100 Tales from History to Astonish - and Stupefy

Just loved this book. During the aftermath of Storm Sandy 2012 and weeks of no electricity. this book and a flashlight got me through much frustration. Ties the human experience to ancient artfacts. A keeper.

The author has published a similar book consisting of tiny anecdotes from history. A few of them will amuse you for a few seconds. There is an overlap, so the author did not find a full 100 new ones.

I am a geek for all things trivia, and a book promising “100 tales from history to astonish, bewilder and stupefy” sponsored by The History Channel seemed fun. This includes inventions, sports, wars, people, discoveries, everything under the sun. Honestly, though, I was a bit underwhelmed. Each historical tidbit fills two facing pages and includes illustrations and photos. But I felt that some stories could have been elaborated on to make them more interesting. Others could have been left out completely to allow for some really great historical anecdotes to shine. Yes, I learned a few new and peculiar things like the origin of the QWERTY keyboard on the first typewriter, but there were so many other topics addressed that I wanted to know MORE about. It’s a nice little book that would make a good gift for history buffs (I originally bought it for my grandfather), but as a whole, it wasn’t engrossing.

Amazing that when describing the competition between Edison and Westinghouse the author makes ZERO mention of Nicola Tesla. Completely omitting the fact that Westinghouse licensed Tesla's AC technology, - instead the author makes it sound like Westinghouse invented AC! Yet another example of Tesla not getting his due. Shameful - since it presents a completely false version of events that misleads the reader.

"The Greatest Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy" by Rick Beyer is a fun little book with some fascinating tidbits from history.

I must admit I was disappointed by the size of the book. It's pretty small, so although there are 100 entries, each entry is only three to four paragraphs long. You can easily finish reading the entire book in an hour or two.

Anyway, the stories are very interesting and range in subject, from historical events to great moments in sports, medicine, science, and so on. Examples of subject matter include the first dog in space (before man, mind you), the restructuring of the calendar as we know it, the creation of microwaves, the inventor of the guillotine, Thomas Edison's introduction of the electric chair, the death of Attila the Hun, how a Booth saved the life of a Lincoln (as opposed to assassinating him), the most powerful pirate ever (hint: she was a woman), and the origins of penicillin. A majority of the stories seem to concern Unites States history.

To me, this book is a teaser, wetting your appetite to find out more. That's what I did. As soon as I finished "The Greatest Stories Never Told," I started looking up books on some of the topics that intrigued me (sadly, I couldn't find anything on Louis Braille).

All in all, "Greatest" is a good gift book, especially for younger people. The text is easy to read, the stories are enjoyable, and there are plenty of photos/pictures to help the imagination. It really helps history come alive.

A BOOK BLESSING -For Reading
M ay we be blessed with an understanding of time, dawned with feathered wing, and danced into flight by the coaxing of history's treasures, not the doldrum rhythm dry of second grade fact or fiction, pencil tapped and eyelid waning, but the bold, brandished dangers of that dusted vault and attic mystery named, but nigh only night whispered: Stories Untold, the better name for History.

WHATS IN THE BINDING? -Book In Summary
S ometimes I wonder about the untold stories surrounding untold stories. However I am always well excited for any movement forward in this direction, and Mr. Beyer along with the History Channel do not disappoint Here is a book of immense insight and wisdom, with a beautiful layout and content to engage the mind for days. Well it's just like talking a walk through two or three thousand years of history in 200 pages, and having someone point out to you all the many wonders you did not know about. This book, rather like tree roots, stretches down into diverse subjects of stories untold: invention, sports, foods, science, calendars, wars, discoveries, accidents, foods, mysteries, Einstein, Eifel Tower. There is enough riveting content in this book to take it to the bolt store and let it hang with all the other metal tooled fashions. The book weighing in at approximately 17 ounces does well to speak to the adage that History is stranger than fiction. This is a book, well worth reading, that you may no longer continue on, without knowing the small things you do not yet know, which actually considerably change, alter and shape history as we were taught it.

I n fact I do believe I have already started reading this book again, even tonight as I am writing this review. Simply because there are so many stories and life lessons and fascinations contained within. It appears Mr. Beyer has some other books with similar titles branching off into other genres of more specifically science, and music. I hope to get to those next!

T he reoccurring theme I perceive and am amazed by in this Historically insightful mouthing watering watermelon of a book. Is the fragility of history, in the sense and subtleness of the details. For instance three cigars changing the course of the civil war, or the invention of the stethoscope due to a man's modesty. Also the absurdity of some stories, such as Roman officials stealing time from a nation, or the Eifel Tower remaining standing only because the government realized it would be a good radio tower. What a singing in the rain experience this read was, I hope for more Spring reads of this caliber...

Catch the butterfly,
such stories unheard of are,
dancing round with her.

[...]

