“An Uncommon History of Common Things” by Bethanne Patrick & John Thompson (National Geographic, November 2009, ISBN 9781426204203, $40.00, 304 pp.)
Bethanne Patrick’s book was a runaway bestseller, peaking at #147 on the Amazon book bestseller charts. It was also selected as one of PEOPLE Magazine’s Great Holiday Gifts under $50 for 2009 and named as a “Great Read” in their December 7, 2009 issue.
Summary:
Sometime about 30,000 years ago, somebody stuck a sharp rock into a split stick—and presto! The axe was born. Our inquisitive species just loves tinkering, testing, and pushing the limits, and this delightfully different book is a freewheeling reference to hundreds of customs, notions, and inventions that reflect human ingenuity throughout history.
From hand tools to holidays to weapons to washing machines, An Uncommon History of Common Things features hundreds of colorful illustrations, timelines, sidebars, and more as it explores just about every subject under the sun. Who knew that indoor plumbing has been around for 4,600 years, but punctuation, capital letters, and the handy spaces between written words only date back to the Dark Ages? Or that ancient soldiers baked a kind of pizza on their shields—when they weren’t busy flying kites to frighten their foes?
Every page of this quirky compendium catalogs something fascinating, surprising, or serendipitous. A lively, incomparably browsable read for history buffs, pop culture lovers, and anyone who relishes the odd and extraordinary details hidden in the everyday, it will inform, amuse, astonish—and alter the way you think about the clever creatures we call humans.
Library Journal Review of An Uncommon History of Common Things:
Patrick (Forts of the West) and Thompson (Dakotas) offer a charming look at the genesis and evolution of the items, organizations, and events Americans generally take for granted, such as buttons, state fairs, and toilet paper. Organized into nine chapters, including “Garments” and “Medications,” and 50 subcategories like “Underwear” and “Beautification,” the descriptive mini-essays run roughly one page. Each is accompanied by a lovely, full-color photograph and, occasionally, an illustrated time line. Witty and enlightening, the book carries all the delights of an American history museum visit, although entries reveal that many contemporary objects and customs were developed on other shores.
