What do you think?
Rate this book
On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down
Sh!t happens. Every day.
Mae West was sent to jail for “corrupting the morals of youth” with her first Broadway play. When participation in the Hitler Youth became mandatory in Germany, groups of teen “pirates” rebelled. Muhammad Ali refused to “drop bombs and bullets on brown people” in Vietnam. A dog sled relay carried life-saving medicine 674 miles through –50 temperatures to rescue children dying from diphtheria. The Dionne Quintuplets were stolen by the Canadian government and displayed like zoo animals for profit. Indian princess Noor Inayat Khan was one of the most successful spies against the Nazis in World War II. A children’s television show called Caillou tortured parents for more than a decade . . .
Sh!t goes down every single day of the year, year after year. Sometimes it’s a battle that changes the course of history, other times it’s a life-saving medical advancement. Bravery is counter-balanced with cowardice. There is slavery and there is self-sacrifice. History is replete with deeds both noble and despicable. Some were motivated by greed, others generosity. Many dedicated themselves to the art of killing, while others focused their efforts on curing. There have been grave mistakes and moments of greatness. Confrontation and cooperation. Early in the twentieth century Spanish philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” But history serves not just as a warning; it also offers encouragement. Humanity is not endless suck. There is inspiration to be found amidst the atrocities.
On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down will significantly expand your knowledge of world history in the most hilarious and profane way possible.
Mae West was sent to jail for “corrupting the morals of youth” with her first Broadway play. When participation in the Hitler Youth became mandatory in Germany, groups of teen “pirates” rebelled. Muhammad Ali refused to “drop bombs and bullets on brown people” in Vietnam. A dog sled relay carried life-saving medicine 674 miles through –50 temperatures to rescue children dying from diphtheria. The Dionne Quintuplets were stolen by the Canadian government and displayed like zoo animals for profit. Indian princess Noor Inayat Khan was one of the most successful spies against the Nazis in World War II. A children’s television show called Caillou tortured parents for more than a decade . . .
Sh!t goes down every single day of the year, year after year. Sometimes it’s a battle that changes the course of history, other times it’s a life-saving medical advancement. Bravery is counter-balanced with cowardice. There is slavery and there is self-sacrifice. History is replete with deeds both noble and despicable. Some were motivated by greed, others generosity. Many dedicated themselves to the art of killing, while others focused their efforts on curing. There have been grave mistakes and moments of greatness. Confrontation and cooperation. Early in the twentieth century Spanish philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” But history serves not just as a warning; it also offers encouragement. Humanity is not endless suck. There is inspiration to be found amidst the atrocities.
On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down will significantly expand your knowledge of world history in the most hilarious and profane way possible.
973 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2021
887 people are currently reading
9080 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
October 22, 2025
4.5 stars
Author James Fell
Canadian author James Fell has a master's degree in history, an MBA, and was a health and fitness writer for many years. The Covid pandemic led to Fell changing his priorities, and since history was Fell's first love, he started to write anecdotes on his Facebook page called 'On This Day in History, Shit Went Down.' The Facebook entries led to this book, which is absolutely hilarious, but also disturbing. That's because human history is full of f**king terrible behavior.
That said, Fell doesn't hold back with 'language', so if that bothers you, skip this book. Ditto if you're a fan of Nazis or Donald Trump, because Fell really hates those f**kers.
*****
For each day of the year, from January 1st to December 31st, Fell describes something that happened on that day in the past. These include all manner of entries, including things like: a horse shitting in the house; an elephant being abused and killed; torture of human beings; public executions; slavery; colonization by European countries; genocides; the development of vaccines; the discovery of antibiotics; the Christian crusades; assassinations to ascend various thrones; the stabbing of Julius Caesar; Hitler's atrocities; and much much more.
To give a feel for the book I'll randomly pick 12 dates, one for each month, and give a brief summary of the entry for that date.
👉 January 13, 1968
Country singer Johnny Cash had a bad-boy image and was often drunk and drugged up. Cash's career was tanking when he performed at California's Folsom Prison on January 13, 1968, and put out an album. The album was a hit and turned Cash's life around.
Johnny Cash performing at Folsom Prison
👉 February 22, 1983
A 'notoriously terrible' play called 'Moose Murders' earned that appellation by having its opening and closing on the same night, February 22, 1983. The play is about a family that buys the Wild Moose Lodge in the Adirondacks, plays a murder mystery game during a storm, and people die. There is a moose that eats people, and other terrible plot points. Fell writes, "Apparently, there is ableism in it too, because making fun of people with disabilities is f**king hilarious. Just ask Donald Trump."
Revival of Moose Murders
👉 March 9, 1959
On March 9, 1959, the first ever Barbie doll debuted at the American International Toy Fair in New York. Barbie had impossible proportions, and parents weren't thrilled with the doll, but over a billion have been sold. From being a sexy girl Barbie eventually morphed into a career woman, and she's been a veterinarian, doctor, marine biologist, park ranger, astronaut, judge, presidential candidate, and more.
Barbie Dolls
👉 April 17, 1945
Hannie Schaft, a member of the Dutch Resistance during WWII, would use her beauty to lure a Nazi soldier to a private place. Schaft would then shoot the "Nazi assbucket right in his f**king face." Schaft killed lots of Nazis before she was caught and executed on April 17, 1945.
Hannie Schaft
👉 May 21, 1932
Fell writes, "Today is the anniversary of when a dude with f**ked-up ideas about racial purity, who also cheated on his wife a whole bunch, first flew the Atlantic solo in 1927 " (Charles Lindbergh). The author goes on, "Five years later to the day, a much cooler person did it. Let's focus on her" (Amelia Earhart).
Amelia Earhart
👉 June 2, 1692
On June 2, 1692, Bridget Bishop was the first person condemned to death for practicing witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Five young women testified that Bishop's specter would appear and pinch, choke, or bite them. People examined Bishop's body and found a third nipple, "which is totally a witch thing." Then later the nipple disappeared, "which was even more proof of her guilt because she obviously used witchcraft as a form of seventeenth-century plastic surgery to remove it."
Bridget Bishop
👉 July 11, 1804
Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton were fierce political rivals, and they dueled on July 11, 1804. Burr's bullet damaged Hamilton's liver and spine, and Hamilton died the next day. After that, "Burr's political career was as dead as Alexander Hamilton."