This was a fun, easy to read book. Some of the things written seemed to me to be common knowledge. But others amazed me, like:

-Christopher Columbus did not have to convince anyone that the world was round. It was common knowledge at that time. The "world is flat" was added to the story by Washington Irving hundreds of years later!

-The ancient Olympics were originally cancelled by a Roman emporor who converted to Christianity and felt the games were glorifying Greek gods. The idea to re-enstate them in 1896 came from a French man who wanted the French people to be physically fit to face war with Germany.

-Baseball was invented by the British.
-Croissants are Austrian.
-St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, was an English slave.

Those are just some of the cool things you will learn in this book. The author also lists all his sources, making it easy to read more about the things you found particularly interesting.

A very entertaining collection of stories of unusual events and people from history. Arranged chronologicaly, starting with the Romans who stole time, and proceeding through such enthralling tales as the man who didn't discover America because he wanted to get home,and king Edward II' valiant but futile attempt to ban soccer (now I know why he was murdered, it was enraged footer fans). Some cherished myths are briskly disposed of, like the notion that medieval people thought the world was flat, and we learn that the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock because they'd run out of beer. A few of the stories in this book were known to me already, most weren't. At $12.57, that's only about 12 cents per fascinating fact, cheap at the price I would say. Who would you say was the most unlikely person to have saved the life of Abraham Lincoln's son? If you don't know already you need to buy this book.

Beyer is an author who is dedicated to making history interesting and fun, which he does so well in this collection of one page stories. I found the book especially interesting because of the background work the author had put into his research (the imprint of the History Channel did not hurt either) which raised these tidbits above the normal trivia, or potential urban legends. Beyer highlights some things that should not be lost in the mists of history, and points out historical facts that may be glossed over in many other history books. There is nothing earth shattering here, but more than a few will make you scratch your head, or share with others in conversation. A great book for dipping your toe in history - each story is about a page of text and is well illustrated. There is just enough to get you the interesting point without boring you. It's a truly fun and fascinating book.

My only requirement for history reading is that it be personably written. Lots of interesting, slightly elaborated on lesser known/ remembered facts. I made bookmarks; let's see if I can put them to memory. Great book.

This is a fun little book for anyone from 8 to 80,who likes to read history.It is more like the kind of stuff you see in Ripley's Believe it or Not,Strange but True,Interesting Facts,etc.There are 100 stories covered in 200 pages and half of that is pictures.One can skip through this book in an hour or two without difficulty.I guess most people would find it just a light read;but there is a real good reference section for anyone who wants to see the source or basis of any of these stories.
Stories are from all over the map and cover from B.C.to the present time .Some of the things you'll find:

Saint Patrick was an Englishman by birth.

The music for "The Star-Spangled Banner" was from a popular
English drinking song.

Where did the term "boycott"come from?

Did you know a US Warship fired a torpeo at another Warship carrying President Roosevelt, missing it by about 100 yards.

How a dead man duped Hitler.

And that's just for starters!

Oh Yeah, My title was a statement made by Tolstoy;who knew a thing or two about history.Then again,who knows,maybe he didn't say that at all.

Pros: Easy to read and entertaining, great coffee table book, fast shipping

I gave this book, The Greatest Stories Never Told” by Rick Beyer, to my grandfather for his birthday who is a history buff! He enjoyed the quirky and interesting stories. It makes a great coffee table book and a great conversation starter for guests. I also read the book when it arrived and the stories are entertaining and easy to read. This would also be a great addition to any classroom for students to learn some of the greatest stories never told in the history books.

Overall, my experience with the “The Greatest Stories Never Told” by Rick Beyer was very positive. I was excited to receive the book to give as a gift and ended up also enjoying the book before I wrapped it! The book makes a great gift and also makes a great addition to any home or classroom library. The shipping and was very fast. If you’re shopping for a great book for a person who is hard to buy for, then you have found your gift. I have no complains about the book or the shipping process and I would definitely purchase the book again.

If you are a freak for interesting tidbits about our kaleidoscopic world, this is a book I'd wager you'll read from cover to cover.
From the discovery of tobacco as a medicinal herb, to America's first president (no it may not have been Washington), to the invention of a stethoscope by a modest French doctor who didn't want to put his ear to the bosom of female patients, to the truth about the background of baseball (spoiler: its cricket for dummies, afterall :)), to the death of Attila the Hun which happened in quite a [boring] manner on his wedding night from a nosebleed while he was drunk, to a story of 3 cigars that may have helped the union side in the civil war....etc etc...this compilation is an absolute ripper.
It's chronicled sequentially from 46 BC to 1990 AD, very well researched (Beyer has worked with the Discovery and the History channels if I am not mistaken) and spiffy enough to open up on any page and get engrossed. Not the stuff of heavyweight history, this, but if this were taught in schools History just may have been the most popular period.
A highly recommended gem for your stash.

