Discover the Surprising History of Ordinary Things"Emily magically weaves a vibrant history of simple everyday objects we often take for granted. The Story Behind will surprise and delight..." Deana Marie, Creator & Host of the Twisted Philly podcast
#1 Best Seller in Trivia & Fun Facts, Art History, Design History & Criticism, Reference, Decorative Arts & Design, and History of Technology
Learn the fascinating history and trivia you never knew about things we use daily, from the host of The Story Behind podcast.
Everyday objects and major events in history. Every single thing that surrounds us has a story behind it. Many of us learn the history of humans and the major inventions that shaped our world. But what you may not have learned is the history of objects we surround ourselves with every day. You might not even know how the major events in history (World Wars, ancient civilizations, revolutions, etc.) influenced the inventions of things we use today.
The history and science behind the ordinary. From the creator of The Story Behind podcast comes one of the coolest coffee table books ever written. The Story Behind provides insight into everyday objects we don't think much about as we use them. Topics covered in Emily's podcast are examined in more detail along with new fascinating topics. Learn how lollipops got started in Ancient Egypt, how podcasts were invented, and why Comic Sans was created. Learn the torture device origins of certain exercise equipment and the espionage beginnings of certain musical instruments. Ordinary things from science to art, food to sports, customs to fashion, and more are explored.
Inside:
Learn obscure history and fun facts and change the way you see the world
Discover how major historic events still affect us today
Become a formidable trivia master
If you have enjoyed books such as Now I Know, What If?, Ever Wonder Why?, The Greatest Stories Never Told, or Atlas Obscura; you will be entertained by The Story Behind.
The Story Behind
Description
Table of Contents
SAMPLE ENTRIES (plus much more!)
1. Peanut Butter - Used as a source of protein during World War II, and soldiers popularized it when they came back from the war. 2. The Treadmill - Originally used for prisoners to generate energy and as a form of punishment, and now we pay money to use them. 3. The Lollipop - Started with ancient Egyptians eating honey on sticks. 4. The Lead Pipe (from The Clue Series in which every episode in the series was based on one of the six original weapons of the game Clue) - Even in ancient times, people were aware of the dangers of lead. 5. Podcasts - The controversy surrounding who actually invented them and/or the technology needed for them. 6. Comic Sans - Originally designed to be used in a learning computer game, now used on school fliers, to the chagrin of graphic designers everywhere. 7. The Theremin - The creepy instrument popularized in sci-fi movies was actually brought over to America from Russia as part of a spy mission.
8. Lullabies - How lullabies are used in different civilizations and how certain beat patterns are used in lullabies to mimic rocking. 9. Mad Hatters - Even though they aren't around anymore because we now know the dangers of mercury, find out why we say the phrase "mad as a hatter," and who Lewis Carroll's character was supposedly based on. 10.Gunpowder - Originally invented by alchemists looking to create gold, used as fireworks, then as a powerful weapon, and part of a plot in England by Guy Fawkes to blow up Parliament in 1605.
Author Description
Emily Peck Prokop received her B.S. in Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University, and is currently a podcast producer and editor. When she discovered podcasting as a hobby, she finally found an outlet for the random information she collected that she loved to randomly bring up in conversations. While she never considered herself a history buff, she found it was easier to remember when put into the context of fascinating stories related to things that came about in today's world. She's been featured in numerous podcasts and enjoys getting behind the mic whenever she can. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two kids, and two cats -- all of whom get tired of hearing her start sentences with "I learned on a podcast ..."