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Вижити
Наша планета — збіса небезпечне місце. Й була такою впродовж усієї історії.
Будьмо відверті — стикнувшись із динозавром розміром з локомотив чи потрапивши під удар десятикілометрового астероїда, шанси вижити в людини незначні. І все ж вони не нульові. Особливо якщо знати, куди бігти та за що хапатися.
У кожному розділі своєї книжки Коді Кессіді досліджує, як уникнути найстрашніших загроз і врятуватися від найбільших катастроф у світовій історії. Що слід робити, аби вціліти під час виверження Везувію, не стати жертвою бубонної чуми, пережити падіння Константинополя й не потонути разом із «Титаніком». Уміло поєднуючи гумор, історію та науку, Кессіді надає детальні рекомендації для успішного виживання — від того, наскільки швидко треба бігти, щоб випередити тиранозавра, до того, яку статуру краще мати, щоб не померти з голоду, зимуючи в горах на Дикому Заході.
«Вижити» — це незвична й цікава розповідь про п’ятнадцять найбільш катастрофічних подій в історії Землі, яка дає читачеві змогу краще пізнати кожну її епоху.
Будьмо відверті — стикнувшись із динозавром розміром з локомотив чи потрапивши під удар десятикілометрового астероїда, шанси вижити в людини незначні. І все ж вони не нульові. Особливо якщо знати, куди бігти та за що хапатися.
У кожному розділі своєї книжки Коді Кессіді досліджує, як уникнути найстрашніших загроз і врятуватися від найбільших катастроф у світовій історії. Що слід робити, аби вціліти під час виверження Везувію, не стати жертвою бубонної чуми, пережити падіння Константинополя й не потонути разом із «Титаніком». Уміло поєднуючи гумор, історію та науку, Кессіді надає детальні рекомендації для успішного виживання — від того, наскільки швидко треба бігти, щоб випередити тиранозавра, до того, яку статуру краще мати, щоб не померти з голоду, зимуючи в горах на Дикому Заході.
«Вижити» — це незвична й цікава розповідь про п’ятнадцять найбільш катастрофічних подій в історії Землі, яка дає читачеві змогу краще пізнати кожну її епоху.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2023
272 people are currently reading
8199 people want to read
About the author
Cody Cassidy
6 books74 followersCody Cassidy is a freelance writer and editor whose articles have appeared in Wired and Slate, among many other publications. He lives in San Francisco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 449 reviews
March 29, 2024
In an appealing, friendly voice, Cody Cassidy highlights fifteen of history’s deadliest events or most dangerous time periods. His angle is unique: This is history masquerading as a set of entertaining instructions. With the reader plunked into the center of the action, historical events come to life in full color, as does their urgency, terror, and desperation.
Cassidy is a well-informed guide, and he’s confident as he helps readers through a variety of harrowing situations. Realistically, a time-traveling reader is unlikely to survive any of these, but this book fully believes in the reader, and that belief lends a kind of calm to each thrilling chapter. Readers will escape a rampaging Tyrannosaurus Rex. They will avoid starvation in the dead of winter and during the darkest year of the Dark Ages. They will find shelter in the face of a tornado that’s freakish in every respect: size, duration, and speed.
The shock and awe of these events can’t be exaggerated, and all are equally mind-blowing. Each chapter describes scenes with maximum drama in mind. For Pompeii:
The only way this book could be improved is in its illustrations. Each chapter has one or two, and these are well drawn (occasionally with levity) to elucidate the author's escape instructions or his description of something obscure, such as Blackbeard’s preferred attack method. But a few more to clarify the obscure would be even better. Description of Titanic’s bulkheads and other parts demand a visual. This could be forgiven except the bulkheads are too important: Titanic sank because the iceberg had slashed too many of them.
Cassidy set himself up for success by selecting topics with built-in drama, but he put great effort into making his book feel like a set of mesmerizing adventure stories. Chapters I wasn’t as excited about (the Ice Age; Ancient Egypt) he made me excited about. And the book’s playful, pop-history title belies something that teaches at surprising depth: Cassidy researched these topics down to the marrow. For every topic the amount I learned far exceeded my expectations, even for those topics I thought I knew well. Lots of today’s lay reader–friendly history books inject life into dry history, but How to Survive History must be at the top.