Bottom Line: I enjoyed this book a great deal but the experience ended far too quickly.
What I liked: Easy to read. Short, independent stories make the book easy to pick up and put down. There's no need to read it in chronological order. Stories are really fun.
What I didn't like: Nearly every story left me wanting more. Very simplistic (TV-esque?) treatment of events. Very fast read.

The author did a great job of digging up interesting stories and providing a synopsis of those stories and details, but that is all they are: quick sound bite synopsis's. With a few of the stories that is all is what was needed, but with most I felt I was left hanging on some tantalizing new detail or details with no further explanation or narrative. If this was meant to be a sound-byte coffee table book, then a larger format and more pictures would be suggested.

If you are a real history buff, then you might look elsewhere; or purchase this simply to whet your appetite with the fore-knowledge that you will do much more research to get the whole scoop on each "story never told".

Well, it's not as assiduously researched as one might hope, as a couple old legends made their way into the text, but it's a nice read and generally well-presented. If you're one of those people who needs to have something to look at while waiting for tea to boil (or while sitting on the toilet), this makes for a nice diversion. It's certainly not a must-buy, though.

I enjoyed this little book, it has interesting little pieces of history not well known. I didn't sit down and read the whole thing I read one story a day until I'd read the whole thing. The book is in sequence by years and it goes back to the beginning of some of the things we take for granted today I liked learning those little details about the people who were important in those days. I just wish there were more stories I looked forward to reading a little piece of interesting history everyday.

I received this little book as a Father's Day present from my eldest son, who loves trivia and history. (So much so, that he got to compete three nights in a row on Alex Trebek's, JEOPARDY.) Knowing how much I favor FACT over FICTION he sent me the book.
Really enjoyed it. Perfect read for that "second library" as each historical truth is presented in just two-pages. Unless you come from the "Don't Mess with my Myth School" read it. Highly recommended.

Steve Hodel, NYT bestselling author of Black Dahlia Avenger

The stories in this book are incredible fun. Some of them, like the story of the Gregorian calendar, are a part of history that everyone should know. Others, like ths story of coffee, are enriching. Some, like the story of how Garfield's doctors contributed to his death, are morbidly fascinating. This is a book that can be read at the breakfast table, in odd moments, or, as I sometimes do, aloud to friends and family. The stories are extremely short, yet interesting. If it is lacks something, it is an index, but overall, it's a very fun read. Enjoy!

If you are starting your love affair with history, this is the book for you. The "tidbits" of history will take through the span of general history and will help you decide your likes and dislikes in history. This is also a good book for anyone who likes throwing around history factoids at dinner parties, luncheons, and other places. For the serious professional historian, this book will not provide a deep and thorough analysis of history, but as a serious historian myself, its a nice book for a bit of light reading.

A wonderful coffee book and gift for the fact-loving historical geek in all of us (some more than others). There were a number of surprising stories that were published and would be a huge hit with any fact lover.

History (with a capital H) is usually presented with the heavy thud of finality. But Mr. Beyer celebrates those moments when history turned on a whim, in this delightful bite-sized book. And so we discover that the Civil War changed its course thanks to three cigars, that the stethoscope was invented by a bashful physician, and that a sex goddess provided the know-how for cell phones.
Those who love history will find new bits to wonder over. And those of us who nodded off in class get to discover that history is, in fact, packed with the wonderful quirks of human nature. Mr. Beyer has collected a broad assortment of stories and tells them with wit and aplomb.
This book makes a great conversation starter. And probably a good gift for dads and graduates.

For what it is, this was a very informative book of little bits of historical facts. I was hoping for a little more in depth look at some of the things contained, but overall, I thought it was very well done. I did notice some small errors within the book, but nothing that takes away from the book as a whole. I did enjoy the book, and think it could be a great book even for younger readers, or parents and children together.

This book gives little snippets of history information. Each subject gets a few short, well-written paragraphs, plus a few accompanying illustrations. A lot of the stories are of the "If he'd only turned left instead of right, history would be different" genre.

This book has several limitations. For one thing, its view of "history" is pretty limited: most of the book involves events that took place in the last two centuries, mostly in or involving the United States, and mostly involving white men. Most of the stories are about inventions or war. The second limitation is that it's an overstatement to say these stories where "never told." I'd heard many before, and quite a few are common knowledge. Third, the entries are very brief and, while the author does cite his sources, he does not give any other resources for more information.

All that having been said, the entries are light and entertaining, and I did certainly learn some new things. Most trivia fans would probably enjoy this book.

I struggled to find the perfect gift for my love for Christmas. He knows quite a lot about history and I wanted something he would be sure to find "new". HE LOVES THIS BOOK. It is full of much trivia-like facts about many different hints of the past dating back to the 1800's. I think I scored big on this one! He was enthralled. Not being such a lover of this type of reading material, I actually found this book quite enjoyable myself. Each story about an historical event is about 2 pages in length. Not too much, but right to the point. Entertaining.

