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Oh, Yikes!: History's Grossest Wackiest Moments
Gross is back and viler than ever! From the author of Oh, Yuck! the perennial bestseller about science with over 610,000 copies in print, comes OH, YIKES! , an illustrated encyclopedia of history’s messiest, dumbest, grossest, wackiest, and weirdest moments.
If kids think pus and gas are fun, wait until they hear the lowdown on the real Dracula, samurai, gladiators, guillotines and vomitoriums, pirates, Vikings, witch trials, and the world’s poxiest plagues. Impeccably researched, deliciously wry, and subversively educational (check out the toilet-paper timeline), OH, YIKES! covers people, events, institutions, and really bad ideas, alphabetically from April Fool’s Day to zany Zoos . Here are the Aztecs, sacrificing 250,000 people a year for the gods—and for food. Fearsome Attila the Hun, scourge of the steppes whose spinning eyes terrified his friends and whose mastery of horses terrorized his enemies (how does someone so evil die? Nosebleed!). Saur, the 11th-century dog-king of Norway (and not too bad as kings go). Henry VIII and his marital problems, the story of the Abominable Snowman and the Loch Ness Monster, why sailors in the old days preferred eating in the dark ( you can’t see what’s crawling in your food), and the answer to the question, “How did knights in armor go to the bathroom?”
Topped off with hundreds of illustrations and photographs along with hands-on activities that bring the past to life, OH, YIKES! puts the juice in history in a way that makes it irresistible.
If kids think pus and gas are fun, wait until they hear the lowdown on the real Dracula, samurai, gladiators, guillotines and vomitoriums, pirates, Vikings, witch trials, and the world’s poxiest plagues. Impeccably researched, deliciously wry, and subversively educational (check out the toilet-paper timeline), OH, YIKES! covers people, events, institutions, and really bad ideas, alphabetically from April Fool’s Day to zany Zoos . Here are the Aztecs, sacrificing 250,000 people a year for the gods—and for food. Fearsome Attila the Hun, scourge of the steppes whose spinning eyes terrified his friends and whose mastery of horses terrorized his enemies (how does someone so evil die? Nosebleed!). Saur, the 11th-century dog-king of Norway (and not too bad as kings go). Henry VIII and his marital problems, the story of the Abominable Snowman and the Loch Ness Monster, why sailors in the old days preferred eating in the dark ( you can’t see what’s crawling in your food), and the answer to the question, “How did knights in armor go to the bathroom?”
Topped off with hundreds of illustrations and photographs along with hands-on activities that bring the past to life, OH, YIKES! puts the juice in history in a way that makes it irresistible.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
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November 6, 2019I have translated the book for publishing in another language, so I got a very detailed knowledge of it and double-checked many facts the author uses.
I liked the idea of the book - it sells history to kids in a way that certainly will appeal to them.
However, it has a number a bloopers and outright flaws. I will list all incorrect data I've encountered, so that you be aware. some of them are trivial factoids, yet others are more serious stuff, in need to be corrected. I have also discovered that some of the passages match corresponding articles in Wikipedia verbatim. Which inspired which I am not sure, but complemented with several horrible mistakes, these coincidences make me suspicious.
- The guy who invented hard hats was E.D. Bullard, not E.W. as the author states.
- In chapter on Dracula she incorrectly mentions years of life of Countess Bathory (1560-1613), while all encyclopedias list 1614 as her death year.
- in the article on Edison and light bulbs she calls Wilson Swan William.
- wrongly says that Joachimsthaler is named after a city in Germany, while that city is/and was/ actually in Czech Republic/Bohemia.
- She ridiculously claims that Napoleon's misfortunes in Russia from the onset resulted from cold/frosty weather there. The guy crossed into Russia on June 24th with months of fair weather ahead of him...
- She confused German Saxony with British Wessex in chapter on Queens...
- Indian Uprising happened in 1857, not in 1875.