Cassidy is a well-informed guide, and he’s confident as he helps readers through a variety of harrowing situations. Realistically, a time-traveling reader is unlikely to survive any of these, but this book fully believes in the reader, and that belief lends a kind of calm to each thrilling chapter. Readers will escape a rampaging Tyrannosaurus Rex. They will avoid starvation in the dead of winter and during the darkest year of the Dark Ages. They will find shelter in the face of a tornado that’s freakish in every respect: size, duration, and speed.
The shock and awe of these events can’t be exaggerated, and all are equally mind-blowing. Each chapter describes scenes with maximum drama in mind. For Pompeii:
You’ll watch as [Mount Vesuvius] begins to disgorge 1.5 million tons of molten rock per second and release 100,000 times the thermal energy of the Hiroshima bomb. [...] As the cloud [of hot ash and gas] descends, it accelerates, so that when it reaches the ground it flows like a superheated sandstorm moving at autobahn speeds. These “pyroclastic flows” can be 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, dense enough to suffocate you, and extend for miles.For the 1906 earthquake:
The sudden jolt sent powerful pressure waves rippling outward through the earth like the wake cast off a speeding motorboat. Successive three-foot earthen undulations moved through the earth’s crust at nine times the speed of sound. They rocked, compressed, and shattered the soil as they radiated away from the rupture site. The crew of the Argo, a steamer headed for the San Francisco Bay, were the first to feel the jolt. Bolts blasted out of their sockets and the solid metal hull dented inward, as if a depth charge had gone off in close proximity.Beyond the history lessons, How to Survive History arms readers with information they could use today: Shelter under a table during an earthquake (chapter on the 1906 earthquake). Don a life jacket and don’t enter freezing water head first (chapter on Titanic). Leave the city immediately during a contagious plague (chapter on the Black Death). And there’s a lot that simply satisfies the intellectually curious and lovers of trivia, from facts about the hunting of woolly mammoths to why Titanic lacked enough lifeboats to the democratic nature of life on pirate ships.
The only way this book could be improved is in its illustrations. Each chapter has one or two, and these are well drawn (occasionally with levity) to elucidate the author's escape instructions or his description of something obscure, such as Blackbeard’s preferred attack method. But a few more to clarify the obscure would be even better. Description of Titanic’s bulkheads and other parts demand a visual. This could be forgiven except the bulkheads are too important: Titanic sank because the iceberg had slashed too many of them.
Cassidy set himself up for success by selecting topics with built-in drama, but he put great effort into making his book feel like a set of mesmerizing adventure stories. Chapters I wasn’t as excited about (the Ice Age; Ancient Egypt) he made me excited about. And the book’s playful, pop-history title belies something that teaches at surprising depth: Cassidy researched these topics down to the marrow. For every topic the amount I learned far exceeded my expectations, even for those topics I thought I knew well. Lots of today’s lay reader–friendly history books inject life into dry history, but How to Survive History must be at the top.
May 6, 2024
I loved this! It's funny and instructive and a quick read. I chose my favorite historical bits and read those first and then went back and read all of the others later. There really is no correct way to read it.
August 14, 2023
If you’re interested in reading random science articles, you will thoroughly enjoy this book.
July 12, 2023
Really fun and interesting! I liked that each section was independent from the rest and wasn’t too long, but still gave a decent amount of detail. Definitely learned some things!
How to survive…
- the dinosaur age
- the chicxulub asteroid
- the ice age
- ancient Egypt
- Pompeii
- the sack of Rome
- the darkest year of the dark ages
- the Black Death
- the fall of Constantinople
- the first circumnavigation
- a voyage with Blackbeard
- the Donner party
- the 1906 earthquake
- the sinking of the titanic
- the worst tornado in American history
How to survive…
- the dinosaur age
- the chicxulub asteroid
- the ice age
- ancient Egypt
- Pompeii
- the sack of Rome
- the darkest year of the dark ages
- the Black Death
- the fall of Constantinople
- the first circumnavigation
- a voyage with Blackbeard
- the Donner party
- the 1906 earthquake
- the sinking of the titanic
- the worst tornado in American history
July 13, 2023
I am very happy to be living through the 21st century. but this was a fun lil book to see if I’d survive the past.
(I wouldn’t.)
(I wouldn’t.)
November 30, 2024
3 stars = Good and worthwhile.
You’ll just have to survive first. Not many did.
I enjoyed reading this nonfiction in small bites, a chapter each day that I read it. Each one discusses how you could have the best chance of surviving a tragedy from history. The author consults experts in related fields and presents the findings in a light and enjoyable way. I found myself talking to others about things I had learned in that day’s “lesson.”