Aaron Burr
Alexander Hamilton
👉 August 26, 1970
For most of American history, women had few career choices, and in 1970, "there were plenty of states where a woman couldn't have a credit card, make a will, or own property unless she had a husband." On August 26, 1970, 50,000 people, mostly women, gathered for a protest march in New York City.
Women's Protest March
👉 September 28, 1928
The first antibiotic was discovered on September 28, 1928. Scottish physician and microbiologist Alexander Fleming noticed that mold on a culture plate killed staphylococcus microbes. Fleming's subsequent experiments proved that "mold juice had the ability to kill a wide range of bacteria."
Alexander Fleming
👉 October 16, 1793
Austrian Marie Antoinette was married at 14 to Louie XVI of France. Fell writes, "Marie was a homesick girl who....spent lavishly on dresses and jewelry and parties....and she lived in a fake gated village built solely for her and her close friends." When the cost became known the French people were furious, and during the French Revolution, Marie was sent to the guillotine on October 16, 1793.
Marie Antoinette
👉 November 4, 2008
Fell writes, "I don't give a shit if you don't like the guy. Comparatively speaking, Barack Obama was f**king awesome, and his election filled many with hope that America wasn't irrevocably f**ked." Obama was elected on November 4, 2008, and Fell observes, "Of course, there was a substantial portion of the American population that was just f**king seething over the Obama victory." Fell goes on, "Republicans made every effort to block Obama's policies no matter what they were. For eight years, the racism festered like an infected wound, becoming a major contributor to the election of the blatantly racist and vocal Obama critic Donald Trump in 2016."
President Barack Obama
👉 December 29, 1890
On December 29, 1890, the 7th Cavalry of the United States massacred the Lakota Indians during the Battle of Wounded Knee. "In previous years the government had seized Lakota lands in what is now South Dakota, and....promised to protect reservations from gold hunters and settlers, but of course, the f**kers reneged on that because they'd proven they were fine with genocide of America's Native populations again and again."
Battle of Wounded Knee
****
I didn't include the funniest laugh out loud passages, which tend to include a lot of cursing and insults (to people who deserve them). In any case, the book is very informative and entertaining. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley, James Fell, and Random House for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
July 23, 2022
How much swearing can you get away with in a Goodreads review? Because after reading this book, the impulse is to go all out and describe the shit James Fell writes about with as much vigor as Samuel L. Jackson reciting a bible verse before capping a motherfucker.
My god, the fuckery the human race is capable of. Fell doesn't hold back when relating the depths of shit-heeled human depravity in language that is exactly appropriate for his subject matter. It's not all bad though; there are stories of sheer badassery that lighten the doom and gloom of the awful shit people normally get down to, but those high points just make you think "What the fuck is wrong with everyone else?"
On This Day in History Shit Went Down is culled from a daily newsletter/blog that I highly encourage you to subscribe to. It is also very much a product of Shitstorm 2020. Fell clearly used his blog as an outlet for the same frustrations many of us felt during a year when we constantly had to remind the legions of knuckle-draggers polluting our gene pool that yes, vaccines work, Black Lives Matter, real estate swindlers shouldn't be president, and for fuck's sake NAZIS ARE BAD.
It' s important that we not view history through the rose-tinted glasses. James Fell smashes those glasses using tools that were finely honed by comedians such as George Carlin and the like. On This Day is an unflinching look at the past, but it's also a literary relief valve, because in times like these we need that kind of relief to keep us from punching somebody.
Just to be clear: Don't punch people. Except Nazis. Always punch Nazis.
My god, the fuckery the human race is capable of. Fell doesn't hold back when relating the depths of shit-heeled human depravity in language that is exactly appropriate for his subject matter. It's not all bad though; there are stories of sheer badassery that lighten the doom and gloom of the awful shit people normally get down to, but those high points just make you think "What the fuck is wrong with everyone else?"
On This Day in History Shit Went Down is culled from a daily newsletter/blog that I highly encourage you to subscribe to. It is also very much a product of Shitstorm 2020. Fell clearly used his blog as an outlet for the same frustrations many of us felt during a year when we constantly had to remind the legions of knuckle-draggers polluting our gene pool that yes, vaccines work, Black Lives Matter, real estate swindlers shouldn't be president, and for fuck's sake NAZIS ARE BAD.
It' s important that we not view history through the rose-tinted glasses. James Fell smashes those glasses using tools that were finely honed by comedians such as George Carlin and the like. On This Day is an unflinching look at the past, but it's also a literary relief valve, because in times like these we need that kind of relief to keep us from punching somebody.
Just to be clear: Don't punch people. Except Nazis. Always punch Nazis.
August 11, 2023
On This Day in History Sh!T Went Down
By James Fell
This book is hilarious most of the time, informative and brilliant all the time! I wish my history classes had been taught like this. I might have paid more attention!
Each day of the year from January 1st to December 31st, a bit of history from that particular day somewhere in the past is explained. It's explained in everyday language with adjectives that would not be welcome in most classrooms. I think the author did a marvelous job of adding them just where they were needed to add the humor and wit to the story! I giggled a lot throughout the book. I am not saying this book only covers humorous events, far from it. Some were very sad and horrible. Regardless, I enjoyed the stories and the writing!
I did learn some things as I read too and that is also a big bonus! I definitely would recommend this book!
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this entertaining book!
By James Fell
This book is hilarious most of the time, informative and brilliant all the time! I wish my history classes had been taught like this. I might have paid more attention!
Each day of the year from January 1st to December 31st, a bit of history from that particular day somewhere in the past is explained. It's explained in everyday language with adjectives that would not be welcome in most classrooms. I think the author did a marvelous job of adding them just where they were needed to add the humor and wit to the story! I giggled a lot throughout the book. I am not saying this book only covers humorous events, far from it. Some were very sad and horrible. Regardless, I enjoyed the stories and the writing!
I did learn some things as I read too and that is also a big bonus! I definitely would recommend this book!
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this entertaining book!
