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The History of the Snowman: From the Ice Age to the Flea Market
Who made the first snowman? Who first came up with the idea of placing snowballs on top of each other, and who decided they would use a carrot for a nose? Most puzzling of How can this mystery ever be solved, with all the evidence long since melted?
The snowman appears everywhere on practically everything -- from knickknacks to greeting cards to seasonal sweaters we plan to return. Whenever we see big snowballs our first impulse is to deck them out with a top hat. Humorist and writer Bob Eckstein has long been fascinated by this ubiquitous symbol of wintertime fun -- and finally, for the first time, one of the world's most popular icons gets his due.
A thoroughly entertaining exploration, The History of the Snowman travels back in time to shed light on the snowman's enigmatic past -- from the present day, in which the snowman reigns as the King of Kitsch, to the Dark Ages, with the creation of the very first snowman. Eckstein's curiosity began playfully enough, but soon snowballed into a (mostly) earnest quest of chasing Frosty around the world, into museums and libraries, and seeking out the advice of leading historians and scholars. The result is a riveting history that reaches back through centuries and across cultures -- sweeping from fifteenth-century Italian snowballs to eighteenth-century Russian ice sculptures to the regrettable "white-trash years" (1975-2000).
The snowman is not just part of our childhood memories, but is an integral part of our world culture, appearing -- much like a frozen Forrest Gump -- alongside dignitaries and celebrities during momentous events. Again and again, the snowman pops up in rare prints, paintings, early movies, advertising and, over the past century, in every art form imaginable. And the jolly snowman -- ostensibly as pure as the driven snow -- also harbors a dark past full of political intrigue, sex, and violence.
With more than two hundred illustrations and a special section of the best snowman cartoons, The History of the Snowman is a truly original winter classic -- smart, surprisingly enlightening, and quite simply the coolest book ever.
The snowman appears everywhere on practically everything -- from knickknacks to greeting cards to seasonal sweaters we plan to return. Whenever we see big snowballs our first impulse is to deck them out with a top hat. Humorist and writer Bob Eckstein has long been fascinated by this ubiquitous symbol of wintertime fun -- and finally, for the first time, one of the world's most popular icons gets his due.
A thoroughly entertaining exploration, The History of the Snowman travels back in time to shed light on the snowman's enigmatic past -- from the present day, in which the snowman reigns as the King of Kitsch, to the Dark Ages, with the creation of the very first snowman. Eckstein's curiosity began playfully enough, but soon snowballed into a (mostly) earnest quest of chasing Frosty around the world, into museums and libraries, and seeking out the advice of leading historians and scholars. The result is a riveting history that reaches back through centuries and across cultures -- sweeping from fifteenth-century Italian snowballs to eighteenth-century Russian ice sculptures to the regrettable "white-trash years" (1975-2000).
The snowman is not just part of our childhood memories, but is an integral part of our world culture, appearing -- much like a frozen Forrest Gump -- alongside dignitaries and celebrities during momentous events. Again and again, the snowman pops up in rare prints, paintings, early movies, advertising and, over the past century, in every art form imaginable. And the jolly snowman -- ostensibly as pure as the driven snow -- also harbors a dark past full of political intrigue, sex, and violence.
With more than two hundred illustrations and a special section of the best snowman cartoons, The History of the Snowman is a truly original winter classic -- smart, surprisingly enlightening, and quite simply the coolest book ever.
177 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
11 people are currently reading
709 people want to read
About the author
Bob Eckstein
12 books59 followersBob Eckstein is an award-winning illustrator, NY Times bestseller, New Yorker cartoonist, and world's only snowman expert. His fields of expertise are museums, bookstores, cartoons and humor.
He is editor of the popular Substack newsletter, The Bob and host of The Cartoon Pad podcast. His cartoons, OpEds, and short stories appear regularly in the New York Times, New York Daily News, MAD magazine, Readers Digest, The Spectator, Prospect, Wall Street Journal, Playboy, Atlas Obscura, LitHub, among many others. He was a columnist for the Village Voice, New York Newsday, and TimeOut New York. He has been interviewed in over 200 TV, radio, podcasts and magazine spots, including Good Morning America and People magazine. He was selected Erma Bombeck Humorist of the Month.
Follow him on Facebook Bob Eckstein and Instagram at bob_eckstein.
Bob Eckstein spent seven years traveling the world researching and attempting to answer the age-old question, who made the first snowman?
He has spoken publicly at many venues like The Norman Rockwell Museum, Miami Book Fair, The Grolier Club, Milford Readers & Writers Festival, and the Cooperage Theater and at the Erma Bombeck Workshop and Writer's Digest Annual Humor Conference.
He now lives in Manhattan. He has taught Writing & Drawing at N.Y.U., Pratt Institute, School of Visual Arts, Yonsei University in South Korea and many other places.
He is editor of the popular Substack newsletter, The Bob and host of The Cartoon Pad podcast. His cartoons, OpEds, and short stories appear regularly in the New York Times, New York Daily News, MAD magazine, Readers Digest, The Spectator, Prospect, Wall Street Journal, Playboy, Atlas Obscura, LitHub, among many others. He was a columnist for the Village Voice, New York Newsday, and TimeOut New York. He has been interviewed in over 200 TV, radio, podcasts and magazine spots, including Good Morning America and People magazine. He was selected Erma Bombeck Humorist of the Month.
