The history books are full of heroes and villains … but what about all the idiots? Comedian and armchair historian Mikey Robins tells the astonishing story of human stupidity, one idiot at a time.
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the universe. Albert Einstein
History is full of heroes and villains. But then there are the idiots. Idiots, Follies & Misadventures shows that human stupidity has always been our constant companion.
History tends to omit tales of human fallibility. We overlook the dubious and ridiculous contributions made by history's tawdry parade of knuckleheads. But this book is a call to arms … knuckleheads assemble! And once assembled, prepare to be mocked. Just because history has mostly swept these idiots under the carpet does not make them by any means unsung heroes. These are rather ridiculous cautionary tales, to amuse and add some perspective to our current rash of stupidity. Tales such as:
- Why you shouldn't soak your underpants in mercury.
- The booze cruise that plunged England into civil war.
- The Russian nuclear briefcase and pizzas.
- Flatulence jars and The Great Plague of London.
- The deadly green wallpaper that proved a problem for Britain's trendy middle-class.
Rollicking and informative, Reprehensible: Polite Histories of Bad Behaviour is your guide through some of the most shameful behaviour indulged in by humanity's most celebrated figures, as told by Mikey Robins, one of Australia's most loved comedians.
It is often said that we live in an era of constant outrage, but we are definitely not the inventors of outrageousness. Let's be honest, human beings have always been appalling. Not everyone and not all the time, but our history is littered with those whose work and deeds
have rendered them . . . reprehensible.
Sometimes it's our most esteemed luminaries who behave the worst.
What are we to make of Catherine the Great's extensive collection of pornographic furniture, Hans Christian Andersen's too-much-information diary and Karl Marx's epic pub crawls? Or hall-of-fame huckster William McCloundy, who in 1901 actually 'sold' the Brooklyn Bridge to an unsuspecting tourist, and the pharaoh who covered his slaves in honey to keep flies off his meal? Did you know about the royal ticklers of the House of Romanov, and the bizarre coronation rituals of early Irish kings? (Let's just say that eating a white horse wasn't the weirdest part of the ceremony.)
So sit back and rest your conscience: there will be a host of scoundrels, bounders and reprobates, tales of lust and power aplenty, as we indulge in that sweet spot where history meets outrage, with just a bit of old-school TMZ thrown in for good measure.
Praise for Reprehensible:
'Finally, Mikey Robins has put his vulgar mind to good use, telling history's lesser known grubby yarns. I love it!' Tom Gleeson
A fascinating, funny and downright bizarre survey of culinary oddities by one of Australia's most beloved comedians.
In this irreverent romp through the history of food via the Seven Deadly Sins, Mikey Robins uncovers the most bizarre food-related stories of all time. From the Ancient Egyptians to the Romans, from the medieval monarchs to our current obsession with celebrity chefs, our forebears have left their mark on our habits and social mores, our plates and our palates, telling us one truth above all: where there is food, there is folly.
On the topic of GLUTTONY, Mikey exposes our obsession with outlandish overconsumption and the thrill of competitive eating. PRIDE reveals some of the most arrogant dinner hosts in history, and how the once humble chef has now achieved rock-god status. LUST sheds light on our aphrodisiac fixations and the most desired foods through time. SLOTH charts the curious evolution of the fork and the etiquette of flatulence. WRATH tells of sausage duels and poisonous spite, while GREED will make you blush at the indulgences of the rich and famous. And who hasn't experienced ENVY when your dining companion's plate sings while yours sputters?
Mikey Robins is your personal guide down history's gullet and into the underbelly of our wildest desires, darkest fears and guiltiest pleasures.
'Not a book for those with delicate stomachs, but a hoot for everyone else' Sydney Morning Herald
'Chock full of quirky facts, surprising histories and slightly rude morsels... much like the author himself' Amanda Keller
