Synopses & Reviews
History is about much more than dusty books, dreary dates, and long-forgotten battles. History is also about sex appeal! Historical Heartthrobs compiles photos and life stories of 50 of the sexiest men and women from history and asks the essential question: Would you really want to date them? Consider George Sand, for instance. She was the hottest thing in pants in nineteenth-century France, but would you really want to put up with all that smoking? Or what about Nikola Tesla? His utter brilliance made Victorians swoon, but he seemed incapable of swooning back. Would you endure his indifference in return for that incredible smile? Each entry in Historical Heartthrobs includes a full-page photo, contemporary quotes, and an in-depth explanation of who these people were, why they mattered, and how they managed to be so seductive. Entries also include: Vital stats about the hottie's place of birth, lifespan, and major areas of influence. The inside scoop on peccadilloes, noteworthy liaisons, and long-standing relationships. An overall heat reading that factors in sex appeal, charisma, accomplishments, and of course, moral virtue. (Points are docked for brutality and rudeness!) Everyone included here made their mark on the worldand#8212;but not everyone did so in an equally admirable fashion. John Wilkes Booth was definitely good-looking, but racist assassins don't generally make for the best life partners. Nellie Bly, on the other hand, did more in her average year than most people do in a lifetimeand#8212;and she happened to look like a model, too. So review their records, check out their photos, and choose the hottie who makes you swoon.
Review
and#8220;A gleefully explicit catalogue of the past centuryand#8217;s headline-grabbing bad behaviorand#8230;Catnip for scandal junkies, with a bit of historical perspective stirred in.and#8221; and#8212;
Kirkus Reviews and#8220;Fryd uses a snappy format to introduce 50 newsworthy (and occasionally cringe-worthy) dramas that caught the publicand#8217;s attention. Informative!and#8221; and#8212; ALA Booklist
Review
and#8220;A fun book for any reader, with a balanced mix of historical anecdotes, romantic trivia, and witty, accessible writing.and#8221; -ForeWord Reviews and#160; and#8220;(A) broad-ranging, tongue-in-cheek guide to the hotties of historyand#8230;.With engrossing photos, lively quotations, and witty writing, itand#8217;s and#8220;the complete packageand#8221;and#8212;just like Nellie Bly.and#8221; -Publishers Weekly and#160; and#8220;Surely a tantalizing start for a beginning researcher.and#8221; -Booklist
Review
PRAISE
andquot;A gallery of historical troublemakers starting with Hannibal and ending with Martin Luther King, Jr. ...Snarky picture captions (and#39;Emma Goldman is not interested in your nonsenseand#39;) and sidebar references to pop culture further enlighten the overall tone. ...Salutary portraits in radicalism.andquot; -- Kirkus Reviews
andquot;A lively narrative, an accessible length, and deadpan humor--particularly in captions (George Washington is and#39;tight in tightsand#39; and Sitting Bull and#39;sits bullishlyand#39;)--allow for irreverent, edifying reading.andquot; -- Publishers Weekly
Review
"Imparting the ideas that phobic people are in good company and that hope exists for eliminating persistentand#160;fears, this is factual, fun, and encouraging." and#8211;Booklist
Synopsis
Do you love a good scandal? This book includes 50 juicy pop culture, political, and entertainment-related scandals complete with photos, event synopses, and a look at why it went down in history and how it continues to influence us today. Other features include famous quotes and a section on where the players are now. Teens will get the dish on:
- Milli Vanilliand#8217;s lip-syncing
- the Clinton-Lewinsky affair
- the Biggie and Tupac murders
- the Kent State shooting
- the OJ Simpson Murder trial
- Patty Hearstand#8217;s kidnapping
- And more!