Follow him on Facebook Bob Eckstein and Instagram at bob_eckstein.
Bob Eckstein spent seven years traveling the world researching and attempting to answer the age-old question, who made the first snowman?
He has spoken publicly at many venues like The Norman Rockwell Museum, Miami Book Fair, The Grolier Club, Milford Readers & Writers Festival, and the Cooperage Theater and at the Erma Bombeck Workshop and Writer's Digest Annual Humor Conference.
He now lives in Manhattan. He has taught Writing & Drawing at N.Y.U., Pratt Institute, School of Visual Arts, Yonsei University in South Korea and many other places.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
November 23, 2015
Whoah. Chris read a non-fiction book about the history of snowmen? (Or snowpeople, to be PC) WTF?
Well, two things happened to make this possible.
1. Simon & Schuster sent me an email wishing me a happy holiday (Merry Christmas to be un-PC) which included a link to a free ebook download of this. Cool. I like freebies.
2. I had a brief moment of holiday (Christmas) spirit on Christmas Day (December 25 if that C-word offends thee). It was very brief, but long enough for me to start this book. And once I start something, my OCD (batshit crazy) kicked in and I couldn't not finish it.
3. (Okay, I lied. There were 3 things) I was doing a reading challenge and needed a book with a red cover. (Red isn't meant to offend either)
4. (Now doubling the initial things that made it possible. Get over it) Since I don't own a Kindle and there was no link to Nook, I had to download to my iphone. And that meant I had to install an app. All of that software manipulation just to see if it worked. Hell, this is the real reason I opened the book and started turning pages. Screw the holiday season (not meant to offend Christians or Holiday Marketing Whoreporations) (Ok, that last word was meant to offend. If you are a coroporate entity that markets Christmas starting the day after Labor Day, kindly go fuck yourself)
So, the Grinch version is?
Damn, I haven't even reviewed the book yet. (Please don't delete my review. I've said nothing to offend the author) (Unless he's a Christmas marketing guru or hates the color red)
The book was pretty decent. Interesting at times as well. I've never stopped to consider (re: give a fuck) about snowmen in our culture. But yes, they are everywhere and have been there for a long time. The history that this guy unturned was kind of fascinating (the egg nog hadn't kicked in yet)
I actually found the first half of the book more interesting, that dealing with modern times and recent history (the politically correct world). The second half went back to the Dark Ages and old Europe, and while there were some interesting points, most of it was name/date dropping like you see in the dry old history textbooks.
Some of it was funny. Like, I've never thought about the sexual implications that are often associated with snowpeople (because we humans really are perverts). Well, okay. The carrot nose - I get that. But I never knew that Hans Christian Anderson was writing about gay longings by way of a snowman that fell in love with an oven (that he thought was a girl oven, no less). I never realized Hans Christian Anderson was gay, for that matter (historians haven't realized it either - they speculate and it's PC friendly). That analysis was pretty cool, if it's true that he wrote a lot of his stories to express his desires. Pretty slick too, if it's true. If not, I guess it just made for good stories.
But an oven? (Symbolically female, for sure)
I can't believe this review has gotten this long. And that I haven't yet mentioned Frosty.
There, I did it.
But yes, it was enjoyable enough to spend an afternoon on. And the best part of reading a book with holiday components? Though songs (like "Frosty the Snowman") are mentioned several times, I didn't have to listen to them!
Well, two things happened to make this possible.
1. Simon & Schuster sent me an email wishing me a happy holiday (Merry Christmas to be un-PC) which included a link to a free ebook download of this. Cool. I like freebies.
2. I had a brief moment of holiday (Christmas) spirit on Christmas Day (December 25 if that C-word offends thee). It was very brief, but long enough for me to start this book. And once I start something, my OCD (batshit crazy) kicked in and I couldn't not finish it.
3. (Okay, I lied. There were 3 things) I was doing a reading challenge and needed a book with a red cover. (Red isn't meant to offend either)
4. (Now doubling the initial things that made it possible. Get over it) Since I don't own a Kindle and there was no link to Nook, I had to download to my iphone. And that meant I had to install an app. All of that software manipulation just to see if it worked. Hell, this is the real reason I opened the book and started turning pages. Screw the holiday season (not meant to offend Christians or Holiday Marketing Whoreporations) (Ok, that last word was meant to offend. If you are a coroporate entity that markets Christmas starting the day after Labor Day, kindly go fuck yourself)
So, the Grinch version is?
Damn, I haven't even reviewed the book yet. (Please don't delete my review. I've said nothing to offend the author) (Unless he's a Christmas marketing guru or hates the color red)
The book was pretty decent. Interesting at times as well. I've never stopped to consider (re: give a fuck) about snowmen in our culture. But yes, they are everywhere and have been there for a long time. The history that this guy unturned was kind of fascinating (the egg nog hadn't kicked in yet)
I actually found the first half of the book more interesting, that dealing with modern times and recent history (the politically correct world). The second half went back to the Dark Ages and old Europe, and while there were some interesting points, most of it was name/date dropping like you see in the dry old history textbooks.
Some of it was funny. Like, I've never thought about the sexual implications that are often associated with snowpeople (because we humans really are perverts). Well, okay. The carrot nose - I get that. But I never knew that Hans Christian Anderson was writing about gay longings by way of a snowman that fell in love with an oven (that he thought was a girl oven, no less). I never realized Hans Christian Anderson was gay, for that matter (historians haven't realized it either - they speculate and it's PC friendly). That analysis was pretty cool, if it's true that he wrote a lot of his stories to express his desires. Pretty slick too, if it's true. If not, I guess it just made for good stories.