- In The Titanic drama she touches on the story of The Empress ship, which, she writes, sank a few weeks after The Titanic. Yet it actually sank 2 YEARS after The Titanic's tragedy!
- She invented a King for England - Charles VIII, apparently confusing him with Henry VIII. And goes on elaborating on his exploits, stubbornly calling him Charles.
- While listing nationalities of Allied soldiers, who were in trenches of the WWI she mentions even the Canadians and Belgians, but omits the Russians, who lost millions in that war and were one of key forces of the Allied Entente effort.
- Talking about an ancient Chinese zoo, she managed to confuse 1000 AD and 1000 BC, which resulted in her spurious claim that the event was only 1000 years removed from us, while in fact it was 3000 years away...Quite a difference IMHO.
I liked the idea of the book - it sells history to kids in a way that certainly will appeal to them.
However, it has a number a bloopers and outright flaws. I will list all incorrect data I've encountered, so that you be aware. some of them are trivial factoids, yet others are more serious stuff, in need to be corrected. I have also discovered that some of the passages match corresponding articles in Wikipedia verbatim. Which inspired which I am not sure, but complemented with several horrible mistakes, these coincidences make me suspicious.
- The guy who invented hard hats was E.D. Bullard, not E.W. as the author states.
- In chapter on Dracula she incorrectly mentions years of life of Countess Bathory (1560-1613), while all encyclopedias list 1614 as her death year.
- in the article on Edison and light bulbs she calls Wilson Swan William.
- wrongly says that Joachimsthaler is named after a city in Germany, while that city is/and was/ actually in Czech Republic/Bohemia.
- She ridiculously claims that Napoleon's misfortunes in Russia from the onset resulted from cold/frosty weather there. The guy crossed into Russia on June 24th with months of fair weather ahead of him...
- She confused German Saxony with British Wessex in chapter on Queens...
- Indian Uprising happened in 1857, not in 1875.
- In The Titanic drama she touches on the story of The Empress ship, which, she writes, sank a few weeks after The Titanic. Yet it actually sank 2 YEARS after The Titanic's tragedy!
- She invented a King for England - Charles VIII, apparently confusing him with Henry VIII. And goes on elaborating on his exploits, stubbornly calling him Charles.
- While listing nationalities of Allied soldiers, who were in trenches of the WWI she mentions even the Canadians and Belgians, but omits the Russians, who lost millions in that war and were one of key forces of the Allied Entente effort.
- Talking about an ancient Chinese zoo, she managed to confuse 1000 AD and 1000 BC, which resulted in her spurious claim that the event was only 1000 years removed from us, while in fact it was 3000 years away...Quite a difference IMHO.
October 27, 2013
Don't read this book while eating. hehe. A very good yikes book. I want to read the other series from Joy Masoff.
December 10, 2013
This book will keep kids occupied for hours. It has chapters about topics ranging from the histories of toilet paper and cats to the real Dracula, Henry VII and what it REALLY would have been like to be a cowboy or a pirate. The chapters read like Discovery Kids articles. Masoff's introduction states that she wanted to write something which would teach kids about history without reading like a boring old textbook. Mission accomplished! The illustrations in this book range from humorous cartoons to historical woodcuts and photos to photos depicting romanticized versions of historical occupations such as knights and pointing out all the misconceptions people have. For example, in the section about pirates, there is a photo of someone dressed as a pirate as one would imagine them now, and one of many labels points to the parrot on his shoulder to point out that this is a fallacy and ask, "Would you want a bird pooping on you all day?"
I must caution that this book has a single use of questionable language, "pissed off," which is so isolated I cannot find it even as I thumb through the book. It is easy enough for a parent or teacher to strike this through with a Sharpie or similar marker, and beyond worth it for all the book offers.
I must caution that this book has a single use of questionable language, "pissed off," which is so isolated I cannot find it even as I thumb through the book. It is easy enough for a parent or teacher to strike this through with a Sharpie or similar marker, and beyond worth it for all the book offers.
