Histories of the Unexpected cover art

Histories of the Unexpected

How Everything Has a History

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Histories of the Unexpected

By: Sam Willis, James Daybell
Narrated by: Sam Willis, James Daybell
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About this listen

Did you know that the history of the beard is connected to the Crimean War; that the history of paperclips is all about the Stasi; and that the history of bubbles is all about the French Revolution? And who knew that Heinrich Himmler, Tutankhamun and the history of needlework are linked to napalm and Victorian orphans?

In Histories of the Unexpected, Sam Willis and James Daybell lead us on a journey of discovery that tackles some of the greatest historical themes but via entirely unexpected subjects. By taking this revolutionary approach, they not only present a new way of thinking about the past but also reveal the everyday world around us as never before.

©2018 Sam Willis & James Daybell (P)2019 Isis Publishing Ltd World French Revolution War Middle Ages

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All stars
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I really enjoyed this book. It’s one of those that you can have on in the background and just chill out to, whilst learning something at the same time.
I think I will be listening to it over and over to be honest.

Incredibly interesting and also relaxing.

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This is a thoroughly enjoyable romp through history looking at how things got their names or how cultural habits were formed. There’s so much to take in I will undoubtedly reread this in future.

Thoroughly enjoyable romp

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very easy listening and surprisingly informative in a circuitous way
blah de blah de blah...

nice

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The content of the book is generally enjoyable and informative but it is narrated by two different people, one is fun, upbeat and engaging, the other sounds like he is thoroughly sick of reading books and is only putting in the absolute minimum level of effort. I found myself skipping through the depressingly narrated chapters so didn't get full value for money.

Generally dissatisfied

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A very interesting book which offers nuggets of information on the history of our everyday life

Interesting book

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No complaints about the content, some of it is quite disturbing but it's a history book and it has an abundance of quirky facts, which is just my thing. One of the narrators sounds rather angry/indignant while reading but then maybe it's just me... otherwise I would recommend.

overall a very interesting book

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Not so much a coherent book as a collection of facts and snippets, some interesting some not. OK for dipping into, the sort of book you keep in the loo, but rapidly becomes tedious when listened to for any length of time as an audio book.

Rather unsatisfying

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I listen to a lot of history audiobooks and this is the only one that I've ever returned.

One of the narrators can't pronounce 'bathing' which isn't why I returned the book but it did annoy me.

Really dull.

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The most unrelated things with the most absurd links one can possibly imagine. I would look at spending your credit elsewhere if I were you

A difficult listen

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I was excited to listen to what i hoped would be a stimulating adventure into history, taking some fascinating deviations.How wrong I was.

This is a collection of essays about random concepts (beards, shadows, gloves) that are at best mildly interesting. The promised Aha moments involving connections between them just were not there.

This could have been saved by a genuine love of the subject, but the authors sounded more like students overpleased with their own hard work than anything else.

It was useful to help my insomnia for a while but i am ATM wide awake at stupid oclock and cannot face any more. Going to listen to Blackadder instead.

Very Disappointing

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