But an oven? (Symbolically female, for sure)
I can't believe this review has gotten this long. And that I haven't yet mentioned Frosty.
There, I did it.
But yes, it was enjoyable enough to spend an afternoon on. And the best part of reading a book with holiday components? Though songs (like "Frosty the Snowman") are mentioned several times, I didn't have to listen to them!
November 8, 2025
This book started out fun and corky, but quickly became bogged down in history. And badly written history at that.
If history is your thing great I was looking for more of a light hearted humor read.
From what the author reveals he really did a massive amount of research for this book and met with incredibly distinguished individuals in their fields of study; yet when it came to explaining and sharing what he learned it was poorly done.
I also cannot stand when someone explains something and does not provide a visual especially in a book that has pictures. If you can’t show it don’t mention it because it just becomes an incoherent list that you have no context for understanding.
Also that bit at the end should have just been woven in the chapters from the start.
I did learn some fun facts from this read so it isn’t all a waste.
Happier reading next time.
If history is your thing great I was looking for more of a light hearted humor read.
From what the author reveals he really did a massive amount of research for this book and met with incredibly distinguished individuals in their fields of study; yet when it came to explaining and sharing what he learned it was poorly done.
I also cannot stand when someone explains something and does not provide a visual especially in a book that has pictures. If you can’t show it don’t mention it because it just becomes an incoherent list that you have no context for understanding.
Also that bit at the end should have just been woven in the chapters from the start.
I did learn some fun facts from this read so it isn’t all a waste.
Happier reading next time.
September 5, 2009
I received this book as a Christmas gift from my sister because I love snowmen and have quite a collection. The book included many pop culture stories but Eckstein also did his research and gave interesting facts about snowmen from history. Many drawings, some by Eckstein as he was a political cartoonist, are included throughout the book and there are also several sections of color pictures of snowmen in art, advertising and other things. Snowmen have been used to sell things and also to make political statements from as early as the 13th century. Eckstein has an entertaining writing style and I didn't want to put the book down. I was also sharing different stories with the family throughout my reading. I recommend this book but be aware that there are parts that are graphic as some snowmen used for political purposes were sexual in nature. Certainly a far cry from Frosty the snowman of our generation.
February 29, 2016
I really wanted to love this book, but it fell short in so many ways. The second half, discussing the history/origins of the snowman, was interesting. But, I almost gave up before getting to that point in the book. The first half, which discussed the modern snowman, was a struggle. I expected this book to be more of a historic account of the snowman's origins, evolution, and appearances throughout history. Instead, the author spent so much time trying to be witty (and, in my opinion, failed) that the book just wasn't as enjoyable a read as it should be. There are some fascinating facts to be learned in the reading of this book, but they are to be found only by wading through the author's never-ending attempts to be humorous. Also, for whatever reason, the author chose to tell the story of the snowman in reverse chronological order. For anyone interested in reading the book, I would recommend starting with the Intermission (a collection of snowman cartoons) and Part 2.
December 19, 2025
I’ve had this book on my Audible Shelf for years but never felt like reading it until recently. Although there are some interesting parts, my biggest takeaways are that snowmen can potentially be seen as antisemitic, and also that there are way too many snowmen p*rn related material in the media. Other than that, this is a pretty boring read unless you jsut really love learning about the history of stuff. Solid 2/5 star ⭐️ read, would not recommend.
January 17, 2022
A fun, sort-of irreverent look at the snowman. When was the first one made - no one knows but humans do have a habit of stacking things like snowballs so it was likely our caveman ancestors. Putting a carrot and top hat on it would have taken likely centuries.
Mostly talking about it's use as a advertising minion in selling soap to shaving cream to frozen foods and just about anything one can imagine as the snowman is not only gender neutral but political and religiously neutral as well. Then there are the movies/television programs where he can be good or evil or even a child's entertainment.
But Eckstein digs into historical imaging to see if he can find a snowman in a few winter scene paintings - there are a couple in the distant backgrounds - and even a manuscript from the late 1300's which has what could be a snowman warming his frozen backside over stove/grill-work.
If you're looking for Frosty, he makes an appearance or two amidst other snowman-ish facts. What I would have loved to see the Brattleboro Vermont Snow Angel that appeared one wintry day in 1856 showing that snow sculpture can be as detailed as marble.
Not sure if this is the 'right' book to curl up with next to the fireplace with some hot cocoa while a snow storm is raging outside but it certainly might be useful to cool one off while resting under an umbrella on a sunny sandy beach.
2022-017
Mostly talking about it's use as a advertising minion in selling soap to shaving cream to frozen foods and just about anything one can imagine as the snowman is not only gender neutral but political and religiously neutral as well. Then there are the movies/television programs where he can be good or evil or even a child's entertainment.
But Eckstein digs into historical imaging to see if he can find a snowman in a few winter scene paintings - there are a couple in the distant backgrounds - and even a manuscript from the late 1300's which has what could be a snowman warming his frozen backside over stove/grill-work.
If you're looking for Frosty, he makes an appearance or two amidst other snowman-ish facts. What I would have loved to see the Brattleboro Vermont Snow Angel that appeared one wintry day in 1856 showing that snow sculpture can be as detailed as marble.