Xenophobia runs deep in human history.
-------------------------------------------
First Sentence: A few years ago I read a study written by a team of paleontologists that seemed to suggest I could outrun the most powerful predator in the history of our planet.
Favorite Quote: Merchant vessels were particularly tyrannical because they suffered from the common business conundrum known as the “principal-agent problem,” where those who do the work don’t profit while those who profit don’t do the work.
You’ll just have to survive first. Not many did.
I enjoyed reading this nonfiction in small bites, a chapter each day that I read it. Each one discusses how you could have the best chance of surviving a tragedy from history. The author consults experts in related fields and presents the findings in a light and enjoyable way. I found myself talking to others about things I had learned in that day’s “lesson.”
Xenophobia runs deep in human history.
-------------------------------------------
First Sentence: A few years ago I read a study written by a team of paleontologists that seemed to suggest I could outrun the most powerful predator in the history of our planet.
Favorite Quote: Merchant vessels were particularly tyrannical because they suffered from the common business conundrum known as the “principal-agent problem,” where those who do the work don’t profit while those who profit don’t do the work.
July 14, 2025
Вижити... Це не те щоби аж надто тривіальна задача для українців в середині третього десятиліття у ХХІ столітті...
Сподіваюся, в автора буде ще час і натхнення написати колись рекомендації, як саме потрібно втікати від автономних дронів-убивць, уникати прильотів балістичних ракет, де пересидіти ядерну війну і як вижити в геноцид. Навіть якщо він таке колись напише, навряд чи ми встигнемо скористатися його ретельно дослідженими порадами щодо реальних загроз, тому поки можна отримати задоволення, читаючи про уникнення гіпотетичних небезпек з минулого.
Ідея книги настільки проста, аж дивно, що ніхто досі не здогадався написати щось подібне. Коді Кессіді популяризує науку нестандартними способами, адже він пропонує читачам вижити в умовах ну дуже великих проблем: пішки втекти від тиранозавра, врятуватися, пливучи на «Титаніку», уникнути Чорної Смерті, вчасно покинути Помпею під час виверження Везувію, перехитрити найбільше, найруйнівніше в історії торнадо, та вдало пережити ще десяток інших катастрофічних загроз. Звісно, це може бути непросто, та і автор не дає стовідсоткових гарантій. Та кожен з цих варіантів виглядає, наче реалістичний план, адже в кожній із цих ситуацій принаймні хтось один, але вижив.
«Вижити» — це не зовсім покрокові інструкції, якими можна буде користуватися після того, як винайдуть Машина Часу. Втім ці гіпотетичні «історії успіху», розказані з таким запалом і знанням обставин трагедій та фактів історії, що є спокуса спробувати прожити подібне принаймні в уяві.
Коді Кессіді постійно звертається прямо до читача, робить це достатньо відверто і часто, щоразу все більше розширюючи пролом у «четвертій стіні». Тож коли розпочинається історія з голодною зимівлею на березі озера, у передгір'ях Сьєрра-Невади на Дикому Заході, значення слів «поворот не туди» набуває свіжих, але не менш жаских конотацій.
Я не вважаю себе аж надто тупим або малоерудованим, але про чималу купу історичних фактів я дізнався щойно з цієї книги. Наприклад про те, що египетські піраміди будували не раби або про обставини загибелі динозаврів. Не кажучи вже про доволі демократичні порядки піратського флоту Чорної Бороди та багато цікавих подробиць з подорожі Магеллана і процесу потопання «Титаніка».
Особливо чутливим читачам і читачкам я би не радив читати розповідь про виживання загону Доннера, а з іншого боку — як інакше ви дізнаєтеся про хвацький хист автора на поприщі провокативних тез та чорного гумору, га?
Сподіваюся, в автора буде ще час і натхнення написати колись рекомендації, як саме потрібно втікати від автономних дронів-убивць, уникати прильотів балістичних ракет, де пересидіти ядерну війну і як вижити в геноцид. Навіть якщо він таке колись напише, навряд чи ми встигнемо скористатися його ретельно дослідженими порадами щодо реальних загроз, тому поки можна отримати задоволення, читаючи про уникнення гіпотетичних небезпек з минулого.
