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

by Erik Sass, Steve Wiegand, and Editors of Mental Floss

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Book cover for The Mental Floss History of the World

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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 the 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 it's boring! 

Now with Breaking News "If You Thought the Last Depression Was Great . . ." 

Answers: (a) 2 (b) 1 (c) 3

  • ISBN10 0061980617
  • ISBN13 9780061980619
  • Publish Date 6 October 2009 (first published 28 October 2008)
  • Publish Status Active
  • Imprint William Morrow & Company
  • Format eBook
  • Pages 432
  • Language English