Not sure if this is the 'right' book to curl up with next to the fireplace with some hot cocoa while a snow storm is raging outside but it certainly might be useful to cool one off while resting under an umbrella on a sunny sandy beach.
2022-017
November 9, 2020
Well . . . this book didn't live up to the hopes I had when I first heard of it. It was not as scholarly as I was hoping for. I guess I should expect that considering it was written by a humor writer and cartoonist instead of a historian. To be fair, this would have to be a difficult subject to write about. It's not like there would be much written on the history of snowmen.
The structure of the book was a little strange. Instead of starting in the past and moving forward to show the way snowmen have evolved over time it started in the present and went backwards. After a while, that broke down as well. Eventually it got to the point that each chapter related some interesting historical event involving snowmen or snow sculptures while the actual chronology got a bit muddled.
I did find the first picture of a snowman from 1380 interesting but that was about it. Overall, it was a mildly interesting read but not one that provided me with much of anything that was really new or significant.
The structure of the book was a little strange. Instead of starting in the past and moving forward to show the way snowmen have evolved over time it started in the present and went backwards. After a while, that broke down as well. Eventually it got to the point that each chapter related some interesting historical event involving snowmen or snow sculptures while the actual chronology got a bit muddled.
I did find the first picture of a snowman from 1380 interesting but that was about it. Overall, it was a mildly interesting read but not one that provided me with much of anything that was really new or significant.
December 30, 2007
I had no idea that there were actual facts about snowmen. There are a least a book full! Bob Eckstein is hilarious, providing tons of quirky facts about a cultural icon that most people don't think twice about. He not only follows the origin of the snowman back to illuminated manuscripts, he also follows the cultural significance of the snowman by providing numerous cartoons, photographs, and of course finding the link between the snowman and Kevin Bacon (in three different examples! page 75) A great book with lots of facts to make you go hum and ha!
December 22, 2009
Fantastic light read, perfect for the holiday season. Eckstein peppers his text with hilarity and facts... some so outlandish that you question whether or not it's possible that they really did build a whole city of snowmen back in 1511! But his extensive bibliography speaks to his extensive research that has lead him to become the "World Expert on Snowmen."
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
February 2, 2019
Somewhere Bob Eckstein is stuck in the polar vortex with his tongue stuck to a snowman’s cheek. The book isn’t great, but it is interesting. I think including a color picture of the North St. Paul snowman could have earned a 4th star, or at least a North Star...
November 29, 2008
Boo Ya Schenectady, New York Lady! You could have been FAMOUS! Great book Bob. Funny and interesting. Where exactly in St Paul was that giant snowman?
January 10, 2022
I'm a bit sorry to admit that I was disappointed by some aspects of this book. On the whole, I don't regret spending my last day of winter break reading it, which is to say the disappointments aren't so big as to make me feel like I wasted my time, but when thinking about how to rate it here, I just couldn't bring myself to give it four stars when Goodreads' description of that rating is "really liked it" versus three-stars' "liked it".
There was some great trivia in this book, and I laughed out loud more than once at the humorous writing and some of the ridiculous old snowman imagery. But if you expect the questions presented on the front jacket flap to be answered (such as, "Who decided they would use a carrot for a nose?") don't hold your breath. More time is spent explaining why these questions can't be answered, which is ultimately nothing but frustrating. Why entice the reader with such inquiries in the first place?
The illustrations by the author were all very well done. I didn't even notice that some illustrations carried the same name as the front of the book at first, but once I did, it was nice to pick them out among the other images that are included here. My favorite sits on page 120. It's so lovely and well executed, looking like printmaking media, perhaps a woodcut? though the overall tongue-in-cheek tone of the entire book makes me wonder whether I'm missing some aspect of parody in it and being made a fool of for enjoying it as I do 🤔
Speaking of the book's humor, one of the biggest frustrations I had in reading was how different parts one and two are. Part one, I realized after several pages being confused by the book's suddenly flippant, sarcastic, and even judgemental tone, is written as if the snowman was a celebrity with a long, storied career. I didn't expect this so it took a while to get used to. Once I finally acclimated to the half-parody presentation of modern snowman facts, part two threw me for a loop by being written more as I expected. Each chapter presented different historical accounts or topics, using a believable, authoritative tone that was softened by humorous reflections at appropriate moments. I wish the entire book had been written in the latter style; I may even have given the book a full five stars, that's how much I enjoyed the second part compared to the first.
So, while this isn't something I'll be keeping in my library, I do think it's worth a read, especially if you're prepared ahead of time for the things I've outlined here!
There was some great trivia in this book, and I laughed out loud more than once at the humorous writing and some of the ridiculous old snowman imagery. But if you expect the questions presented on the front jacket flap to be answered (such as, "Who decided they would use a carrot for a nose?") don't hold your breath. More time is spent explaining why these questions can't be answered, which is ultimately nothing but frustrating. Why entice the reader with such inquiries in the first place?