January 24, 2009
Oh look, a nasty history book. I don't recommend it, unless you like gross things involving history.
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February 11, 2013It's true, scary things are everywhere. From aztecs to zoos this book has it all!
May 27, 2019
I know it sounds ridiculous as I am a grown woman with what one might call fine literary tastes, but this is still one of my favourite books of all time. I read it about 7 times cover-to-cover when I was younger and to this day its given me knowledge and understanding of history that I never would've had otherwise.
July 1, 2024
This weird gross-out kids history book might be one of the reasons, along with Horrible Histories, why I am a history major now. Sure, some of the facts are incorrect, but this book introduced in me a love for the nitty-gritty, strange, sometimes disgusting, details of history. Especially all the chamber pots.
March 11, 2018
Planning to use this for summer enrichment with my 10 year old. Has lots of fun stuff that he loves stuff about knights, vampires, yucky jobs. You know 10 year old boy stuff. Highly recommend.
August 26, 2020
Enjoyable book for younger kids. Nice drawings too.
December 9, 2022
I got this book as a present when I was 7, and I’ve been an avid history lover ever since! It accurately tells all the craziest events in history (and believe me, there are a LOT) and in such a humorous manner! Totally recommend this for both kids and adults!
January 11, 2020
I loved this book as a kid! It had so much information packed in from a range of topics. As a kid, I spend dozens of hours reading and then rereading this book. It encouraged me to learn more about history and to learn more in general. Very fun read, would reccomend it for any little learner!
February 28, 2013
Bersyukur hidup di zaman sekarang. Betapa joroknya kehidupan masa lalu! Diihhh... merinding! Semua itu karena keterbatasan ilmu pengetahuan. Perlahan ketika memasuki era pencerahan, alat-alat pun diciptakan untuk memudahkan dan membantu manusia menjalankan aktivitasnya.
Gak cuma jorok sih, orang-orang zaman dulu juga lebih kejam. Hukum gantung, rajam, dan pemenggalan menjadi ajang 'rekreasi' recommended bagi warga yang pengen liburan. Di beberapa negara mungkin masih memberlakukan hukuman tersebut, namun di bagian negara lain sudah menghapusnya. Sekarang ini hukum sudah dirancang lebih manusiawi.
Gak cuma jorok sih, orang-orang zaman dulu juga lebih kejam. Hukum gantung, rajam, dan pemenggalan menjadi ajang 'rekreasi' recommended bagi warga yang pengen liburan. Di beberapa negara mungkin masih memberlakukan hukuman tersebut, namun di bagian negara lain sudah menghapusnya. Sekarang ini hukum sudah dirancang lebih manusiawi.
February 7, 2010
I'm a big fan of random facts. And this book is chock-full of them! However, the book was meant for much younger,more immature kids. Joy Masoff is a wonderful childrens' book writer, but she should branch out- write books for older kids who like gross and slightly innappropriate things. ;)
November 10, 2012
I came across this shortly after reading Oh, Yuck and I knew I had to read it. It didn't disappoint me. As a lover of history, random facts and all things gross, this book was everything I love. Though it is aimed at a younger crowd I think this book is great for anyone.
February 5, 2008
The review for this book is the same as for Oh Yuck ecept it is better for getting little kids interested in history.
October 24, 2008
funny and revealing. learned lots of stuff either i didn't or didn't want to know
August 16, 2010
Was gross, but informative.
May 22, 2011
I bring this book everywhere and I am constituently rereading it. It has a lot of random gross and cool facts about history and it is just awesome! It makes learning fun!
July 27, 2011
This is the book that has all of the most interesting, wierdest historical facts ever! I love it. I've already read almost the whole thing!
July 7, 2013
This makes non-fiction interesting! Definitely get it.
December 27, 2014
808 - 2013
February 27, 2014
I love this book it is so wacky,creepy,and gross. MYSTERIOUS RAINBOW NINJA 48
October 25, 2008
I thought it was Hilarious! i loved it!It had really gross/cool things in there!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews