The Mental Floss History of the World: An Irreverent Romp Through Civilization's Best Bits

Collins

The Mental Floss History of the World:  An Irreverent Romp Through Civilization's Best Bits
Erik Sass
Steve Wiegand
Will Pearson
Mangesh Hattikudur
2008

The Summary
"Pop quiz!  Who said what about history?

"History is...

(a) more or less bunk.
(b) a nightmare from which I am trying to awaken.
(c) as thoroughly infected with lies as a street whore with syphilis.

"Match your answers:

(1) Stephen Daedalus of James Joyce's Ulysses
(2) Henry Ford
(3) Arthur Schopenhauer

"It turns out that answer need not be bunk, nightmarish, or diseased.  In the hands of mental_floss, history's most interesting bits have been handpicked and roasted to perfection.  Packed with little-known stories and outrageous--but accurate--facts, you'll laugh yourself smarter on this joyride through 60,000 years of human civilization.  Remember:  just because it's true, doesn't mean its boring!

"Answers:  (a) 2, (b) 1, (c) 3."

The Good
The Mental Floss History of the World is a fun and "irreverent romp through civilization's best bits," as the subtitle attests.  It's intriguing and engaging and delightfully informative; moreover, it's often hilarious.  I loved that the book offered a glimpse into little-known and forgotten history, while simultaneously entertaining readers.

Plus, it struck a sarcastic tone that appealed to my sense of humor.  I loved the funny side notes that picked out the most intriguing (or embarrassing) and unexpected moments in history, and I loved the sense of irony the writers doled out.  They weren't afraid to poke fun at even the most sinister figures in human history.

It's a quick read.  I finished it in a matter of days, because much of the book is short, concise snippets of history that allow the reader a taste of the more complex political and social milieu of the region.  Although it covers a very large portion of history (60,000 years of human civilization, to be precise), it doesn't feel overwhelming or dense or dull.

Additionally, I liked that the authors threw in a little appendix about Canada.  It's a neat little synopsis on their history that contrasts nicely with the rest of the insanity going on in the rest of the world.  Canada seems pretty peaceful.  A little neglected by the rest of world history, but pretty peaceful, nonetheless.

The Bad
Although I love history, I thought some of the anecdotes were terribly long.  Granted, I always learned something new and undeniably funny/ironic, but I sometimes felt like I was being led away from the original text.  They sometimes took me a little farther away than I would have liked.

The Ugly
Graphic explanations of some of the most violent--or most awkward--events in history.