The illustrations by the author were all very well done. I didn't even notice that some illustrations carried the same name as the front of the book at first, but once I did, it was nice to pick them out among the other images that are included here. My favorite sits on page 120. It's so lovely and well executed, looking like printmaking media, perhaps a woodcut? though the overall tongue-in-cheek tone of the entire book makes me wonder whether I'm missing some aspect of parody in it and being made a fool of for enjoying it as I do 🤔
Speaking of the book's humor, one of the biggest frustrations I had in reading was how different parts one and two are. Part one, I realized after several pages being confused by the book's suddenly flippant, sarcastic, and even judgemental tone, is written as if the snowman was a celebrity with a long, storied career. I didn't expect this so it took a while to get used to. Once I finally acclimated to the half-parody presentation of modern snowman facts, part two threw me for a loop by being written more as I expected. Each chapter presented different historical accounts or topics, using a believable, authoritative tone that was softened by humorous reflections at appropriate moments. I wish the entire book had been written in the latter style; I may even have given the book a full five stars, that's how much I enjoyed the second part compared to the first.
So, while this isn't something I'll be keeping in my library, I do think it's worth a read, especially if you're prepared ahead of time for the things I've outlined here!
December 29, 2013
I received an ebook copy of this work free from Simon and Schuster as part of their holiday thank-yous, or whatever. Maybe part of the reason why I'm only giving it three stars is the ebook platform that I had to read it on was just miserable.
Also, possibly because of the platform, there were no footnotes or citations in the work, just a bibliography at the very end, which bothers me, even though this is just about snowmen. I was expecting it to be a bit more serious - it seemed like the author thought that the subject was a joke and was surprised to find any actual historical significance. I would love to see this book rewritten with a more serious tone...and I would definitely never use Simon and Schuster's ebook platform ever again.
Also, possibly because of the platform, there were no footnotes or citations in the work, just a bibliography at the very end, which bothers me, even though this is just about snowmen. I was expecting it to be a bit more serious - it seemed like the author thought that the subject was a joke and was surprised to find any actual historical significance. I would love to see this book rewritten with a more serious tone...and I would definitely never use Simon and Schuster's ebook platform ever again.
March 21, 2008
In Trento there is a castle with a fresco of a snowball fight from 1403. The combatants are men and women, lighthearted and very intent. And shoeless in hose, brrr! I very much want to go to see it.
The book is fine and funny. It could have used more careful editing in places and sometimes the facts and thoughts run too densely together. However, it makes a quick and entertaining read, has lots of lovely pictures, and a touching conclusion (not dissimilar from my own strain of didacticism). And it depicts an early 15th century snowball fight.
The book is fine and funny. It could have used more careful editing in places and sometimes the facts and thoughts run too densely together. However, it makes a quick and entertaining read, has lots of lovely pictures, and a touching conclusion (not dissimilar from my own strain of didacticism). And it depicts an early 15th century snowball fight.
March 15, 2019
A really informative look into one of the most iconic images (and stock characters) of Christmas and Winter in general.
You know, I've always been a curious man and I love learning the origin of things that are in the public eye, and every time I wanted to know something, I simply looked it up online. With the snowman, Bob Eckstein had no such luxury. The amount of time and research he put into such a seemingly silly topic is commendable, all because he simply wanted to know.
You know, I've always been a curious man and I love learning the origin of things that are in the public eye, and every time I wanted to know something, I simply looked it up online. With the snowman, Bob Eckstein had no such luxury. The amount of time and research he put into such a seemingly silly topic is commendable, all because he simply wanted to know.
December 25, 2018
i think i much preferred this book in principle than in practise. when i found it in the shop i thought it seemed like a p charming idea, but the execution was... not quite what i expected. by no means dull - many interesting bits in fact (i especially enjoyed the descriptions of the russian ice palace) - i just came out at the end slightly disappointed
April 1, 2008
written with wit this is a "riveting history that reaches back through centuries and across cultures- sweeping from the fifteenth-century Italian snowballs to eighteenth-century Russian ice sculptures to the regrettable "white trash years" (1975-200)."
December 30, 2016
At first, I enjoyed the light-hearted approach to the topic in the book, but after awhile the yuck-yuck-badda-bing type jokes just became too much. I think if the author had toned down the cheap night-club act and obvious snow/cold puns, this brief history could have been fascinating.
November 5, 2016
Odd, witty, sarcastic "story" of the snowman.
September 4, 2022
I don't read much non-fiction, mostly because I have this (mis)conception that it's all rather stuffy and full of dry old facts.
Well, I am very glad to say that this book proved me 100% wrong.
The whole premise of this book is entirely intriguing. I mean, think about it. This time of year, there are snowmen literally everywhere in one form or another. We know the story of the Christmas tree, the story of the stocking, and the story of the candle in the window, so why haven't we ever looked into the snowman's history? Eckstein does exactly that.
The one thing that I loved the most about this book and the one thing that kept me wanting to read it all in one go (to the point where I had to cram for one of my finals...woops) was that this book was genuinely interesting and absolutely funny. When I read that Bob Eckstein was a humor writer and a political cartoonist, I thought for sure that this book would be nothing but one big satire. Au contraire. It was informative, factual, and funny all in one. Who knew history could be all of these things at once? Eckstein mastered it.
The best way to demonstrate this would obviously be through example. Here are two of my favorite passages:
1) Eckstein is discussing a female professor who claims the snowman to be an utterly sexist symbol.
2) Eckstein is here discussing the use of snowballs by a saint in fending off the devil (the idea being that by swallowing the snowballs, the devil would be extricated). Here's what he has to say about the saint:
Seriously, how funny is this guy? The point I'm trying to make is that even though he can be this hilarious, he's still serious about his topic and provides interesting tidbits about the snowman along the way. I'm seriously bummed that I let this one sit on my shelf for so long. I highly recommend this one to those curious about our dear snowman or for those who are skeptical about nonfiction.