I found myself saying :this is really interesting... as I turned each page. Great watercooler or dinner party conversation starter, but avoid the urge to reveal the juiciest tidbits as you're recommending the book to friends and others you know, it's harder than you think! The stories are fascinating! Makes an excellent gift for all ages. A fantastic collection of historical trivia.

It is an interesting premise for a book - that many of the events we choose to enter into histories are created by the same forces creating more ordinary events - the Gods, or happenstance or luck. It was enjoyable thinking about history in this way. We can easily forget that history is created by humans in relation to other humans, to nature, to unknown forces. What we glean from these interactions and decide to call history is but one aspect of a terribly complicated multidimensional world.

Assisted by historians at Harvard and Boston University and librarians at the National Archives and Library of Congress, this book is well-researched and visually rich. But it's also colorful and snappy, a testament to how lively history can be in the hands of someone who truly loves it. Beyer gives us 100 bite-size histories, tasty morsels that are curiously strong. My 11 year old son devoured several stories in one sitting; I consumed the book in one weekend. From events that changed nations...to inventions that changed the world, this collection is a joy, a real page-turner.

A fantastic collection of historical trivia. I found myself saying "wow, I didn't know that," as I turned each page. Great watercooler or dinner party conversation starter, but avoid the urge to reveal the juiciest tidbits as you're recommending the book to friends and family...it's harder than you think! The stories are fascinating! Makes an excellent gift for all ages.

So fun. I learned a lot and shared the most interesting bits with other people. I loved that each story was only a couple paragraphs long and was easy to understand, even for folks like me who know nothing about history.

We all know about the famous stories in history that made history...but what about the not-so-famous ones that still made history? Many of them are right here in this wonderfully assembled book of anecdotes that will surely make you pause to reflect on the very nature of causality, fate and the unanswerable question of 'what if...?" Well done! I bought three for the historians in my own family!

This was an interesting book and a quick read. However, each item only has one page (one side) of information, and this book would have earned a five star review from me if only the content was a bit more fleshed out. Still, a great book for the beginner trivia buff.

So this little tome professes to astonish, bewilder, and stupefy? Does it also cure warts and prevent bad breath? Most of the people I know take the stuff this author is peddling, toss it in the bowl, remove the clothespin from their nose, and depress the little plastic/metal handle at the upper left, thereby removing it from the sight of polite company. Then again, maybe he's clever and knows his Barnum and Mencken. Or, more likely given his claim of being a "documentary filmmaker," he's just another clueless member of the media who doesn't know any better. As Bill Shakespeare put it, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Rick, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Stupefy, indeed.

I'm an avid reader of history, as well as processing a degree in the subject. So imagine my surprise when, after receiving this book from a friend of mine for Christmas, I read the erroneous account of the Children's Crusade of 1212. I had done research on this topic, so I was horrified to read the completely inaccurate account of what occurred. Had the author not read any historical analysis on the subject from the last 50 years? If he had, he would have realized that there were actually two crusades - one consisting of mainly French people led by Stephen of Cloyes who, when told to turn back by King Philip II, did so. That ended that crusade. The other one, led by a shepherd from Germany named Nicholas, led a group across the Alps into Italy. Some left for home while others continued on to Rome. It's interesting to note that in Rome, many received dispensations from their crusading vows because these "children" were either too old or because they were pregnant. Perhaps until relatively recently, people believed in the Children's Crusade because it represented a morality play or because some historians gave too much credit to chronicles (like Chronica Albrici monachi Trium Fontium) which were written long after the crusade supposedly occurred, rather than relying on more contemporary sources. Nor did they realize that the latin word "pueri" used in the chronicles can have several meanings (such as unmarried men rather than children).

In the final analysis, you just can't rely on books like these to really teach you history. The best you can do is read what they tell you and then try to verify it. If only the author had bothered to check the History Channel's own account of the Children's Crusade on their website, or perhaps read the excellent paper done by Peter Raedts in the Journal of Medieval History, or even just checked out the brief but accurate entry online in wikipedia. The book gave two pages to this event, and sadly got it completely wrong.

For this gross oversight, I am compelled to give it one star. Readers of history, never just believe what you read - verify.

Chances are that this collection of stories you have never heard of. And if you did, chances are that the date and facts are a bit confused as time has a habit of inducing. Not only can you read these marvelous stories, but there are over 200 illustrations that will allow you to see what the author has recreated. It begins with the 394 A>D> Olympics that were cancelled and ends with the man who created the browser and server in 1990, Tim Berners-Lee. And all this time Al Gore took credit for creating the web. Who would have thought. In between these two stories you will find many interesting occurences that will ignite your imagination as well as appreciation for little known facts. This book is a reader's holiday filled with joy and amazement.