August 31, 2023
If you enjoyed Drunk History and History of the World, then you will love this. For each day in a year there is a historical anecdote that shone a light on a lot of moments in time I either didn’t know or forgot about. Fell does an amazing job with bite sized chunks of history told in humorous and sarcastic ways. I laughed out loud many times; however, it was also very informative. There was really no dull moment while reading this.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
September 20, 2022
This book made me want to teach my son English and then read the most fowl mouth history filled pages ever aloud, so that he could understand just how much this world is both utterly fudged up and awesome at the same time. But he’ll eventually get around to reading it, so it’s just a matter of fudging time. It’s a great fudging book. Yes, I’m trying not to curse, don’t give me shit.
May 17, 2021
I love reading history. I love sarcasm and curse words. This book is the perfect combination of both. It doesn’t hurt that I also hate Nazis...there is definitely plenty of cursing, Nazi hating history in here as well. The title explains the premise of the book.
July 23, 2022
On one hand, this is a book full of important historical events from across the world, touching on important matters that are not necessarily the first ones you think of. They are contained to a single page, and thus seem highly readable.
On the other, this is a deeply flawed book. More than anything else, it needed an editor unafraid to insist on cuts, rewording and clarification. Too often it felt like the author wrote a synopsis of the historical event, then made sure to dump in as much profanity as makes sense, and then a few more for good measure. Then maybe add a reference to how much the author hates Trump (once again, if the passage called for it or not). In a sense, some of these entries felt like sweary recipe blog introductions, where the reader has to wade through irrelevant filler to get to what they really want (i.e. the history).
Despite all that, I graded it as I did because the author recognizes the flaws in his introduction, making it pretty clear that he knew that a collection of his unedited Facebook posts was not going to be high art.
I read it. It was what it said it was. I just wish that it had been sharpened into something better.
On the other, this is a deeply flawed book. More than anything else, it needed an editor unafraid to insist on cuts, rewording and clarification. Too often it felt like the author wrote a synopsis of the historical event, then made sure to dump in as much profanity as makes sense, and then a few more for good measure. Then maybe add a reference to how much the author hates Trump (once again, if the passage called for it or not). In a sense, some of these entries felt like sweary recipe blog introductions, where the reader has to wade through irrelevant filler to get to what they really want (i.e. the history).
Despite all that, I graded it as I did because the author recognizes the flaws in his introduction, making it pretty clear that he knew that a collection of his unedited Facebook posts was not going to be high art.
I read it. It was what it said it was. I just wish that it had been sharpened into something better.
September 18, 2021
I was following James Fell on social media, and really enjoyed his irreverent approach to reducing history to soundbites, even as he acknowledged the complexities and nuance he was overlooking.
I've not finished his book yet, as I'm resisting because I'm enjoying it so much, though I see he's working on another book, so will wrap this one up in time to get the next one.
Btw, he may swear a bit, and no politicians are safe, so if you have some favourites, be prepared for them to get lampooned!
I've not finished his book yet, as I'm resisting because I'm enjoying it so much, though I see he's working on another book, so will wrap this one up in time to get the next one.
Btw, he may swear a bit, and no politicians are safe, so if you have some favourites, be prepared for them to get lampooned!
August 16, 2023
I got a review copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley and though it works as a one-a-day sort of read, that wasn't going to work, so... jamb a year's reading into a month (while also having surgery to take me out of it for a while) and ... fun book.
I thought initially of giving this 4 of 5 stars but his retelling of the story of November 12, 1970 and Oregon blowing up a whale carcass had me laughing out loud. That and his, ummm, .... colorful language throughout. I am not familiar with the FB page that this came from, and if you reading these thoughts also aren't, it's Uncle John's Bathroom Books for adults, Daily Affirmation version (or Uncle Cecil's Straight Dope History version if you're old enough .) Right in the Author's Note, Mr. Fell says:
I can’t believe I have to say this, but Nazis are bad. Bad before World War II. Bad during. Still bad now. The worst kind of bad. There are no “very fine people” among them. If you disagree, you won’t like this book.
Well, I like this guy before I even start! (On Robert the Bruce: How do you get “the” included between your first and last name? “James the Fell” has a cool ring to it. It makes my name no longer a complete sentence.)
And...
"P.S. You’ll notice no shortage of Trump hate in this book. Fuck that guy.
June 14, 1946, was a dark day in history indeed.
June 17, 1972 Don’t get me wrong. Nixon was a piece of shit. But comparatively speaking, the Trump bar was so low it must have had some bizarrely powerful magnetic attraction to Earth’s molten core.
September 14, 1901 You may have noticed that there is no shortage of criticism of a certain semi-sentient dayglo taint stain of a president in this book"
So... language... if "cussing", "cursing", "swearing" or whatever (not liking Fanta Menace or Nazis) offends you, you also won't like this book. I like this stuff, so I knew a lot of this already, if not down to the details, and I learned a few things. And Fell has a way with the written word. Go Canada!
A few I highlighted:
Jan 2, 1492 They say no one expects the Spanish Inquisition, but they kinda telegraphed that shit.
{Hah!}
February 11, 1812 Elbridge Gerry, who was such a dick he pronounced his last name with a hard G, like Gary instead of Jerry.
{Huh. Did not know that}
Feb 17,1974
The Secret Service, who must have trained at the Star Wars Stormtrooper Academy of How to Shoot Good, fired about three hundred rounds and he [Private Robert Preston, in a stolen UH-1] was hit five more times, but they were all minor injuries.
{Hah again!}
February 20, 1933 If you allow capitalism to run amok, it will; money has no conscience. [...] my point is that money often gets people to not give a fuck about morality.
{Yep}
Feb 23, 1445 Except, Gutenberg wasn’t actually first. A form of movable-type printing press was first created in Korea two centuries earlier by Choe Yun-ui, but for a number of reasons the invention didn’t catch on in Asia.
{Having lived in Korea for seven years, and learned much about their history, I knew this.}
April 18, 1521 Over the next five hundred years, some [Protestants] became chill and started ordaining gays, and others did fucked-up shit like playing with snakes and getting Trump elected.
April 30, 1905 "And FYI, before you share a meme with a “quote” by Einstein, google that shit first. He is one of the most popular figures to whom quotes are misattributed."