This is one I know I'll revisit again, especially since I'll never be able to look at snowmen the same way again!
Well, I am very glad to say that this book proved me 100% wrong.
The whole premise of this book is entirely intriguing. I mean, think about it. This time of year, there are snowmen literally everywhere in one form or another. We know the story of the Christmas tree, the story of the stocking, and the story of the candle in the window, so why haven't we ever looked into the snowman's history? Eckstein does exactly that.
The one thing that I loved the most about this book and the one thing that kept me wanting to read it all in one go (to the point where I had to cram for one of my finals...woops) was that this book was genuinely interesting and absolutely funny. When I read that Bob Eckstein was a humor writer and a political cartoonist, I thought for sure that this book would be nothing but one big satire. Au contraire. It was informative, factual, and funny all in one. Who knew history could be all of these things at once? Eckstein mastered it.
The best way to demonstrate this would obviously be through example. Here are two of my favorite passages:
1) Eckstein is discussing a female professor who claims the snowman to be an utterly sexist symbol.
The professor's biggest complaint was that snowmen are made outdoors--reinforcing the idea that the public space is a man's world. In her words, "Since the 19th century, there has been a segregation between the private space of the home, traditionally occupied by women, and the public space of business and outdoors, naturally occupied by men." Agreed. Statistics will show almost all snowmen are made outdoors, where the snow tends to accumulate.
2) Eckstein is here discussing the use of snowballs by a saint in fending off the devil (the idea being that by swallowing the snowballs, the devil would be extricated). Here's what he has to say about the saint:
Meanwhile, Saint Francis was performing miracles left and right. It was nothing for him to walk into a burning oven and hold burning coals in his hands. His resume included predicting wars, bringing his dead nephew back to life, curing people of the plague, and making a sea voyage using his cloak (!) as a boat. He even had a companion "on board" with him, on his "cloak." The number of his followers eventually increased, and before you could say "Holy Saint Theodosia," his chapel had become quite the hangout--so much so, that in 1454, Saint Francis and his disciples had to build a large monastery. The house rules included no sex, no milk, and no eggs. It had the makings of the first reality show.
Seriously, how funny is this guy? The point I'm trying to make is that even though he can be this hilarious, he's still serious about his topic and provides interesting tidbits about the snowman along the way. I'm seriously bummed that I let this one sit on my shelf for so long. I highly recommend this one to those curious about our dear snowman or for those who are skeptical about nonfiction.
This is one I know I'll revisit again, especially since I'll never be able to look at snowmen the same way again!
December 22, 2017
If I recall correctly, I picked this book up because it was one of the few that mentioned an unusual snowman custom I read about on the internet, and I just HAD TO KNOW MORE. Unfortunately for me, this time my obsessiveness led me astray, into the land of the Bad Book.
I'm mad at myself. I'm mad at myself for obtaining this book in the first place, but mostly I'm mad at myself for finishing it. If I had a shelf named "SHOULD HAVE abandoned it," this would be on it. Why did I persist? Why did I bother? Why have I not written to Bob Eckstein, demanding reparations for both the cost of this book (which I obtained used) and for my time? These are questions I cannot yet answer.
Here is what I can tell you: do not read this book. I strongly suspect that it was not edited beyond running a basic spellcheck; if someone DOES claim to have edited it, that person needs to be fired at once, because they are LYING. Let me give you one example:
I assume you see the problem, with how 2002 is FOUR years AFTER 1998? (Also, I looked it up, and apparently Santa vs. the Snowman came out in 1997, which is ALSO not TWO years before 1998.) These basic, basic, BASIC errors occur throughout the book, and if a writer can't even get this stuff correct, how am I supposed to trust that anything else here is right?
And on top of that, this book is so poorly-organized I was driven nearly mad. If a chapter is going to cover (for example) 1975-2000, it'd better stay within the bounds of those years AND make a case for why that particular period has its own category. Unfortunately, Bob Eckstein is unconcerned with anything like that. I still don't know why he calls that 25-year stretch "The White Trash Years," OR why he feels using a loaded (classist) term like that is justified, OR why he spends that chapter mostly talking about the history of Frosty the Snowman (which mostly occurred prior to 1975). Chapters that confine themselves to specific incidents or specific snowmen usually fare better, in terms of writing and how well they "flow," but again, there were so many earlier errors that I wouldn't trust anything I read without thoroughly fact-checking it.
In summary: This book is riddled with such basic errors that trusting any of the content seems foolish. It's poorly organized and poorly written. It does have some cool images of old-timey snowman post cards, so if you're into that, by all means find a copy at a library, but please do not pay money for this.
I'm mad at myself. I'm mad at myself for obtaining this book in the first place, but mostly I'm mad at myself for finishing it. If I had a shelf named "SHOULD HAVE abandoned it," this would be on it. Why did I persist? Why did I bother? Why have I not written to Bob Eckstein, demanding reparations for both the cost of this book (which I obtained used) and for my time? These are questions I cannot yet answer.