Synopsis
We are always hearing about the Next Big Thing. Whether it is a new iPhone or the New World, the freshest and newest inventions, discoveries, and fads loom large in the public mind. The impact that everyone thinks these "next big things" will have is often more important than the actual impact it generates. After all, if it fails, it will be almost immediately forgotten. The Next Big Thing searches through 3,000 years of Western culture to find the colorful and key steps (and missteps) that led us to where we are today. Paradigm-shifting events, such as the spread of ethical monotheism and the invention of the printing press stand beside such cultural ephemera as the aborted U.S metric campaign and the misbegotten vogue for smart drinks. Each entry features the historical context of that Next Big Thing as well as an overview of its legacy, including photos, sidebars, trivia, and quotes.
Synopsis
This book compiles photos and life stories ofand#160;fifty of the sexiest men and women from history and asks the essential question: Would you really want to date them? Some are artists, some are scientists, and many are political or military leaders, but all have had a lasting impact on human lifeand#8212;and a sizable impact on their admirers as well. Each entry describes the period in which the heartthrob lived and includes essential stats, hilarious sidebars, and, of course, a and#8220;crushabilityand#8221; ranking: a measurement of how crush-worthy these people really are, based on their relative levels of heroism (or villainy).
Synopsis
We live in an era of misinformation, much of it spread by authority figures, including politicians, religious leaders, broadcasters, high-traffic bloggers, and, of course, websites. With so much bullshit coming from so many sources, how can anyone be expected to discover the truth? Well, if you are tired of hearing blowhards spouting off about climate change, history, evolution, medicine, and more, you'll find this book full of invaluable facts that will startle and amuse you.
In Bullshit, John Grant, author of acclaimed books such as Discarded Science, Corrupted Science, and Denying Science, will hook readers with modern, ripped-from-the-headlines examples of bullshit, clearly explaining how to identify and debunk such hogwash. He also provides a roundup of the rhetorical tricks bullshitters use when they try to pull the wool over our eyes and even offers advice about how to take bullshitters down. Although the subject matter can often be serious, the book is full of Grant's trademark humor and perceptiveness. (And some snark, too.)
Synopsis
We live in an era of misinformation, much of it spread by authority figures, including politicians, religious leaders, broadcasters, and, of course, apps and websites. With so much bogus information coming from so many sources, how can anyone be expected to discover the truth?
In Debunk It, author John Grant uses modern, ripped-from-the-headlines examples to clearly explain how to identify bad evidence and poor arguments. He provides a roundup of the rhetorical tricks people use when attempting to pull the wool over our eyes, and even offers advice about how to take these unscrupulous pundits down. So if you’re tired of hearing blowhards spouting off about climate change, history, evolution, medicine, and more, this is the book for you. Debunk It is the ultimate guide for young readers seeking a firmer footing in a world that’s full of holes.
Synopsis
We love to root for the underdog, and that's part of why we're drawn to the stories of revolutionaries. Whether they fail, succeed, or succeed only to become what they once fought against,and#160;people who can rally others to their cause and shake up the status quoand#160;tend to be inherently interesting. Rockin' the Boat tells the stories of 50 such legends throughout the world, from people fed up with the Roman Empireand#160;and the revolutionaries who helped create America.
Synopsis
Clubs aren't just for kids anymore. Since the earliest days of human culture, people have banded together to pass on traditions, climb up the social ladder, and sometimes just avoid being excluded themselves. Some of today's groups have been around for centuries and others have developed in just the past few decades. But members of these clubs walk, talk, and live all around us; we just don't always know it. Members Only provides a glimpse into the underground cults people love, fear, and cannot resist. Delving into different groups like Opus Dei, the Freemasons, and the Skull and Bones, the book uncovers the how, what, when, where, and why of these mysterious groups. Members Only reveals the shared beliefs and actions of these organizations so that we, too, can access secret worlds we didn't even know were there.
