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100 fascinating, unexpected, and startling stories you didn’t learn in history class, presented by The History ChannelHistory is filled with unpredictable people and unbelievable stories. Consider:• The Pilgrims landed in Plymouth because they ran out of beer.• Annie Oakley almost shot Kaiser Wilhelm before WWI.• Three cigars changed the course of the Civil War.• The stethoscope was invented when a modest French doctor didn’t want to put his ear to the lavish bosom of a female patient.• An Italian priest perfected the first practical fax machine in 1863.• Teddy Roosevelt is the father of football’s forward pass.• And believe it or not, actress Hedy Lamar not only appeared in the movies’ first nude scene, but later patented an idea that formed the basis for cell phone encryption. As Dave Barry would say, you can’t make this stuff up.Inspired by the History Channel series Timelab 2000®, The Greatest Stories Never Told features the most startling stories ever plucked from the pages of history. The stories are accompanied by more than 400 illustrations gathered from libraries, archives and private collections the world over.
This book investigates the obscure, overlooked, and bizarre anecdotes of history that are frequently omitted from standard academic curricula. Author Rick Beyer, a journalist and filmmaker associated with The History Channel, compiles these vignettes to demonstrate that historical events are often driven by coincidence, eccentricity, and unintended consequences. By presenting these 100 tales, the text argues that the human experience is far more unpredictable and humorous than traditional textbooks suggest.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Readers frequently note that the prose is accessible and designed for casual consumption rather than academic research. Experts highlight this as a popular reference text for those seeking to supplement their historical knowledge with engaging, lesser-known trivia.
Page Count:
224
Publication Date:
2003-03-18
Publisher:
Harper
ISBN-10:
0060014016
ISBN-13:
9780060014018
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