Here is what I can tell you: do not read this book. I strongly suspect that it was not edited beyond running a basic spellcheck; if someone DOES claim to have edited it, that person needs to be fired at once, because they are LYING. Let me give you one example:
In a curious career move, Michael Keaton played a reincarnated snowman in the painful Jack Frost (1998). . . . Two years earlier it was Santa vs. the Snowman (2002)
I assume you see the problem, with how 2002 is FOUR years AFTER 1998? (Also, I looked it up, and apparently Santa vs. the Snowman came out in 1997, which is ALSO not TWO years before 1998.) These basic, basic, BASIC errors occur throughout the book, and if a writer can't even get this stuff correct, how am I supposed to trust that anything else here is right?
And on top of that, this book is so poorly-organized I was driven nearly mad. If a chapter is going to cover (for example) 1975-2000, it'd better stay within the bounds of those years AND make a case for why that particular period has its own category. Unfortunately, Bob Eckstein is unconcerned with anything like that. I still don't know why he calls that 25-year stretch "The White Trash Years," OR why he feels using a loaded (classist) term like that is justified, OR why he spends that chapter mostly talking about the history of Frosty the Snowman (which mostly occurred prior to 1975). Chapters that confine themselves to specific incidents or specific snowmen usually fare better, in terms of writing and how well they "flow," but again, there were so many earlier errors that I wouldn't trust anything I read without thoroughly fact-checking it.
In summary: This book is riddled with such basic errors that trusting any of the content seems foolish. It's poorly organized and poorly written. It does have some cool images of old-timey snowman post cards, so if you're into that, by all means find a copy at a library, but please do not pay money for this.
December 30, 2020
I wanted to love this book so much because snowmen are my favorite part of the holiday season, but it ended up as just OK. My biggest issue was that it is mis-titled, as Eckstein's journey happens in reverse chronology, starting with the modern snowman that appears everywhere as soon as the Halloween decorations go away, and works back until we get to the ice age and the speculation that if ice was the main feature of the environment of the first man, perhaps there was snow for the first children to play in and build figures of each other. For Eckstein as a researcher, the timeline makes sense, as each chapter takes him deeper into his quest to find the very first record of a snowman, since, unlike figures built out of wood or stone or bone, there is no ability to preserve a creation made out of snow for millennia, nor would 2 lumps of coal found together necessarily indicate they were once used as a snowman's eyes.
That said, I learned more about the snowman and history of making snow figures than I ever could have imagined. It seems the ubiquitous concept of a snowman made out of round balls, the aforementioned coal, a carrot, and a hat of some sort (I'm partial to buckets myself) is a recent development, as historic snowmen had a more human look to them, as if a person stood outside and got covered in a few inches of snow all over. Eckstein's use of many pictures was appreciated, and many of them, including illustrations, show the snowman with this more human-like form.
His dedication to the subject was quite admirable, taking him all over the globe to view many cultures' take on the snowman, as well as museums and archives to analyze many, many pieces of artwork and literature to see if perhaps their creators included, no matter how minor or trivial, reference to a snowman. In addition to the pictures, I enjoyed the cultural comparisons most of all, that Japanese 'yukidaruma' are made with 2 balls instead of 3, how European settlers in America used snowmen to guard their forts, and the number of different celebrations around the world where the snowman is the guest of honor.
All told, I enjoyed the book, I just held it to super high standards given my own interest in the subject matter, and it didn't quite live up to those standards. Plus, I was reading it primarily before bed and kept dozing off almost immediately, so it's not an action-packed page turner that will keep you awake wanting to read 'just one more chapter'.
That said, I learned more about the snowman and history of making snow figures than I ever could have imagined. It seems the ubiquitous concept of a snowman made out of round balls, the aforementioned coal, a carrot, and a hat of some sort (I'm partial to buckets myself) is a recent development, as historic snowmen had a more human look to them, as if a person stood outside and got covered in a few inches of snow all over. Eckstein's use of many pictures was appreciated, and many of them, including illustrations, show the snowman with this more human-like form.
His dedication to the subject was quite admirable, taking him all over the globe to view many cultures' take on the snowman, as well as museums and archives to analyze many, many pieces of artwork and literature to see if perhaps their creators included, no matter how minor or trivial, reference to a snowman. In addition to the pictures, I enjoyed the cultural comparisons most of all, that Japanese 'yukidaruma' are made with 2 balls instead of 3, how European settlers in America used snowmen to guard their forts, and the number of different celebrations around the world where the snowman is the guest of honor.
All told, I enjoyed the book, I just held it to super high standards given my own interest in the subject matter, and it didn't quite live up to those standards. Plus, I was reading it primarily before bed and kept dozing off almost immediately, so it's not an action-packed page turner that will keep you awake wanting to read 'just one more chapter'.
December 23, 2023
It is a bit too perfunctory to make for a fun read, but, as it is with writing the history of anything, the snowman becomes as reasonable place as any to explore the story of our world. As it is, and the author is upfront about the fact that we actually know very little about where and when the concept of the "snowman" developed, beyond theories such as the one that anchors it in Schenectady, New York, or that ties it to fleeting and uncertain images in old photos. What Eckstein is able to do is expand the boundaries of what a snowman is beyond Frosty, the carrot nose and the top hat, all things we can undoubtedly trace as a part of our cultural history.
Looking beyond these cultural touchpoints, the snowman's history turns decidedly dark and adult, getting wrapped up in everything from politics to deities, racial/gender divisions, sex, and revolutions, and perhaps its most dominant usage- advertising. One of the more tantalizing quesitons the book brings to the forefront is the snowman as artistic expression.