Synopsis
Throughout human history, people have banded together to pass on traditions, climb the social ladder, and often just have a good time. And sometimes, keeping other people out is part of the fun. (Every hot club needs a velvet rope, after all.) But some of these groups have proved so exclusive and secretive that we on the outside canandrsquo;t resist some speculation. Wouldnandrsquo;t you like to know what theyandrsquo;re really up to? No need for secret handshakes or passwordsandmdash; Members Only is your all-access guide to the secret societies, clandestine cults, and exclusive associations that youandrsquo;ve always wondered about. Profiling over fifty groups, from the centuries-old Freemasons to the snooty Skull and Bones Society to a club just for magicians, this book reveals the secrets of these mysterious organizations andmdash; and even tells you how to join up. Get ready to go underground and explore secret worlds that are sometimes shocking, sometimes frightening, and always fascinating.
Synopsis
Nearly every day thereandrsquo;s another news story, think piece, or pop cultural anecdote related to feminism and womenandrsquo;s rights. Conversations around consent, equal pay, access to contraception, and a host of other issues are foremost topics of conversation in American media. And todayandrsquo;s teens are encountering these issues from a different perspective than any generation has beforeandmdash;but whatandrsquo;s often missing from the current discussion is an understanding of how weandrsquo;ve gotten to this place. Fight Like a Girl introduces readers to the history of feminist activism in the U.S. in an effort to celebrate those who paved the way and draw attention to those who are working hard to further the feminist cause today.
Synopsis
History of full of liars. Not just little-white-telling liars, but big-honkinandrsquo;, whopper-telling liarsandmdash;people who can convince us that even the most improbable, outrageous, nonsensical stories are true. And the worst part is that we believe them. Whoppers tells the story of historyandrsquo;s greatest liars and the lies they told, providing a mix of narrative profiles of super-famous liars, lies, and/or hoaxes, as well as more obscure episodes.
Synopsis
Fear is a primal human emotion, and it often plays an important role in keeping us safe from threats. Itand#8217;s part of our evolutionary makeup, after all. But fears can also spiral out of control, and if your perfectly reasonable fear of snakes swells to the point that you run screaming from every uncoiled hose, then (news flash!) youand#8217;ve got yourself a phobia. Phobias are as strange as they are diverse, but they actually have the power to teach us about who we are and where we came from. Sara Latta blends biology, psychology, history, and pop culture to provide a comprehensive account of fifty fears, from arachnophobia to zoophobia.
Synopsis
Fear is a primal human emotion, and it often does play an important role in keeping us safe from threats. Itand#8217;s part of our evolutionary makeup, after all. But fears can also spiral out of control, and if your perfectly reasonable fear of snakes has metastasized to the point that you run screaming from every uncoiled hose, then (news flash!) youand#8217;ve got yourself a phobia. Human phobias are strange, diverse, and actually have the power to teach us a lot about who we are and where we came from. And in this book, author Sarah Latta blends biology, psychology, history, and pop culture to provide a comprehensive account of 50 essential fears, from arachnophobia to zoophobia. Additionally, the book includes:
- An explanation of the history behind each phobia, and a discussion of notable people who have suffered from the fear
- Sidebars that highlight famous phobic moments from history and pop culture
- Updates on how successful various phobia treatments have been
Phobias are no laughing matter if youand#8217;ve got one, but sometimes the first step to overcoming your fear is understanding that sometimes weand#8217;re afraid of a lot of really weird things. So whether youand#8217;re looking for perspective, information, or just want to know what Madonna and David Beckham are afraid of, this is the book for you. (Bibliophobes, however, should probably keep their distance.)
Synopsis
Galileo, Einstein, Curie, Darwin, Hawkingandmdash; we know the names, but how much do we really know about these people? Galileo gained notoriety over his battle with the Vatican, but did you know that this andldquo;father of modern scienceandrdquo; was also an accomplished lute player? And Darwin of course discovered the principle by which new species are formed, but his bold curiosity extended to the dinner table as well. (And how many people can say theyandrsquo;ve eaten an owl!) In Eureka! John Grant -- author of Debunk It!, Discarded Science, Spooky Science and many others -- offers fifty vivid portraits of groundbreaking scientists. From lutes and owls to astronomy and evolution, Eureka! explains how these scientific geniuses have shaped our understanding andndash; and how they spent their free time as well.