Ідея книги настільки проста, аж дивно, що ніхто досі не здогадався написати щось подібне. Коді Кессіді популяризує науку нестандартними способами, адже він пропонує читачам вижити в умовах ну дуже великих проблем: пішки втекти від тиранозавра, врятуватися, пливучи на «Титаніку», уникнути Чорної Смерті, вчасно покинути Помпею під час виверження Везувію, перехитрити найбільше, найруйнівніше в історії торнадо, та вдало пережити ще десяток інших катастрофічних загроз. Звісно, це може бути непросто, та і автор не дає стовідсоткових гарантій. Та кожен з цих варіантів виглядає, наче реалістичний план, адже в кожній із цих ситуацій принаймні хтось один, але вижив.
«Вижити» — це не зовсім покрокові інструкції, якими можна буде користуватися після того, як винайдуть Машина Часу. Втім ці гіпотетичні «історії успіху», розказані з таким запалом і знанням обставин трагедій та фактів історії, що є спокуса спробувати прожити подібне принаймні в уяві.
Коді Кессіді постійно звертається прямо до читача, робить це достатньо відверто і часто, щоразу все більше розширюючи пролом у «четвертій стіні». Тож коли розпочинається історія з голодною зимівлею на березі озера, у передгір'ях Сьєрра-Невади на Дикому Заході, значення слів «поворот не туди» набуває свіжих, але не менш жаских конотацій.
Я не вважаю себе аж надто тупим або малоерудованим, але про чималу купу історичних фактів я дізнався щойно з цієї книги. Наприклад про те, що египетські піраміди будували не раби або про обставини загибелі динозаврів. Не кажучи вже про доволі демократичні порядки піратського флоту Чорної Бороди та багато цікавих подробиць з подорожі Магеллана і процесу потопання «Титаніка».
Особливо чутливим читачам і читачкам я би не радив читати розповідь про виживання загону Доннера, а з іншого боку — як інакше ви дізнаєтеся про хвацький хист автора на поприщі провокативних тез та чорного гумору, га?
January 5, 2025
I read this book as a light and breezy palate-cleanser between deeper reads, and it was very excellent in that role. I think the folks that will get the most out of it will be those who only know top-level facts about each of the historical eras featured - you can learn some interesting stuff while indulging the "how would I survive this" hook.
The book's conceit is that you are a time-traveler and get to go back to major disasters in various historical periods. (Also, every chapter is written in the second person, i.e. "You see a Tyrannosaurus Rex. You think you should run. Here's why you shouldn't." So be sure you're comfortable with this style before picking up the book.) The featured disasters are: dinosaurs, asteroid impact, ice age, ancient Egypt (building the Great Pyramid), Pompeii, the sack of Rome, "the darkest year of the Dark Ages," the Black Death, the fall of Constantinople, Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe, a voyage with Blackbeard, the Donner party, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the Titanic, "the worst tornado in American history."
My personal faves were the chapters featuring disasters I knew little or nothing about - "the darkest year of the dark ages" and "the worst tornado in American history." Close seconds were ones where I knew a little bit, but this book added some interesting nuance - Magellan's circumnavigation and the 1906 SF earthquake. But all were short and quick reads.
A downside is, this books just ends. No conclusion, no summary. There is, however, a hefty section for "resources and further reading" if you're inclined to dive deeper into any of the disasters.
What was a surprise is that I actually read aloud certain chapters of this book to my partner. Definitely can't do that with most books! And we both really enjoyed it. So it's that rare book that plays well in a crowd.
Bottom line, this book is fun for what it is, but I doubt it's going to change any lives or emotions. Not every book needs to!
The book's conceit is that you are a time-traveler and get to go back to major disasters in various historical periods. (Also, every chapter is written in the second person, i.e. "You see a Tyrannosaurus Rex. You think you should run. Here's why you shouldn't." So be sure you're comfortable with this style before picking up the book.) The featured disasters are: dinosaurs, asteroid impact, ice age, ancient Egypt (building the Great Pyramid), Pompeii, the sack of Rome, "the darkest year of the Dark Ages," the Black Death, the fall of Constantinople, Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe, a voyage with Blackbeard, the Donner party, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the Titanic, "the worst tornado in American history."
My personal faves were the chapters featuring disasters I knew little or nothing about - "the darkest year of the dark ages" and "the worst tornado in American history." Close seconds were ones where I knew a little bit, but this book added some interesting nuance - Magellan's circumnavigation and the 1906 SF earthquake. But all were short and quick reads.
A downside is, this books just ends. No conclusion, no summary. There is, however, a hefty section for "resources and further reading" if you're inclined to dive deeper into any of the disasters.
