished the book in four days! And if the "Afterword" is to be believed, each of the facts mentioned is correct. It means im...more
Apr 16, 2007
parisa
added it
توصیف طنزآلود فوق العاده ،از بزرگان تاریخ
one of the most hilarious books I've EVER had the pleasure of reading
A childhood favorite I picked up while visiting family. It's a nice lighthearted general romp through history, although it's showing its age by now (the Sumerians will blow over? really, sir?), and definitely written by a white guy who did not know much about the-world-beyond-Europe-and-America, as far as I can tell.
But if you're trying to convince someone that no, really, history is amazing, full of awesome people who did fascinating things for the most hilarious and fucked-up reasons, you coul...more
But if you're trying to convince someone that no, really, history is amazing, full of awesome people who did fascinating things for the most hilarious and fucked-up reasons, you coul...more
A totally under appreciated writer, along the lines of Don Marquis and better than S.J. Perelman - a hermit who found out the most amazing things in the world before wikipedia (yes, there really was a world before).
I'd love love love to see Larry Gonick illustrate these tidbits.
I'd love love love to see Larry Gonick illustrate these tidbits.
Oh my. This was an odd little book. I went into it with high hopes of picking up some fun history trivia and learning about famous folk of years past. I was all ready for a quirky little adventure through history bloopers. Instead, I got an author who basically jabbed at the historical figures for the same things repeatedly - namely being promiscuous and unintelligent - and grossly abused the use of footnotes to make satirical comments which I could tell he thought were funny but really rarely w...more
This is a book of farcical and very irreverent sketches of various historic personages, written with tongue permanently attached to cheek, from the late 1940's/early 1950's. Like similar exercises from that era (e.g. Mr. Peabody and Sherman), it's pretty light, pun-laden reading that can be fun for a while. Unlike Mr. Peabody, however, Cuppy makes absolutely no effort to be even slightly respectful towards the "great men" style of historical scholarship, and this book exists mainly to skewer tha...more
Jun 01, 2011
Nikki
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
History Fans
I enjoyed Cuppy's take on history at a humorous angle. Some of the humor is dated as it was written in the '30s and '40s, although there is plenty which holds up to the test of time.
"Practically Everybody" I thought would imply a large number of individuals, however, there were not many historical figures actually contained in the book (perhaps it was meant to be snarky). I think this may have largely to do with Cuppy's style of research, in which he apparently read everything there is on his to...more
"Practically Everybody" I thought would imply a large number of individuals, however, there were not many historical figures actually contained in the book (perhaps it was meant to be snarky). I think this may have largely to do with Cuppy's style of research, in which he apparently read everything there is on his to...more
History for those who don't want to take it too seriously. Starts out strong (and funny), continues strong, and disappoints in the last two chapters. But you can ignore those chapters, since it's a history book, and those don't usually involve a climax.
"Since Nero's character leaves much to be desired, we are apt to forget his good side. We should try to remember that he did not murder his mother until he was twenty-one years old."
"Some scholars explain Louis's dullness by his royal position, ki...more
"Since Nero's character leaves much to be desired, we are apt to forget his good side. We should try to remember that he did not murder his mother until he was twenty-one years old."
"Some scholars explain Louis's dullness by his royal position, ki...more
Wickedly funny, and gets funnier the more you know of history, since it's almost entirely true. I have to say, I wonder if Will Cuppy started the recent fashion for footnotes? His aren't always relevant but are always hilarious.
Well worth a read; particularly recommended for the history buff. My one critique would be that it sticks to Euro-American history... but then, given how he skewers the figures in question, that may not be a problem.
Well worth a read; particularly recommended for the history buff. My one critique would be that it sticks to Euro-American history... but then, given how he skewers the figures in question, that may not be a problem.
Hilarious. Insolent. Completely irreverent. From Alexander the Great and Ghengis Khan to Lady Godiva and Lucrezia Borgia, no historical figure of any monument is safe! Will Cuppy picks apart everybody who was anybody. One can only be disappointed (or happy?) that he isn't around today to see certain of our current world leaders.
One of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. The historical figures who get memorialized as "great" are usually pretty awful people, and Cuppy makes hay with this again and again. I think the section on the now forgotten but once notorious Madame du Barry, mistress of Louis XV, may be my favorite, but they're all pretty good.
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William Jacob "Will" Cuppy was an American humorist and literary critic, known for his satirical books about nature and historical figures.
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“He had also learned that there is no use murdering people; there are always so many left, and if you tried to murder them all you would never get anything else done.”
—
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Mar 22, 2007 01:55pm