If we can't pinpoint precisely where and when the "snowman" became commonplace as a pasttime and a recognizable figure, we can note that either making or imagining snow "objects" in different capactities has been part of human history likely for as long as humans have occupied snow ridden regions.
And oh ya, one other fact that I took away from this book. When you think of the snowman, its likely our minds go to the colder regions of our planet. In actuality, it is the warmer climates which still get snow that are most conducive to building snow things (the closely related history of ice sculptures might be a slightly different picture). Thus much of this history emerges from places you might not expect.
Looking beyond these cultural touchpoints, the snowman's history turns decidedly dark and adult, getting wrapped up in everything from politics to deities, racial/gender divisions, sex, and revolutions, and perhaps its most dominant usage- advertising. One of the more tantalizing quesitons the book brings to the forefront is the snowman as artistic expression.
If we can't pinpoint precisely where and when the "snowman" became commonplace as a pasttime and a recognizable figure, we can note that either making or imagining snow "objects" in different capactities has been part of human history likely for as long as humans have occupied snow ridden regions.
And oh ya, one other fact that I took away from this book. When you think of the snowman, its likely our minds go to the colder regions of our planet. In actuality, it is the warmer climates which still get snow that are most conducive to building snow things (the closely related history of ice sculptures might be a slightly different picture). Thus much of this history emerges from places you might not expect.
December 21, 2022
This is a fun, unique retrospective of the history of the snowman; unfortunately, it is quite flwed and would have been great if a little more thought went into the editing. The concept of going back through history step-by-step to determine the earliest record of a snowman was a great idea, but I didn't feel like it was well-explained within the book. The first few eras were so close together, then bigger steps back, but it would have been helpful to end the chapters with reminders or explanations of the time jumps. There are also a lot of pictures, but they are scattered throughout the book, placed either way before or way after the related passages, so, while interesting, they lose their meaning in relation to the text. Lastly, the statements in the book are not cited, and with the humorous tone, it is hard to tell if some of the referenced sources and quotations are real or not. I feel like it would have been better if it did a little more to emulate a true non-fiction research book or leaned into the humor more. But the middle ground it is staddling results in a slightly confused book overall. Still a fun and interesting read.
December 27, 2020
Bravo to Eckstein for such a unique biographical undertaking. Nobody's gonna believe that I just read this.
I don't doubt that this book is well-researched but Eckstein's presentation of the subject sort of undermines all that effort. I can't tell if this book has the beginnings of an academic discourse for a fun college class or a compendium of fun facts to be enjoyed on the toilet. Perhaps somewhere in between like a lecture aboard a winter-themed cruise ship?
Eckstein writes with a sense of insistent humor and wit that made me chuckle a few times and roll my eyes other times. Don't get me wrong, I liked this book and I've learned fascinating snippets of facts, especially from Part 2 of the book. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the obscure history of obscure things - but don't try to take this book too seriously - it'll be like roasting snow in the furnace.
I don't doubt that this book is well-researched but Eckstein's presentation of the subject sort of undermines all that effort. I can't tell if this book has the beginnings of an academic discourse for a fun college class or a compendium of fun facts to be enjoyed on the toilet. Perhaps somewhere in between like a lecture aboard a winter-themed cruise ship?
Eckstein writes with a sense of insistent humor and wit that made me chuckle a few times and roll my eyes other times. Don't get me wrong, I liked this book and I've learned fascinating snippets of facts, especially from Part 2 of the book. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the obscure history of obscure things - but don't try to take this book too seriously - it'll be like roasting snow in the furnace.
February 26, 2021
This is the only book you'll ever have to read about snowpeople. Didn't know you needed to read a book about snowpeople? Well, you don't. But you should. This is SO comprehensive - I mean, Bob Eckstein can't possibly call this a lucrative undertaking. He did so much research; I can't imagine what was left on the editing floor. Although he did get to travel the world for it.
Anyway, learning about the use of the snowman in politics, advertising, film, etc., etc. by joining Bob on his adventures was eye-opening, entertaining and, at times, disturbing. A quick read (lots of pictures and cartoons), this is a must!
Anyway, learning about the use of the snowman in politics, advertising, film, etc., etc. by joining Bob on his adventures was eye-opening, entertaining and, at times, disturbing. A quick read (lots of pictures and cartoons), this is a must!
January 6, 2020
Despite being a slight book, The History of the Snowman still feels stretched. Bob Eckstein does a good job with the material he has, but there really isn't much to work with. I did like when Eckstein focused on the historiography, though I'm naturally predisposed to enjoy that sort of thing. Perhaps a long article with a greater emphasis on the author's journey would have better fit the material.
November 2, 2025
I was expecting more actual history of the snowman. Instead, there was more history about the civilizations involved around snowman.
It was also written in reverse chronological order. I would’ve enjoyed it better if it was written chronologically.
The cartoons and images throughout the book were good and were actually the best part of the book.
It was also written in reverse chronological order. I would’ve enjoyed it better if it was written chronologically.
The cartoons and images throughout the book were good and were actually the best part of the book.
October 10, 2019
Interesting to read about snowmen and see the work Eckstein put in to tracing the origins and various uses/styles through the centuries.
Part 2 was more interesting to me as it delved into the history not the modern uses.
Part 2 was more interesting to me as it delved into the history not the modern uses.
May 17, 2018
With this treatise, the veil covering the elusive Snowman has finally been pulled back.
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