What was a surprise is that I actually read aloud certain chapters of this book to my partner. Definitely can't do that with most books! And we both really enjoyed it. So it's that rare book that plays well in a crowd.
Bottom line, this book is fun for what it is, but I doubt it's going to change any lives or emotions. Not every book needs to!
February 22, 2024
Short and funny book on how to survive various events in history.
I learned a lot of interesting random facts and trivia (Tyrannosaurus can't run!, why black death was so deadly, etc). Some of the survival chapters was pretty monotonous, it was basically just start from X and escape to Y. Also it was quite annoying having to convert the US based metrics every single time! Please be more considerate to non US readers and include the international metrics in the footnote.
My other complaint was the author did not include how to survive Hiroshima (because US was the culprit?). It was the single event I was most interested knowing how to survive, since it might still be relevant in the near future.
I learned a lot of interesting random facts and trivia (Tyrannosaurus can't run!, why black death was so deadly, etc). Some of the survival chapters was pretty monotonous, it was basically just start from X and escape to Y. Also it was quite annoying having to convert the US based metrics every single time! Please be more considerate to non US readers and include the international metrics in the footnote.
My other complaint was the author did not include how to survive Hiroshima (because US was the culprit?). It was the single event I was most interested knowing how to survive, since it might still be relevant in the near future.
December 28, 2023
My incessant need to collect random niche information just for fun 🤝 this book
January 5, 2024
Easy, entertaining, & enlightening read! Now if I happened to travel back in time, I’m prepared to survive a multitude of disasters!
September 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this book.it was very informative and I learned so much about
Well known world tragic events,and how they might have been prevented! So
Completely different then anything I ever read! This author knows so much
And each of the stories just made me want to read faster to get to the next story! Highly recommend this book,and anxious to read the authors other books! If your looking for something really different, read this book!
Well known world tragic events,and how they might have been prevented! So
Completely different then anything I ever read! This author knows so much
And each of the stories just made me want to read faster to get to the next story! Highly recommend this book,and anxious to read the authors other books! If your looking for something really different, read this book!
October 27, 2025
1st read: August 2024
2nd read: August 2025
I like all of the info about famous disasters, and the time-machine angle is a fun idea.
2nd read: August 2025
I like all of the info about famous disasters, and the time-machine angle is a fun idea.
March 11, 2024
I loved this! It was witty and informative. Gave me so many fun facts about history (& conformation that I would not survive a lot)
August 8, 2024
The perfect guide for the masochistic time traveller!
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
~Larka Fenrir
So, you got your first time machine? That's awesome! Now, what would you like to do with it: experience the first performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony? Shakespeare's Globe Theatre premiere of Hamlet? Or perhaps the first flight by the Wright Brothers?
Well, how about... voracious Tyrannosaurus Rex? The bubonic plague? Earthquakes? Maybe a tornado?
If you're in the mood for something more relaxing, you can enjoy a spa day at the Thermae Alexandrinae - unless it happens to be the same day as the Sack of Rome, that is.
But if you didn't pay much attention to your history classes, don't despair yet! Pack this humorous and very detailed* guide to get out of that pickle.
*You may want to skip the interesting (yet time consuming, in times of crisis) scientific explanations.
Choose your next destination!
How to Survive the Dinosaur Age
How to Survive the Chicxulub Asteroid
How to Survive the Ice Age
How to Survive Ancient Egypt
How to Survive Pompeii
How to Survive the Sack of Rome
How to Survive the Darkest Year of the Dark Ages
How to Survive the Black Death
How to Survive the Fall of Constantinople
How to Survive the First Circumnavigation
How to Survive a Voyage with Blackbeard
How to Survive the Donner Party
How to Survive the 1906 Earthquake
How to Survive the Sinking of the Titanic
How to Survive the Worst Tornado in American History
July 27, 2025
Прикольна книжка. Захотілось потусити з піратами
August 16, 2023
"The surprising discovery that I could use the latest research to conceivably survive an afternoon in the Late Cretaceous era with a starved tyrannosaurus nipping at my heels inspired further questions..."
How to Survive History was a fun short read.
Author Cody Cassidy is a freelance writer, editor, University of Oregon journalism major living in San Francisco who, when not slipping on banana peels, spends his time playing ultimate frisbee, surfing, and going on factory tours thinking about what would happen if he fell into the potatoes.
Cody Cassidy:
I tend to read mainly pretty serious, and often heavy-duty nonfiction books, and I sometimes get a bit of book burnout. So, I was looking for something a little more fun and easy-going than some of the titles I typically read, and this one fit the bill nicely. The author writes with an easygoing, yet humorous style that made this one a fun book.
