Histories of the Unexpected
How Everything Has a History
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Histories of the Unexpected
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Narrated by:
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Sam Willis
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James Daybell
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 LtdListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Histories of the Unexpected
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- longtallsally
- 15-12-20
Thoroughly enjoyable romp
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.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kimberley Everitt
- 13-02-21
Incredibly interesting and also relaxing.
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Luke
- 11-07-21
nice
very easy listening and surprisingly informative in a circuitous way
blah de blah de blah...
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- H
- 09-05-23
Generally dissatisfied
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.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gd
- 01-04-20
overall a very interesting book
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.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Mr. C. J. Goode
- 09-03-22
Rather unsatisfying
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.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Splodge
- 04-05-22
Really dull.
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.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Jamie
- 18-07-23
A difficult listen
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
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Harriet Morris
- 25-08-24
Very Disappointing
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.
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