We Did That?, Sophie Stirling
We Did That?, Sophie Stirling
3 Rating(s)
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

We Did That?

Author: Sophie Stirling

Narrator: Christine Kiphart

Unabridged: 5 hr 17 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/03/2020

Categories: Nonfiction, Humor


Synopsis

How did we come up with that? Everyone knows about mousetraps, but did you know they were originally inspired by burglar alarms? What was so important to Samuel Hopkins that he became the first person to have a US patent? Many curious creations have been born over the centuries, and author and historian Sophie Stirling dives into the curious minds behind these unique (and sometimes wild) ideas throughout history. How about strange beauty and fashion fadswhere did they come from? The phrase pain is beauty has a very real history across the globe. Discover painful fashion trends, wooden bathing suits, breast enhancers in the shape of toilet plungers, and death-inducing cosmetics. People are willing to do anything to stay beautiful. But why would ingredients include arsenic, beetles, or hogs pisse? And what about odd superstitions? Do you know about the centuries-old Banana Curse? The origin of the Tooth Fairy? Our weird obsession with shoes? Some strange beliefs might seem to be the stuff of old wives tales, but many have become ingrained in our minds. You might be more superstitious than you think!

About Sophie Stirling

Sophie Stirling is a scholar of history and literature, her studies encompassing the folklore of various cultures. She is also a self-professed literature geek, shameless punster, and believes that sharing stories, humor, and reading about history allows us to have a deeper connection with our fellow human beings and gives us a better look into our collective future.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Tucker on December 12, 2020

Many thanks to Sterling Books for the free copy in exchange for an honest review! If you're looking for a book version of r/todayilearned, this book is for you. I'm not totally sure why but reading random facts and stories is just so entertaining to me. From origins of words to odd superstitions, I l......more

Goodreads review by Peacegal on October 13, 2022

This reminded me of a more adult version of the "Strange but True" books I seemingly read by the hundreds as a kid. It's a collection of weird, humorous, and occasionally disquieting facts from human history--the wild ways our species has attempted to cure, treat, adorn, and beautify itself. Don't e......more

Goodreads review by Karen on October 10, 2022

A quick, light, humorous read about various weird things we humans have done, invented, believed in, etc. I especially liked the section "Medical Cures, Quacks, and Craziness." Trota of Salerno, one of the few female physicians in the twelfth century, had a pretty savage prescription for keeping p......more

Goodreads review by Chelsy on November 06, 2023

This is what my soul needed at the moment. Light hearted history, absolutely awful puns, and an occasion to remember not to take the human race too seriously or judge it harshly.......more

Goodreads review by DeinStecher2000 on April 07, 2024

Ziemlich schlecht leider, es hängt nichts wirklich zusammen und liest sich wie zufällig zusammen gewürfelte Wikipedia Artikel. Einige Dinge waren ganz interessant, daher 2 Sterne.......more