The quote from the start of this review continues:
In this quote, Cassidy outlines the aim of the book:
"In short, this book should be read as an entirely serious attempt to guide a visitor through our planet’s greatest catastrophes and adventures using the benefits of hindsight and modern science. It’s written for the modern timetraveling reader who wants to witness the most dramatic, destructive, and dangerous events in history—and come back alive.
Good luck!"
The book proceeds in a chronological fashion, with different historical scenarios across the epochs presented in turn. The different scenarios covered here are:
• THE DINOSAUR AGE
• THE CHICXULUB ASTEROID
• THE ICE AGE
• ANCIENT EGYPT
• POMPEII
• THE SACK OF ROME
• THE DARKEST YEAR OF THE DARK AGES
• THE BLACK DEATH
• THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE
• THE FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION
• A VOYAGE WITH BLACKBEARD
• THE DONNER PARTY
• THE 1906 EARTHQUAKE
• THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC
• THE WORST TORNADO IN AMERICAN HISTORY
********************
How to Survive History was well done. I would recommend it to anyone interested.
4 stars.
How to Survive History was a fun short read.
Author Cody Cassidy is a freelance writer, editor, University of Oregon journalism major living in San Francisco who, when not slipping on banana peels, spends his time playing ultimate frisbee, surfing, and going on factory tours thinking about what would happen if he fell into the potatoes.
Cody Cassidy:
I tend to read mainly pretty serious, and often heavy-duty nonfiction books, and I sometimes get a bit of book burnout. So, I was looking for something a little more fun and easy-going than some of the titles I typically read, and this one fit the bill nicely. The author writes with an easygoing, yet humorous style that made this one a fun book.
The quote from the start of this review continues:
"...With the benefit of hindsight and modern science, could a time traveler visit Pompeii and survive the eruption of Mount Vesuvius? Could they buy a third-class ticket on the Titanic and find their way off the sinking ship? Could they survive the Black Death? Could they escape the path of the most powerful tornado in history, ride alongside Magellan on his horrifically dangerous circumnavigation, or haul up stones to build Khufu’s Great Pyramid?"
In this quote, Cassidy outlines the aim of the book:
"In short, this book should be read as an entirely serious attempt to guide a visitor through our planet’s greatest catastrophes and adventures using the benefits of hindsight and modern science. It’s written for the modern timetraveling reader who wants to witness the most dramatic, destructive, and dangerous events in history—and come back alive.
Good luck!"
The book proceeds in a chronological fashion, with different historical scenarios across the epochs presented in turn. The different scenarios covered here are:
• THE DINOSAUR AGE
• THE CHICXULUB ASTEROID
• THE ICE AGE
• ANCIENT EGYPT
• POMPEII
• THE SACK OF ROME
• THE DARKEST YEAR OF THE DARK AGES
• THE BLACK DEATH
• THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE
• THE FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION
• A VOYAGE WITH BLACKBEARD
• THE DONNER PARTY
• THE 1906 EARTHQUAKE
• THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC
• THE WORST TORNADO IN AMERICAN HISTORY
********************
How to Survive History was well done. I would recommend it to anyone interested.
4 stars.
December 11, 2023
This book is not at all my normal type of read, but I loved the title and description, and it turned out to be a very intriguing, interesting book.
I love that the author's approach to the "surviving" of the title is the premise that you are a time-traveler going back in time to these various historical catastrophes but you can - with the author's guidance and research - use science and planning to have a "re-do" of these occurrences and potentially survive as a result.
First of all, I am not a science nerd (using that term with love and respect!) so some of the information shared was more understandable than others for me, although the author really does write the chapters for lay-people and couches things in "regular people" speak, so you don't have to be a scientist to understand and enjoy this book. If you DO happen to be a science aficionado, I think you would enjoy this book even more than I did as all the details and information the author shares will bring the science to life with real-world situations.
I AM a history buff, so learning more about some of the worst disasters, and in some cases just real life situations throughout history with the putting the reader into the picture was a unique and clever way to frame the chapters.
Finally, as with anything like this where there are a number and variety of historical moments we "visit" some were more interesting to me than others. My favourite chapters included: "How to Survive Ancient Egypt", "How to Survive Pompeii", "How to Survive the Donner Party", "How to Survive the 1906 Earthquake", "How to Survive the Sinking of the Titanic" (which included the funniest, and my favourite lines in the book: "Getting dressed will take a few extra minutes, but don't worry. The great ship sinks so slowly you could make an interminable movie out of its demise" hahaha!), and "How to Survive the Worst Tornado in American History".
The author has a wonderful sense of humour and applies it liberally as he offers the reader advice on what to do/not do, where to go/not go and all sorts of other recommendations that he has collected by speaking with experts in the various situations (i.e. scientists, meteorologists, Egyptologists, etc.) who apply our current scientific and historical knowledge to these past situations and allow 50/50 hindsight to offer advice for our time-travelling selves to attempt to survive these infamous historical moments.
I found this a fun, smart, unusual and very entertaining fast and easy read.
I love that the author's approach to the "surviving" of the title is the premise that you are a time-traveler going back in time to these various historical catastrophes but you can - with the author's guidance and research - use science and planning to have a "re-do" of these occurrences and potentially survive as a result.
First of all, I am not a science nerd (using that term with love and respect!) so some of the information shared was more understandable than others for me, although the author really does write the chapters for lay-people and couches things in "regular people" speak, so you don't have to be a scientist to understand and enjoy this book. If you DO happen to be a science aficionado, I think you would enjoy this book even more than I did as all the details and information the author shares will bring the science to life with real-world situations.
I AM a history buff, so learning more about some of the worst disasters, and in some cases just real life situations throughout history with the putting the reader into the picture was a unique and clever way to frame the chapters.
Finally, as with anything like this where there are a number and variety of historical moments we "visit" some were more interesting to me than others. My favourite chapters included: "How to Survive Ancient Egypt", "How to Survive Pompeii", "How to Survive the Donner Party", "How to Survive the 1906 Earthquake", "How to Survive the Sinking of the Titanic" (which included the funniest, and my favourite lines in the book: "Getting dressed will take a few extra minutes, but don't worry. The great ship sinks so slowly you could make an interminable movie out of its demise" hahaha!), and "How to Survive the Worst Tornado in American History".
The author has a wonderful sense of humour and applies it liberally as he offers the reader advice on what to do/not do, where to go/not go and all sorts of other recommendations that he has collected by speaking with experts in the various situations (i.e. scientists, meteorologists, Egyptologists, etc.) who apply our current scientific and historical knowledge to these past situations and allow 50/50 hindsight to offer advice for our time-travelling selves to attempt to survive these infamous historical moments.
I found this a fun, smart, unusual and very entertaining fast and easy read.
May 16, 2025
As a parent and kids library staff member I'm extremely familiar with Lauren Tarshis' I Survived series that gives a child's perspective on different parts of history along with a narrative. This book however adds in the sciences and probability of hindsight to make history survivable. Everything from plagues, to crewing with Black Beard, to finding safety during the TriState Tornado. Read the entire thing over just the chapters that intrigue you as historians, survivalists, museum experts, scientists all weigh in. There is some punny humor but I'd still recommend it for middle grade readers up through adults.
May 5, 2024
This book was so much fun. I loved reading about how dangerous different periods and events in history could be and how to survive them. My favorite chapters were Dinasours, the Black Death, and the Titanic. I highly recommend it.
November 1, 2025
Initial thoughts: This was a fun read. It also confirms what I already suspected - I have no desire to live in past times. If time travel is ever discovered, it's on to the future for me! Full review to come.
October 24, 2025
Bookopoly - Non-fiction: 900s
August 30, 2023
Okay so the target demo of this book is a history nerd who has a good understanding of science (re: my brother). There are a lot of technical/math details to help you (a hypothetical time traveler) survive different catastrophes in history. These were really fun, but did assume a lot of background knowledge of the events in question and required more focus than I'm used to in this style of book (which was fine, I listened to it while on walks). tbh could've used more length in each of the chapters (read like 20-30 min podcast eps) to give some of the background and then ramp you up to the disaster. My other issue with it is that it seemed very euro/american-centric. The time periods covered are primarily events in Europe/around the Mediterranean and then shift to being in the US after covering Magellan's voyage (does go around the world, but was a Portuguese captain flying for Spain, so still counts as eurocentric). I would've liked to have something about the monogols, aztecs, shogunate japan, or literally anything in africa or south america.
November 26, 2025
3,5⭐️ #ebook
Насправді ці поради точно ніде не застосуєш, але частково щось зі змодельованого плану порятунку може бути цікавим для ознайомлення, бо деякі ситуації можуть повторитися будь-де, а щось вже ні. Стиль подачі кідруківський - легка подача, стьоб, смішні моменти (які можуть підняти настрій, але це не точно).