{Yes! Always check on quote sources, ... from anyone.}
May 17, 1954 Since most people only know about the first two amendments because of the endless shrieking about them on social media, I’ll elaborate. [The Fourteenth Amendment]
July 4, 362 B.C.E. Most of humanity’s governments have been oligarchies, where a minority rule via birthright (aristocracy), religion (theocracy), or wealth (democracy). Look at the United States and tell me that last one isn’t true.
July 29, 1974 {Great story about Geddy Lee's 21st birthday, and Neil Peart joining THE band.}
August 1 (my birthday!) 1980 Video didn’t kill [Christopher] Cross’s radio star, sucking did.
{Yes!}
September 25, 1981 Reagan, despite the deification of him by many on the right, was not a good president.
I thought initially of giving this 4 of 5 stars but his retelling of the story of November 12, 1970 and Oregon blowing up a whale carcass had me laughing out loud. That and his, ummm, .... colorful language throughout. I am not familiar with the FB page that this came from, and if you reading these thoughts also aren't, it's Uncle John's Bathroom Books for adults, Daily Affirmation version (or Uncle Cecil's Straight Dope History version if you're old enough .) Right in the Author's Note, Mr. Fell says:
I can’t believe I have to say this, but Nazis are bad. Bad before World War II. Bad during. Still bad now. The worst kind of bad. There are no “very fine people” among them. If you disagree, you won’t like this book.
Well, I like this guy before I even start! (On Robert the Bruce: How do you get “the” included between your first and last name? “James the Fell” has a cool ring to it. It makes my name no longer a complete sentence.)
And...
"P.S. You’ll notice no shortage of Trump hate in this book. Fuck that guy.
June 14, 1946, was a dark day in history indeed.
June 17, 1972 Don’t get me wrong. Nixon was a piece of shit. But comparatively speaking, the Trump bar was so low it must have had some bizarrely powerful magnetic attraction to Earth’s molten core.
September 14, 1901 You may have noticed that there is no shortage of criticism of a certain semi-sentient dayglo taint stain of a president in this book"
So... language... if "cussing", "cursing", "swearing" or whatever (not liking Fanta Menace or Nazis) offends you, you also won't like this book. I like this stuff, so I knew a lot of this already, if not down to the details, and I learned a few things. And Fell has a way with the written word. Go Canada!
A few I highlighted:
Jan 2, 1492 They say no one expects the Spanish Inquisition, but they kinda telegraphed that shit.
{Hah!}
February 11, 1812 Elbridge Gerry, who was such a dick he pronounced his last name with a hard G, like Gary instead of Jerry.
{Huh. Did not know that}
Feb 17,1974
The Secret Service, who must have trained at the Star Wars Stormtrooper Academy of How to Shoot Good, fired about three hundred rounds and he [Private Robert Preston, in a stolen UH-1] was hit five more times, but they were all minor injuries.
{Hah again!}
February 20, 1933 If you allow capitalism to run amok, it will; money has no conscience. [...] my point is that money often gets people to not give a fuck about morality.
{Yep}
Feb 23, 1445 Except, Gutenberg wasn’t actually first. A form of movable-type printing press was first created in Korea two centuries earlier by Choe Yun-ui, but for a number of reasons the invention didn’t catch on in Asia.
{Having lived in Korea for seven years, and learned much about their history, I knew this.}
April 18, 1521 Over the next five hundred years, some [Protestants] became chill and started ordaining gays, and others did fucked-up shit like playing with snakes and getting Trump elected.
April 30, 1905 "And FYI, before you share a meme with a “quote” by Einstein, google that shit first. He is one of the most popular figures to whom quotes are misattributed."
{Yes! Always check on quote sources, ... from anyone.}
May 17, 1954 Since most people only know about the first two amendments because of the endless shrieking about them on social media, I’ll elaborate. [The Fourteenth Amendment]
July 4, 362 B.C.E. Most of humanity’s governments have been oligarchies, where a minority rule via birthright (aristocracy), religion (theocracy), or wealth (democracy). Look at the United States and tell me that last one isn’t true.
July 29, 1974 {Great story about Geddy Lee's 21st birthday, and Neil Peart joining THE band.}
August 1 (my birthday!) 1980 Video didn’t kill [Christopher] Cross’s radio star, sucking did.
{Yes!}
September 25, 1981 Reagan, despite the deification of him by many on the right, was not a good president.
October 2, 2023
Back in the dark ages, I took History 101 as a required course in my college major. The elderly professor, bless his pea-pickin' heart, did nothing except read from the textbook during every. Single. Class. I hated it so much that when the class was over, I ran to the registrar's office and changed my major (yes, really!) to one that didn't require another history class. What struck me most as I got into this book, then, was if this author had been my history professor, well, chances are I would have spent quite a few years teaching typing and shorthand to high school students instead of working as a university administrator.
And oh, it's not just the history part - even though the events, organized by month, are interesting, well laid out and more than occasionally chuckle-eliciting. Rather, it was the fun of learning from someone who proclaims that "those who cannot remember the past need a history teacher who says f*uck a lot." Truth be told, I was hoping to learn some new words here, but that ended up being only one (no, I'll never tell). Besides that, his promise of "no shortage" of hate for a certain orange-haired former U.S. president was nothing short of endearing to me. A word of advice: if either of these revelations bothers you, don't even bother opening this book.
It is, alas, nearly impossible to write a review of this book without spoilers; so the best I can do is offer a few insights and examples of what's between the pages. As I mentioned earlier, specific events in history are highlighted by month - some of which are quirky things you (and definitely I) somehow missed in formal history classes. Others add finishing touches that, arguably, should have been included in what we did learn; others just illuminate the importance of those we did.
I learned, for instance, how the term "gerrymander" came to be (hint: it was named after a real person). That Gutenberg wasn't the first to invent the printing press. That Grace Hopper, close to age 80, was the oldest active-duty commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy of either gender. That Jack Ruby was, technically, innocent of killing Lee Harvey Oswald. Intrigued? You should be. If you want to know more, go read the book. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to indulge in exchange for an honest review.