About the Author
Laura Barcella is a freelance writer and editor from Washington, D.C. She is a contributing editor at xoJane and a contributing writer at The Fix. She edited Madonna and Me: Women Writers on the Queen of Pop, an anthology of essays about Madonna by women writers, and is the author of a pop culture guide to the apocalypse called The End: 50 Apocalyptic Visions From Pop Culture That You Should Know Aboutandhellip; Before Itandrsquo;s Too Late. Laura has written features, profiles, essays, and more for Salon, Esquire.com, the Village Voice, Cosmopolitan, Elle.com, Refinery29, the Chicago Sun-Times, Time Out New York, AlterNet, BUST, Elle Girl, CNN.com, and NYLON. An expert on pop culture, feminism, and lifestyles, she lives in San Francisco, California.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION..........................................10
1. Cleopatraand#160; (70/69 BCEand#8211;30 BCE)...................12
2. Benjamin Franklin (1706and#8211;1790)................16
3. Marie Antoinette (1755and#8211;1793)...................20
4. Lord Byron (1788and#8211;1824)............................24
5. George Sand (1804and#8211;1876)..........................28
6. Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811and#8211;1896).........32
7. Ada Lovelace (1815and#8211;1852)..........................36
8. Frederick Douglass (1818and#8211;1895)...............40
9. Wild Bill Hickok (1837and#8211;1876)....................44
10. John Wilkes Booth (1838and#8211;1865)..............48
11. Nikola Tesla (1856and#8211;1943)..........................52
12. Teddy Roosevelt (1858and#8211;1919)..................56
13. Annie Oakley (1860and#8211;1926).......................60
14. Nellie Bly (1864and#8211;1922)..............................64
15. W.E.B. DuBoisand#160;(1868and#8211;1963)....................68
16. Czarina Alexandra (1872and#8211;1918)..............72
17. Harry Houdiniand#160;(1874and#8211;1926).....................76
18. Mata Hari (1876and#8211;1917).............................80
19. Isadora Duncan (1877and#8211;1927)...................84
20. Mustafa Kemal Atatand#252;rk r (1881and#8211;1938)..... 88
21. Pablo Picasso (1881and#8211;1973).......................92
22. Coco Chanel (1883and#8211;1971).......................96
23. T.E. Lawrence (1888and#8211;1935).................. 100
24. Jim Thorpe (1887and#8211;1953).......................104
25. Duke Kahanamoku (1890and#8211;1968)........... 108
26. Bessie Coleman (1892and#8211;1926) ...............112
27. Dorothy Parker (1893and#8211;1967).................116
28. Amelia Earhart (1897and#8211;1937)................120
29. Ernest Hemingway (1899and#8211;1961)..........124
30. Leni Riefenstahl (1902and#8211;2003)..............128
31. Salvador Daland#237; (1904and#8211;1989).....................132
32. Bugsy Siegel (1906and#8211;1947).....................136
33. Josephine Baker (1906and#8211;1975)...............140
34. Frida Kahlo (1907and#8211;1954).......................144
35. Carmen Miranda (1909and#8211;1955)..............148
36. Albert Camus (1913and#8211;1960)...................152
37. Eddie Chapman (1914and#8211;1997)................156
38. Maya Deren (1917and#8211;1961)......................160
39. Eva Perand#243;n (1919and#8211;1952)..........................164
40. Helen Gurley Brown (1922and#8211;2012)........168
41. Fidel Castro (1926and#8211;)...............................172
42. Cesar Chand#225;vez (1927and#8211;1993)....................176
43. Che Guevara (1928and#8211;1967)....................180
44. Sylvia Plath (1932and#8211;1963).......................184
45. Gloria Steinem (1934and#8211;).........................188
46. Jane Goodall (1934and#8211;)............................192
47. Roberto Clemente (1934and#8211;1972)............196
48. Bruce Lee (1940and#8211;1973)..........................200
49. Huey P. Newton (1942and#8211;1989)................204
50. Benazir Bhutto (1953and#8211;2007).................208
Further Reading......................................212
INDEX...............................................................214