Насправді ці поради точно ніде не застосуєш, але частково щось зі змодельованого плану порятунку може бути цікавим для ознайомлення, бо деякі ситуації можуть повторитися будь-де, а щось вже ні. Стиль подачі кідруківський - легка подача, стьоб, смішні моменти (які можуть підняти настрій, але це не точно).
December 22, 2025
To quote Josie, “I feel like Jack and Annie really could have used this.”
September 14, 2024
moral of the story: leave when the vibes are off
August 1, 2025
excellent to listen to while doing other things! short, snappy, and interesting segments!
July 5, 2023
Great audio book. Good balance of information about the disaster and the scientific process of surviving.
March 9, 2025
Największe katastrofy w historii, najbardziej niebezpieczne miejsca na ziemi, najbardziej ekstremalne wydarzenia (do 1925 roku) - zatonięcie Titanica, tornado Tri-Stade, zagłada Pompejów, czarna śmierć czy wyprawa Donnera to tylko część z opisanych niebezpieczeństw 🦖⌚️🚢
A co jeśli nagle staniemy się podróżnikami w czasie i przeniesiemy się w sam środek jednego z tych wydarzeń? Czy jest sposób na przetrwanie? Oto praktyczny przewodnik jak przeżyć podróże w czasie wersja ekstremalna 🦖⌚️🚢
Autor z humorem opowiada o 15 teoretycznie niemożliwych do przeżycia wydarzeniach w historii i w porozumieniu ze specjalistami przedstawia najbardziej wiarygodne sposoby na przeżycie 🦖⌚️🚢
Każde wydarzenie jest dokładnie opisane, a dopiero potem skupia się na najbezpieczniejszej drodze (lub drogach) ucieczki z historycznego punktu widzenia (czyli z uwzględnieniem np. że jedne z drzwi na Titanicu zostały otwarte przez ogromne ciśnienie wody, a nie przez człowieka i do maksymalnie której godziny możemy czekać na otwarcie ich) 🦖⌚️🚢
Sama książka jest niestety dość krótka (mam nadzieję, że szykuje się część druga z bardziej współczesnymi katastrofami). Przez dość mało stron, same rozdziały są dość krótkie, ale dzięki temu czyta się ją naprawdę szybko jak na to, że to książka w głównej mierze historyczna (jedynym fantastycznym aspektem są podróże w czasie) 🦖⌚️🚢
Jako osoba, która historią zaczęła zachwycać się dopiero parę miesięcy temu (dawno po skończeniu szkoły) wnoszę o więcej takich książek! I pomimo, że przeczytałam ją z uwagą, znając życie i tak bym tego nie przeżyła 🦖⌚️🚢
A co jeśli nagle staniemy się podróżnikami w czasie i przeniesiemy się w sam środek jednego z tych wydarzeń? Czy jest sposób na przetrwanie? Oto praktyczny przewodnik jak przeżyć podróże w czasie wersja ekstremalna 🦖⌚️🚢
Autor z humorem opowiada o 15 teoretycznie niemożliwych do przeżycia wydarzeniach w historii i w porozumieniu ze specjalistami przedstawia najbardziej wiarygodne sposoby na przeżycie 🦖⌚️🚢
Każde wydarzenie jest dokładnie opisane, a dopiero potem skupia się na najbezpieczniejszej drodze (lub drogach) ucieczki z historycznego punktu widzenia (czyli z uwzględnieniem np. że jedne z drzwi na Titanicu zostały otwarte przez ogromne ciśnienie wody, a nie przez człowieka i do maksymalnie której godziny możemy czekać na otwarcie ich) 🦖⌚️🚢
Sama książka jest niestety dość krótka (mam nadzieję, że szykuje się część druga z bardziej współczesnymi katastrofami). Przez dość mało stron, same rozdziały są dość krótkie, ale dzięki temu czyta się ją naprawdę szybko jak na to, że to książka w głównej mierze historyczna (jedynym fantastycznym aspektem są podróże w czasie) 🦖⌚️🚢
Jako osoba, która historią zaczęła zachwycać się dopiero parę miesięcy temu (dawno po skończeniu szkoły) wnoszę o więcej takich książek! I pomimo, że przeczytałam ją z uwagą, znając życie i tak bym tego nie przeżyła 🦖⌚️🚢
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