And oh, it's not just the history part - even though the events, organized by month, are interesting, well laid out and more than occasionally chuckle-eliciting. Rather, it was the fun of learning from someone who proclaims that "those who cannot remember the past need a history teacher who says f*uck a lot." Truth be told, I was hoping to learn some new words here, but that ended up being only one (no, I'll never tell). Besides that, his promise of "no shortage" of hate for a certain orange-haired former U.S. president was nothing short of endearing to me. A word of advice: if either of these revelations bothers you, don't even bother opening this book.
It is, alas, nearly impossible to write a review of this book without spoilers; so the best I can do is offer a few insights and examples of what's between the pages. As I mentioned earlier, specific events in history are highlighted by month - some of which are quirky things you (and definitely I) somehow missed in formal history classes. Others add finishing touches that, arguably, should have been included in what we did learn; others just illuminate the importance of those we did.
I learned, for instance, how the term "gerrymander" came to be (hint: it was named after a real person). That Gutenberg wasn't the first to invent the printing press. That Grace Hopper, close to age 80, was the oldest active-duty commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy of either gender. That Jack Ruby was, technically, innocent of killing Lee Harvey Oswald. Intrigued? You should be. If you want to know more, go read the book. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to indulge in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2021
Meh. I just didn’t enjoy it, unfortunately. The anti-U.S., anti-Trump, creative descriptions of white dudes stuff got old since it was thrown in everywhere…and I’m definitely not a Trump fan. It just came off as childish, which is part of James’ charm usually. Maybe it’s just that I loved the positivity in his fitness and motivation writing and this was so negative overall? I think James needs more hugs.
December 8, 2023
This was a lot of fun. I would read some of them to my coworkers. It got so they were trying to guess what went down on that day
Read
November 2, 2023I say often that Goodreads should have a "zero stars" option, because many books don't deserve even one star. This book actually deserves a couple of stars purely for the content. Lesser-known historical trivia/anecdotes? Sign me right up!
The author gets a star for finding these interesting stories and collecting them. But that's it. He can't take any more credit than that.
The title hints at what lies within, but only hints.
Okay, look, I am not actually a prude. Look at all the other books I have read and you'll see that I have no particular objection to "adult" content.
But James carries it to a tiresome and frankly, insulting extreme. He seems to be of the mindset that the reading public won't be interested in anything unless it's presented to them larded with four-letter words and soon-to-be-dated slang and "creative" insults.
Give people a bit more credit than that, James.
You know what reading this book is like? It's like being introduced to someone who has all kinds of interesting stories to tell, but you can't focus on the neat stories because he also has some of the world's worst body odor.
Fell hates Trump. Fine. So do I. But with his all-too-frequent jabs at Trump and Trumpers throughout the text, he is either preaching to the converted or to the unconvertible. That's if the unconvertible even bother to read past his introduction where he says straight out he hates Trump, which they probably will not.
He just runs all his points into the ground so far they nearly disappear. Instead of letting the stories speak for themselves, and more importantly, letting the reader figure out whatever message is to be taken from them, he constantly inserts himself.
He is capable of genuine humor. But he tries far, far too hard at it. And he ends up looking ridiculous.
It is very hard for me to remember that this man is fifty-five years old as of this writing; he tells us himself that he was born in 1968.
Fifty-five.
Yet he usually sounds like a nineteen-year-old college kid who has somehow not learned that the world is, was and always will be an unfair and unpleasant place, and thinks nobody else knows it either and has to be hit over the head with it. He's almost a caricature, like somebody whose digitally doctored and spliced-together quotes would be used on some crazy right-wing talk radio show to get the idiot listeners calling in and foaming at the mouth.
Again, he is fifty-five.
He knows lots and lots of ways to use the f-word (and lots of others too) in every. possible. context.
So do I, actually.
But you know what? That kind of cussing-for-the-shock-value-of-cussing is something the majority of literate, truth-seeking readers got over before they were much into their teens.
These stories really are important and need to be told.
But James Fell is not a good one to tell them.
He doesn't respect his readers for having more than a minimum of intelligence or for being able to become engrossed in something without it being full of stuff that sounds like it came off a truck-stop bathroom wall.
And he doesn't respect the stories he is telling or the people in them, for all he fashions himself a social-justice guerrilla warrior. If he did, he'd keep himself in check and let these people be the real stars.
The author gets a star for finding these interesting stories and collecting them. But that's it. He can't take any more credit than that.
The title hints at what lies within, but only hints.
Okay, look, I am not actually a prude. Look at all the other books I have read and you'll see that I have no particular objection to "adult" content.
But James carries it to a tiresome and frankly, insulting extreme. He seems to be of the mindset that the reading public won't be interested in anything unless it's presented to them larded with four-letter words and soon-to-be-dated slang and "creative" insults.
Give people a bit more credit than that, James.
You know what reading this book is like? It's like being introduced to someone who has all kinds of interesting stories to tell, but you can't focus on the neat stories because he also has some of the world's worst body odor.
Fell hates Trump. Fine. So do I. But with his all-too-frequent jabs at Trump and Trumpers throughout the text, he is either preaching to the converted or to the unconvertible. That's if the unconvertible even bother to read past his introduction where he says straight out he hates Trump, which they probably will not.
He just runs all his points into the ground so far they nearly disappear. Instead of letting the stories speak for themselves, and more importantly, letting the reader figure out whatever message is to be taken from them, he constantly inserts himself.
He is capable of genuine humor. But he tries far, far too hard at it. And he ends up looking ridiculous.
It is very hard for me to remember that this man is fifty-five years old as of this writing; he tells us himself that he was born in 1968.
Fifty-five.
Yet he usually sounds like a nineteen-year-old college kid who has somehow not learned that the world is, was and always will be an unfair and unpleasant place, and thinks nobody else knows it either and has to be hit over the head with it. He's almost a caricature, like somebody whose digitally doctored and spliced-together quotes would be used on some crazy right-wing talk radio show to get the idiot listeners calling in and foaming at the mouth.
Again, he is fifty-five.
He knows lots and lots of ways to use the f-word (and lots of others too) in every. possible. context.
So do I, actually.
But you know what? That kind of cussing-for-the-shock-value-of-cussing is something the majority of literate, truth-seeking readers got over before they were much into their teens.
These stories really are important and need to be told.
But James Fell is not a good one to tell them.
He doesn't respect his readers for having more than a minimum of intelligence or for being able to become engrossed in something without it being full of stuff that sounds like it came off a truck-stop bathroom wall.
And he doesn't respect the stories he is telling or the people in them, for all he fashions himself a social-justice guerrilla warrior. If he did, he'd keep himself in check and let these people be the real stars.
October 3, 2023
3.5 stars
On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down is a interesting compilation of a snarky and pointed way of incorporating tidbits from history into a daily routine. Fell has a great voice, and while some of the commentary that circles around the current historical aspects will be dated very quickly, there is still room for those moments to be captured from that contemporary angle. However, I'm just not sold that type of compilation, this gathering of tidbits, is best suited in this format. As many other reviewers have indicated, this is very much of its type and feels every bit the page-a-day calendar in which the delivery first found its footing. As interesting as the information is within, there is very little understanding that someone will sit down with this book, curl up on the couch, and dive in like a novel or even narrative nonfiction. So why isn't this printed as a large format book, something like a coffee table book? This needs large pictures, large pages, and a clear delineation of the expectations that this won't be read in a sitting, but rather spread out over the course of months to a full year. That being said, I definitely feel the pull and draw of this one and have already signed up for the daily newsletter as Fell's work continues.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down is a interesting compilation of a snarky and pointed way of incorporating tidbits from history into a daily routine. Fell has a great voice, and while some of the commentary that circles around the current historical aspects will be dated very quickly, there is still room for those moments to be captured from that contemporary angle. However, I'm just not sold that type of compilation, this gathering of tidbits, is best suited in this format. As many other reviewers have indicated, this is very much of its type and feels every bit the page-a-day calendar in which the delivery first found its footing. As interesting as the information is within, there is very little understanding that someone will sit down with this book, curl up on the couch, and dive in like a novel or even narrative nonfiction. So why isn't this printed as a large format book, something like a coffee table book? This needs large pictures, large pages, and a clear delineation of the expectations that this won't be read in a sitting, but rather spread out over the course of months to a full year. That being said, I definitely feel the pull and draw of this one and have already signed up for the daily newsletter as Fell's work continues.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
October 10, 2023
*** Happy Publication Day ***
You'll like this book if you enjoy history, especially if it's told irreverently. Author James Fell does a great job of bringing little-known historical facts to light and fleshing out more well-known references. This is a breezy, conversationally written book with some speculation as well as facts that, fair warning, contains salty language with many f-bombs.
There are entries for each day with historical factoids spanning from B.C.E. to current times; it is both enlightening and informative. After reading this book, I'm rethinking my love of Coca-Cola (January 29), what happened to Sacagawea (April 9), and whether Mother Teresa is as sainted as she is portrayed (October 7). There are some heart-warming entries and entries that will ruffle your feathers but no matter your take, they are all informative.
I read this book beginning with the January 1 entry and continuing sequentially to December 31. You can jump around however with no loss of continuity, but you risk missing some good entries. Again the warning: if you don't like swearing or if you believe what Fox News tells you, I recommend giving this book a pass.
For more of my reviews, please visit https://montanamusings8.blogspot.com/
Thank you, NetGalley and Bantam for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 10, 2023.
You'll like this book if you enjoy history, especially if it's told irreverently. Author James Fell does a great job of bringing little-known historical facts to light and fleshing out more well-known references. This is a breezy, conversationally written book with some speculation as well as facts that, fair warning, contains salty language with many f-bombs.
There are entries for each day with historical factoids spanning from B.C.E. to current times; it is both enlightening and informative. After reading this book, I'm rethinking my love of Coca-Cola (January 29), what happened to Sacagawea (April 9), and whether Mother Teresa is as sainted as she is portrayed (October 7). There are some heart-warming entries and entries that will ruffle your feathers but no matter your take, they are all informative.
I read this book beginning with the January 1 entry and continuing sequentially to December 31. You can jump around however with no loss of continuity, but you risk missing some good entries. Again the warning: if you don't like swearing or if you believe what Fox News tells you, I recommend giving this book a pass.
For more of my reviews, please visit https://montanamusings8.blogspot.com/
Thank you, NetGalley and Bantam for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 10, 2023.
May 25, 2022
In 2020 James Fell, a historian, began posting once a day something that happened in history on that date with some humor and a whole bunch of cussing (his use of cockwaffle was a favorite in there). It passed time during COVID and then he was like "Holy Cow! I can turn this into a book" and so he did. Each day is only a page or two and there was a lot of interesting tidbits. It often had me going online in search of more info of the discussed event. I will say, and he makes it known in the beginning, that he's quite left leaning so he may not be for everyone. It also goes without saying, given "Shit" being right in the title that cussing is normal - the F-bomb is practically on every page, sometimes multiple times. I look forward to the second volume dropping later this year.
December 12, 2022
Rating: 5
Thoughts: I love history because I love learning about what happened in the past, as well as adding more knowledge to what I already know.
Fell had a tidbit of history for each day of the year. And as a Canadian it has bits of history around the world, because America does not revolve around everywhere else. (As an American it's true, a lot of Americans can get full of themselves.)
Of course a good retelling of an event where some stupid fucking Nazi was involved, has to have swears. Because fuck Nazis. Add in a lot of scarcasm to boot and now it's like hearing the tales of history at my family gatherings.
Thoughts: I love history because I love learning about what happened in the past, as well as adding more knowledge to what I already know.
Fell had a tidbit of history for each day of the year. And as a Canadian it has bits of history around the world, because America does not revolve around everywhere else. (As an American it's true, a lot of Americans can get full of themselves.)
Of course a good retelling of an event where some stupid fucking Nazi was involved, has to have swears. Because fuck Nazis. Add in a lot of scarcasm to boot and now it's like hearing the tales of history at my family gatherings.
January 23, 2022
Brilliant. I learned new history facts, new swear words and I was completely entertained. Look there is swearing... Don't pick up if that bothers you in any way. There is also a complete hatred of Nazis which should be the norm, so if you like Nazis, don't pick it up. And there is a definitive hatred of the former President of the US, if that bothers you in any way, don't pick it up. This is a book that made me do more research on almost every page and I love that kind of book. It's cool bits of history trivia.
December 31, 2024
My husband and I took turns reading the daily entries to each other all year. They are funny and interesting and sad and infuriating and we loved reading them. This version was self published but a new version published with Bantam came out this fall so we’re going to start that one on January first and keep up the tradition of reading to each other little tidbits of history each day. I look forward to seeing how the new version compares.
January 1, 2022
I purchased this book for my teen, but picked it up Christmas afternoon and started to read it. After a few pages I claimed the book for the rest of the break, finishing up New Year’s Eve. I throughly enjoyed it, and learned a few new things as well. Even laughed out loud a couple of times. Highly recommend.
October 15, 2023
I predict that this book will violently upset about 1/3 of U.S. voters who will try to ban and burn this book while simultaneously claiming to value free speech...
James Fell gave the world a wonderful present when he wrote "On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down". This book provides a year's worth of daily entries that describe some insightful tidbits from history that happened on that day of the year. Each entry typically has an underlying ethical message, and is delightfully, entertainingly, humorously, and viciously critical of people who are less than decent to their fellow humans.
It may take a bit to get used to James's massively laid back profanity and slang loaded writing style. Yet it perfectly highlights the many horrific historical anecdotes and is both memorable and entertaining.
I am most appreciative that Random House Publishing Group and the author kindly provided a temporary electronic review copy of this wonderful work. I like this book so much that I pre-ordered a copy so that I can share with friends and family. (Update: the book just arrived! I really like the layout of the actual paper book!)
James Fell gave the world a wonderful present when he wrote "On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down". This book provides a year's worth of daily entries that describe some insightful tidbits from history that happened on that day of the year. Each entry typically has an underlying ethical message, and is delightfully, entertainingly, humorously, and viciously critical of people who are less than decent to their fellow humans.
It may take a bit to get used to James's massively laid back profanity and slang loaded writing style. Yet it perfectly highlights the many horrific historical anecdotes and is both memorable and entertaining.
I am most appreciative that Random House Publishing Group and the author kindly provided a temporary electronic review copy of this wonderful work. I like this book so much that I pre-ordered a copy so that I can share with friends and family. (Update: the book just arrived! I really like the layout of the actual paper book!)
August 20, 2023
I liked the overall idea and concept of this book highlighting events that happened each day of the year. I could relate and found interest in some of these but I quickly lost interest. It was not because of the swearing. I just became bored..
This could have been executed and presented so much better than it was. I do like the idea of sharing history in all days of the year but this was not the way to do it.
Some other readers may enjoy this but it was not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, James Fell and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine Bantam books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 10/10/23
This could have been executed and presented so much better than it was. I do like the idea of sharing history in all days of the year but this was not the way to do it.
Some other readers may enjoy this but it was not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, James Fell and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine Bantam books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 10/10/23
August 1, 2022
Buy this book! It’s so fun and so informative. I thought I knew a lot about history but there were many things I didn’t know. Little details that were very fascinating. Not for those who don’t like swearwords. Because there’s plenty. My fave colloquialism was “ammosexuals” for gun enthusiasts.
October 22, 2023
On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down
By: James Fell
Publish Date 10 October 2023
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam
History
100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read and review this book.
Good Reads Synopsis:
The hilarious, irreverent guide to world history you never knew you needed, featuring 366 profanity-filled tales of triumph and terror, science and stupidity, courage and cowardice
Those who cannot remember the past . . . need a history teacher who says “f*ck” a lot.
Nazis are bad. The worst kind of bad. There are no very fine people among them. If you disagree, you won’t like this book.
Still here? Cool. You are about to receive an education unlike any you’ve previously experienced. In this uproarious and informative tour from ancient times to the modern day and everything in between, James Fell, the self-proclaimed “sweary historian,” reveals a past replete with deeds both noble and despicable. Throughout the book, he provides insightful analysis of all the sh!t that went down. Behold!
• In 1927, actress Mae West was sent to jail for “corrupting the morals of youth” with her first Broadway play, titled Sex. She served the time and followed up with a play about homosexuality.
• In 1419, church reformers in Prague , vexed over their leader having been burned at the stake, defenestrated city leaders from a high window . They died, because those kinds of Czechs don’t bounce.
• If you were in the province of Shaanxi in China on January 23, 1556, then it sucked to be you. It wasn’t the biggest earthquake ever, but it was the deadliest day in history .
• In 362 B.C.E., a battle between Greek city states debilitated both sides, making the region ripe for conquering by Phillip of Macedon—aka Alex the Great’s dad—and spelling the end of Greek democracy .
• In 1343, the husband of noblewoman Jeanne de Clisson was unjustly executed by the king of France. Furious, Jeanne became a pirate , selling all her possessions to fund a fleet and exact revenge.
• During World War II, three Dutch teens used their beauty to lure Nazis into the forest with the promise of a good time, then out came the guns and BLAM! They sent them off to Nazi hell.
If reading history doesn’t make you want to swear like a mom with a red-wine hangover walking barefoot through a LEGO-filled living room, then you’re not reading the right history. Across the ages, over 100 billion humans have lived and died. Some were motivated by greed, others by generosity. Many dedicated themselves to the art of killing, while others were focused on curing. There have been grave mistakes, and moments of greatness. And that is why . . . sh!t happens. Every day.
Book Review:
This book was great. I gave it 4 stars. he is very heavy on the curse words, but you know that going into the book because of the title of the book. He does have his opinion on some issues that don’t match up with mine and you will find the same thing when you read this book. Not only does he have recent dates, but he goes way back in time. I love his intake on some of the subjects and cringed on others. I learned about somethings I never heard of before. You do need to careful because he is very anti nazi and Trump and isn’t afraid to let you know about. There is a story for every day of the year including the 29th of February. Like I said I really enjoyed the book and especially the history that I never heard of before.
By: James Fell
Publish Date 10 October 2023
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam
History
100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read and review this book.
Good Reads Synopsis:
The hilarious, irreverent guide to world history you never knew you needed, featuring 366 profanity-filled tales of triumph and terror, science and stupidity, courage and cowardice
Those who cannot remember the past . . . need a history teacher who says “f*ck” a lot.
Nazis are bad. The worst kind of bad. There are no very fine people among them. If you disagree, you won’t like this book.
Still here? Cool. You are about to receive an education unlike any you’ve previously experienced. In this uproarious and informative tour from ancient times to the modern day and everything in between, James Fell, the self-proclaimed “sweary historian,” reveals a past replete with deeds both noble and despicable. Throughout the book, he provides insightful analysis of all the sh!t that went down. Behold!
• In 1927, actress Mae West was sent to jail for “corrupting the morals of youth” with her first Broadway play, titled Sex. She served the time and followed up with a play about homosexuality.
• In 1419, church reformers in Prague , vexed over their leader having been burned at the stake, defenestrated city leaders from a high window . They died, because those kinds of Czechs don’t bounce.
• If you were in the province of Shaanxi in China on January 23, 1556, then it sucked to be you. It wasn’t the biggest earthquake ever, but it was the deadliest day in history .
• In 362 B.C.E., a battle between Greek city states debilitated both sides, making the region ripe for conquering by Phillip of Macedon—aka Alex the Great’s dad—and spelling the end of Greek democracy .
• In 1343, the husband of noblewoman Jeanne de Clisson was unjustly executed by the king of France. Furious, Jeanne became a pirate , selling all her possessions to fund a fleet and exact revenge.
• During World War II, three Dutch teens used their beauty to lure Nazis into the forest with the promise of a good time, then out came the guns and BLAM! They sent them off to Nazi hell.
If reading history doesn’t make you want to swear like a mom with a red-wine hangover walking barefoot through a LEGO-filled living room, then you’re not reading the right history. Across the ages, over 100 billion humans have lived and died. Some were motivated by greed, others by generosity. Many dedicated themselves to the art of killing, while others were focused on curing. There have been grave mistakes, and moments of greatness. And that is why . . . sh!t happens. Every day.
Book Review:
This book was great. I gave it 4 stars. he is very heavy on the curse words, but you know that going into the book because of the title of the book. He does have his opinion on some issues that don’t match up with mine and you will find the same thing when you read this book. Not only does he have recent dates, but he goes way back in time. I love his intake on some of the subjects and cringed on others. I learned about somethings I never heard of before. You do need to careful because he is very anti nazi and Trump and isn’t afraid to let you know about. There is a story for every day of the year including the 29th of February. Like I said I really enjoyed the book and especially the history that I never heard of before.
January 2, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed almost every one of these 366 articles. (a few about certain topics like animal cruelty I had to skip through a bit) Each article was a glimpse into a person or event from the past that made an impact on history. Some of them were familiar to me and others were surprises. I marked many pages about topics that I was intrigued with and want to do more research into. I see some reviewers saying his use of curse words was repetitive, but I found his cursing to be quite varied and inventive. :) People who are super right-leaning politically also won't appreciate this book as well as people who are offended by an atheist putting down all religions. I found the research well done and the presentation entertaining.
Everyone is flawed. Some aren't just flawed, they're evil. We should not praise people as heroes, because we will always find reason to be disappointed, crushed, or aghast. However, we can praise heroic acts. Admire the deeds you deem worthy rather than the person behind them. Alternatively, feel free to say f*** them and cancel them from your life. No one is owed your admiration. No one.
October 2, 2023
I knew nothing about the inspiration behind this book when I decided to pick it up, but I am so glad I did.
A hilarious look at historical events, On This Day covers a wide variety of tales from the past that you might not have known. Fell's in-your-face narrative style had me laughing out loud from the first page. I found myself looking forward to the next day and sharing tidbits with my friends.
A must-have for any history lover or anyone who likes their facts with a dose of sarcasm and a large heaping of curse words, On This Day was one of my favorites of the year.
Big thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.
A hilarious look at historical events, On This Day covers a wide variety of tales from the past that you might not have known. Fell's in-your-face narrative style had me laughing out loud from the first page. I found myself looking forward to the next day and sharing tidbits with my friends.
A must-have for any history lover or anyone who likes their facts with a dose of sarcasm and a large heaping of curse words, On This Day was one of my favorites of the year.
Big thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.
September 19, 2023
On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down was interesting, relatable and sometimes way over the top! I liked it but had to take it in small doses. Like maybe just a few a day. It would be a great gift for people like me who like history facts just because. I literally looked James Fell up on Facebook and spent way to much time on his site. The pictures had to this and I commend JF for taking the time to write this it was interesting. Just a side note, I love what he said about the Nazis! All of it. 4⭐️
Thanks Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Thanks Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley.
December 17, 2023
Interesting and a lot of fun
I've always loved reading history. Some historians can write engaging books about history and others less so. This book does not contain in depth looks at historical events, but rather snapshots of an event that happened on each day of the year. The stories are well researched and engaging to read. Some people get upset by the liberal use of profanity used by the author. I'm not one if them, especially since James Fell is pretty creative with it. His most creative use of profanity is usually reserved for Nazis which makes reading this book even more fun.
I've always loved reading history. Some historians can write engaging books about history and others less so. This book does not contain in depth looks at historical events, but rather snapshots of an event that happened on each day of the year. The stories are well researched and engaging to read. Some people get upset by the liberal use of profanity used by the author. I'm not one if them, especially since James Fell is pretty creative with it. His most creative use of profanity is usually reserved for Nazis which makes reading this book even more fun.
October 21, 2023
This is a fun, interesting daily read. The snippets of history are fascinating and I look forward to each day’s discovery.
However, if I missed a couple of days and tried to catch up by reading more than one day at a time, it became really annoying. I understand Fell is trying to reach a younger, broader audience in a light engaging way, but I think he may underestimate his readers. Profanity doesn’t bother me at all. Streams of it distract from the telling of the story.
One day at a time 5 stars.
A week at a time 1 star.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
However, if I missed a couple of days and tried to catch up by reading more than one day at a time, it became really annoying. I understand Fell is trying to reach a younger, broader audience in a light engaging way, but I think he may underestimate his readers. Profanity doesn’t bother me at all. Streams of it distract from the telling of the story.
One day at a time 5 stars.
A week at a time 1 star.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
December 27, 2022
A hilarious read of the worst disasters, massacres, tyrants and other knobs of history. If four letter words, and the truth about the Orange Turd and his Trumpanzees offend you, or if you are a Nazi humping racist, you might not enjoy this book. But for the rest of us, HOLY SHIT go buy it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews