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The World War 2 Trivia Book: Interesting Stories and Random Facts from the Second World War
When was the last time someone around you brought up World War Two? It’s a pretty popular war. Maybe you heard about it yesterday. Maybe last month. But it was probably recent. And when it came up, did you wish that you could be the one to casually drop a fact that would have everyone in the room going, “Wow, I never knew that!” With this book, you can be that person. You can read it in just a few minutes a day. Chapters are bite-sized and easy to read, meant for normal people instead of war historians! Each chapter ends with a bonus helping of trivia and some quick questions to test your knowledge. You’ll zoom through this book and be hungry for more. Get ready to impress your friends with your knowledge – not just of the main events of World War Two, but of all the gritty details and weird true facts. By the time you finish this book, you’ll have a fact for every occasion, from the first moment someone thought about having a second World War, to the most recent blockbuster movies about it. So get ready to meet characters from Adolf Hitler, rejected art student, to Jack Churchill, the broadsword-swinging male model. Find out why World War Two started in the first place, and why it’s never a good idea to invade Russia in winter. Learn why the United States was going to stay out of the war, how Canadians stole airplanes for the British, and what an orange soft drink has to do with the Nazis. Some of the things you’re going to learn are sad. Some are scary. Some are sexy. And some are downright strange! It’s everything your history teacher never got around to telling you.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2017
745 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 16, 2021
“Don’t worry, we’re going to cover all the most important parts, and learn a few weird details along the way.” (page 107 out of 158)
Good approach: a summary of the big picture surrounding the war as opposed to a chronological list of military actions. Of necessity truncates complex issues to make room for trivia, myths and rumors. However, jumping back and forth confused causes and effects. Trends and causes are identified and analyzed.
“He had torn the Treaty of Versailles to shreds … before the eyes of a horrified and apparently impotent world.” Time magazine, naming Adolf Hitler 1938 Man of the Year.
“… to move towards some of China’s bigger ports, like Beijing.” Flunks geography, too.
“…because watching movies is always the most fun way to understand history.” No, it’s an easy way to be misled and propagandized under the cover of entertainment. Like this book.
Marred by unsubstantiated opinions and errors. The rating started higher, but drifted south as O’Neill increasing inserted his opinion and politics. Don’t waste your time or money.
Good approach: a summary of the big picture surrounding the war as opposed to a chronological list of military actions. Of necessity truncates complex issues to make room for trivia, myths and rumors. However, jumping back and forth confused causes and effects. Trends and causes are identified and analyzed.
“He had torn the Treaty of Versailles to shreds … before the eyes of a horrified and apparently impotent world.” Time magazine, naming Adolf Hitler 1938 Man of the Year.
“… to move towards some of China’s bigger ports, like Beijing.” Flunks geography, too.
“…because watching movies is always the most fun way to understand history.” No, it’s an easy way to be misled and propagandized under the cover of entertainment. Like this book.
Marred by unsubstantiated opinions and errors. The rating started higher, but drifted south as O’Neill increasing inserted his opinion and politics. Don’t waste your time or money.
January 19, 2022
I recently went on holiday to Berlin and became slightly obsessed with Second World War history. They have so many amazing museums that go into the details of how and why Germany reached the point of war. I realised when I was there that my world war knowledge didn’t reach much beyond the shores of Britain, the blitz, Dunkirk and the Normandy landings.
This is a really fun starting point into World War 2 history. It’s not enormously detailed but it was perfect for what I wanted, a basic overview of the entire war; a launching pad to understanding all of the major turning points throughout the war.
This is a really fun starting point into World War 2 history. It’s not enormously detailed but it was perfect for what I wanted, a basic overview of the entire war; a launching pad to understanding all of the major turning points throughout the war.
October 9, 2018
Oh boy. Not good.
I should have known I was looking at a book that wasn't high on accuracy when you can find a half-dozen anachronisms on the cover.
OK so the saying is not to judge a book in such a way. But there are still some real whoppers in there. The list of countries signing the Kellogg-Briand Pact does not include "Africa" (since Africa was not then and never has been a "country" capable of signing treaties). The "Little Boy" bomb dropped on Hiroshima was not an "H-bomb" powered by the "splitting of a single hydrogen atom".
These are clearly incorrect. The discussions of the Treaty of Versailles, especially around war guilt walk a very fine line asserting one (controversial) view as fact, without much recognition of how this view was (and continues to be) weaponized by fascist commentators.
As best I can tell, in attempt to be easy-reading and accessible, O'Neill has produced a book that is often inaccurate and in places dangerously naive. The whole volume is badly in need of a strong, well-informed editor.
I should have known I was looking at a book that wasn't high on accuracy when you can find a half-dozen anachronisms on the cover.
OK so the saying is not to judge a book in such a way. But there are still some real whoppers in there. The list of countries signing the Kellogg-Briand Pact does not include "Africa" (since Africa was not then and never has been a "country" capable of signing treaties). The "Little Boy" bomb dropped on Hiroshima was not an "H-bomb" powered by the "splitting of a single hydrogen atom".
These are clearly incorrect. The discussions of the Treaty of Versailles, especially around war guilt walk a very fine line asserting one (controversial) view as fact, without much recognition of how this view was (and continues to be) weaponized by fascist commentators.
As best I can tell, in attempt to be easy-reading and accessible, O'Neill has produced a book that is often inaccurate and in places dangerously naive. The whole volume is badly in need of a strong, well-informed editor.
December 30, 2017
Two big events happened in December, my mum's birthday and the Pearl Harbour attack. I was really happy that I bumped into this book, it wasn't a heavy read, yes some of the events such as the Holocaust by the Nazi and the invasion of China by the Japanese army did cause some major heartache. If you're looking for a book to refresh your knowledge on WW2+loads of additional interesting facts then read this book.
January 14, 2023
Written at a middle school level (which isn’t necessarily bad). What is bad are the multitude of errors and mistakes throughout the book.
I am a fairly big WWII buff and received this as a gift. I thought it would be interesting to read it and see if there was ANYTHING in it that I didn’t already know. There were a couple things but I think the authors grasp of the subject is so tenuous it really makes me wonder how accurate anything in this book is.
In the final chapter the author states “…because watching movies is always the most fun way to understand history.”
Umm what? You literally wrote a book on history. Though the author could very well have pulled 100% of this from Wikipedia.
And what’s with all the exclamation marks!!! Just awful.
I am a fairly big WWII buff and received this as a gift. I thought it would be interesting to read it and see if there was ANYTHING in it that I didn’t already know. There were a couple things but I think the authors grasp of the subject is so tenuous it really makes me wonder how accurate anything in this book is.
In the final chapter the author states “…because watching movies is always the most fun way to understand history.”
Umm what? You literally wrote a book on history. Though the author could very well have pulled 100% of this from Wikipedia.
And what’s with all the exclamation marks!!! Just awful.
February 7, 2018
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This was a really good trivia book concerning the Second World War. There were quite a few little known details that were really interesting. This is well researched and well organised, and I love the way that O’Neill sets out the book with a feeling of cohesion. I also love the questions at the end of each chapter, which meant I could check my knowledge and refresh easily.
Coincidentally, I saw The Darkest Hour in the cinemas a few weeks ago, and there was a tidbit in there that I was a bit leery off, but it was repeated in this trivia book.
This was a really good trivia book concerning the Second World War. There were quite a few little known details that were really interesting. This is well researched and well organised, and I love the way that O’Neill sets out the book with a feeling of cohesion. I also love the questions at the end of each chapter, which meant I could check my knowledge and refresh easily.
Coincidentally, I saw The Darkest Hour in the cinemas a few weeks ago, and there was a tidbit in there that I was a bit leery off, but it was repeated in this trivia book.
June 13, 2024
This is an excellent light read for increasing your basic knowledge of world war 2 it has very interesting facts and points and is easy to digest, writing is simple and does not dissuade the reader.
December 2, 2017
Interesting and educational
As a long time WW2 history buff I have a section of my personal library dedicated to it. Even with all the books and movies, there were many pieces of information I was unaware. This is well researched and objective. This is a great book for any history buff and would be a great history text book.
As a long time WW2 history buff I have a section of my personal library dedicated to it. Even with all the books and movies, there were many pieces of information I was unaware. This is well researched and objective. This is a great book for any history buff and would be a great history text book.
October 24, 2017
This is a great book to have on your Kindle. Ideal for all those who love tidbits of facts. If you're a fan of trivia/interesting facts or stories, you'll love this book. The chapters are bite-sized and easy to read and ‘meant for normal people instead of war historians!’ As each chapter ends with a bonus helping of trivia and some quick questions to test your knowledge, this book will leave you hungry for more.
September 12, 2019
Not recommended
This book, at times, is written at a third grade level and I hope I am not insulting third graders. The history is also, in places, at best, incomplete or suspect. In other places it is just wrong. I wish I would have noted inaccuracies as I went along in order to detail them here.
This book, at times, is written at a third grade level and I hope I am not insulting third graders. The history is also, in places, at best, incomplete or suspect. In other places it is just wrong. I wish I would have noted inaccuracies as I went along in order to detail them here.
December 22, 2017
Significant Trivia and Original Banalities
Can trivia be significant? Can the banal be original? The World War 2 Trivia Book can and does reveal the significance of the little known details of World War II, and it caps it off with an analysis of the banality of evil. This was my first trivia book by Bill O’Neill, so I was surprised to find that it has a cohesiveness that ties the work into a unified whole. I’ve always loved reading trivia, for the reason that it not only gives you a stack of facts, but it allows you to make value judgements on events as a whole. I expected this book would be more of the facts, like in the Yes & Know invisible ink quiz books I played with as a kid, or the board game Trivia Pursuit, as a young adult. But, because of the presentation of the material, the book turned out to be so much more, allowing me to place the events of the War in context.
The book is more than just knowledge level material, providing an analysis of the impact of events on the world at large, and of the War in general on today’s media and culture. He covers the Disney references in cartoons, the scene in Lion King where Scar appears like Hitler, and early films and modern top grossing battle movies like Saving Private Ryan and Dunkirk.
O’Neill points out the prescience of Woodrow Wilson’s WWI speech that insisted that “Victory would mean peace forced upon the loser, a victor’s terms imposed upon the vanquished. It would be accepted in humiliation, under duress, at an intolerable sacrifice.” And, he discusses the ramifications of Harry Truman’s 1947 promise to support any country threatened by Soviet expansion.
Each chapter is divided into three main sections: the informational part that shares 15 stories within the framework of each chapter, a random facts section, & a Test Yourself Q&A section. This means the book has a total of 90 stories that are not well known about WWII. It covers topics which you may be familiar with (if you’ve read several books on WWII) such as the Night of the Long Knives and the events of the German Kristallnacht. It shares details and insights on events I should have known more about, like the September 1931 Japanese Invasion of Manchuria, the Sino-Japanese War and the Battle of Shang-hi. And, it includes events that will probably have me scrambling for more books to explore further things I never knew, like how the US provided planes through Canada before we ever entered the War, the construction of the Yamoto Battleship, and the psychological synthesis of political theorist Hannah Arendt’s book: A Report on the Banality of Evil.
Then there are the sections on Random facts at the end of each chapter; which cover such fascinating tidbits as Hitler’s self-portrait, the Fanta soft drink, Bushido, Valkyrie, Salon Kitty, and the last Japanese soldier in WWII. These sections are followed by Quiz sections where you have a chance to test your retention of a few of the facts given. The book can be read in three hours and is entertaining and informative. I requested and received the Audible version free for review purposes. And, I was very satisfied with the narration by Derek Newman. It was read fluently with expression and reminded me of the old Paul Harvey radio broadcasts, “The Rest of the Story.” I recommend the book for those interested in the details and ramifications of the war.
Can trivia be significant? Can the banal be original? The World War 2 Trivia Book can and does reveal the significance of the little known details of World War II, and it caps it off with an analysis of the banality of evil. This was my first trivia book by Bill O’Neill, so I was surprised to find that it has a cohesiveness that ties the work into a unified whole. I’ve always loved reading trivia, for the reason that it not only gives you a stack of facts, but it allows you to make value judgements on events as a whole. I expected this book would be more of the facts, like in the Yes & Know invisible ink quiz books I played with as a kid, or the board game Trivia Pursuit, as a young adult. But, because of the presentation of the material, the book turned out to be so much more, allowing me to place the events of the War in context.
The book is more than just knowledge level material, providing an analysis of the impact of events on the world at large, and of the War in general on today’s media and culture. He covers the Disney references in cartoons, the scene in Lion King where Scar appears like Hitler, and early films and modern top grossing battle movies like Saving Private Ryan and Dunkirk.
O’Neill points out the prescience of Woodrow Wilson’s WWI speech that insisted that “Victory would mean peace forced upon the loser, a victor’s terms imposed upon the vanquished. It would be accepted in humiliation, under duress, at an intolerable sacrifice.” And, he discusses the ramifications of Harry Truman’s 1947 promise to support any country threatened by Soviet expansion.
Each chapter is divided into three main sections: the informational part that shares 15 stories within the framework of each chapter, a random facts section, & a Test Yourself Q&A section. This means the book has a total of 90 stories that are not well known about WWII. It covers topics which you may be familiar with (if you’ve read several books on WWII) such as the Night of the Long Knives and the events of the German Kristallnacht. It shares details and insights on events I should have known more about, like the September 1931 Japanese Invasion of Manchuria, the Sino-Japanese War and the Battle of Shang-hi. And, it includes events that will probably have me scrambling for more books to explore further things I never knew, like how the US provided planes through Canada before we ever entered the War, the construction of the Yamoto Battleship, and the psychological synthesis of political theorist Hannah Arendt’s book: A Report on the Banality of Evil.
Then there are the sections on Random facts at the end of each chapter; which cover such fascinating tidbits as Hitler’s self-portrait, the Fanta soft drink, Bushido, Valkyrie, Salon Kitty, and the last Japanese soldier in WWII. These sections are followed by Quiz sections where you have a chance to test your retention of a few of the facts given. The book can be read in three hours and is entertaining and informative. I requested and received the Audible version free for review purposes. And, I was very satisfied with the narration by Derek Newman. It was read fluently with expression and reminded me of the old Paul Harvey radio broadcasts, “The Rest of the Story.” I recommend the book for those interested in the details and ramifications of the war.
March 3, 2018
I have been trying to read a book on hitler since a year. I ordered Mein Kampf but it was difficult to comprehend so left it in the middle but like a little child I was curious about hitler and the famous holocaust. So I started reading historical fiction like the book thief and all the light we cannot see. But then I read Anne frank diary and Elie Wiesel’s Night. This way I was able to join the dots and one fine day I downloaded kindle and saw this book. Blimey!!! I just read the first page and I was totally hooked. It was an easy read and covered all the facts about world war 2. I was so unaware about our history only knew the famous names like holocaust, Pearl Harbor , bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki but had no knowledge about why they happened and when they happened? I am appalled that so much has happened in World war 2 infact everything has happened at that point of time. This book is a wonderful read if you want to learn about why the world is like this today and which forces were involved in making it the way it is.
January 5, 2018
The World War 2 Trivia Book delivered the promise the book's title stated. This is a collection of (arguably) interesting and random facts about WWII.
I was entertained and definitely learned some things I didn't know before about the war. I highly enjoyed it. Given that this was an audiobook, however, I would have appreciated a companion PDF with blank quiz sheets and a scoring guide.
The narrator, Derek Newman, did a fine job presenting the material. He gave a not distracting, not too dry performance.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was entertained and definitely learned some things I didn't know before about the war. I highly enjoyed it. Given that this was an audiobook, however, I would have appreciated a companion PDF with blank quiz sheets and a scoring guide.
The narrator, Derek Newman, did a fine job presenting the material. He gave a not distracting, not too dry performance.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
March 13, 2022
MARAVILLOSO (jajajaj mi palabra favorita) este libro es super corto para un tema tan extenso y trascendental. Pero iwow! Es como si en 178 páginas se abarcan 6 años de historia mundial. Es super completo, dinámico, entretenido y para nada aburridor. Lo tenía hace unas semanas y me resistía a empezarlo porque no quería acabarlo. Es definitivamente un gran libro para conocer sobre la mas sangrientas de las guerras, sobre sus causas, consecuencias y legado, quienes la impulsaron y quienes resultaron victoriosos. Para alguien con conocimientos básicos y que quiera aprender sobre la historia, este es una muy buena opción, es literatura simple y super comprensiva y sobre todo completa. Me encanta la forma del autor contar las historias, tiene un apartado sobre datos curiosos que es super interesante y al final de cada capítulo un pequeño test para probar conocimientos. Super recomendado y super importante por la carga histórica que tiene, todos podríamos echarle un vistazo, total solo son 178 páginas, que bien aprovechadas se convierten en cultura invaluable.
Alma’Antigua💋
#Is⚖️🌎
Alma’Antigua💋
#Is⚖️🌎
November 27, 2023
i read this book for the 52 books Nov mini challenge in which you try to read as many different types of non fiction as you can. I also filed it under hpootp 2020 reading challenge prompt read a book with a hand on the cover. It is full of little interesting tidbits about world war 2. the chapters are written in a story format with a list of random facts and a small quiz at the end. I found it easy to read and informative.
April 24, 2019
WWII Trivia
Anything WWII captures my attention. This war changed my family, my country, the world we live in. Interesting facts, some I knew, some I was astounded that I had never heard of. Lest we forget, we are doomed to repeat. God help us to never again experience that degree of pure unthinkable insane hatred!!!
Anything WWII captures my attention. This war changed my family, my country, the world we live in. Interesting facts, some I knew, some I was astounded that I had never heard of. Lest we forget, we are doomed to repeat. God help us to never again experience that degree of pure unthinkable insane hatred!!!
October 28, 2017
World War II Story
A very short book, the purports to give the reader trivia and details about World War II. However, it is very elementary and does not expose the reader to any unknown or rare details about the war. A real disappointment.
A very short book, the purports to give the reader trivia and details about World War II. However, it is very elementary and does not expose the reader to any unknown or rare details about the war. A real disappointment.
November 7, 2017
‘The World War 2 Trivia Book: Interesting Stories and Random Facts from the Second World War’, by Bill O’Neill, is an interesting compilation of facts from the Second World War. I feel this kind of book is extremely important, primarily because so many young people today have so little knowledge of what happened during the war. Many can’t even name the major countries involved in the conflict, and because of that, The World War 2 Trivia Book can be a fun and educational tool. I would like to see it included in school curriculums, as an interesting way to engage students in one of the most important events in history. So much of what is happening in the world today has roots in the Second World War.
O’Neill has compiled a comprehensive listing of the major, and a few minor, events from the war, and after reading this book, you will have a fairly broad knowledge of the conflict. For the military historian, there will be more than a few, ‘oh, right!’ moments.
This is a great book for the educator, historian, or even the student who just wants to impress their prof.
Review by Daniel Lloyd Little – November 7, 2017
O’Neill has compiled a comprehensive listing of the major, and a few minor, events from the war, and after reading this book, you will have a fairly broad knowledge of the conflict. For the military historian, there will be more than a few, ‘oh, right!’ moments.
This is a great book for the educator, historian, or even the student who just wants to impress their prof.
Review by Daniel Lloyd Little – November 7, 2017
January 2, 2018
Bill O'Neill's WW2 trivia book is a quick overview of the entire history of the war. For those who know only the extreme basics on the war, this book provides a quick overview of the key players, events and outcomes. It explains some of the history leading to the war (such as the Sino-Japanese War that some consider the actual start of WW2, several years before Hitler did his part). For those that know WW2 reasonably well there is still some new and interesting items in here, mainly in the tiny tidbits and weird trivia that aren't as well known.
The book is broken into six parts, covering the nitty gritty details, but also some strange facts. It is mostly chronological, but jumps around a little bit, as required, to cover related topics and events. Each section ends with some quick dot point facts and then a trivia quiz, to test how well you were listening to the prior chapter.
Overall, an enjoyable and interesting listen.
Narration by Derek Newman is good. Clear and easy to follow, he is well paced. Nothing exciting in the narration but good solid, enjoyable work.
The book is broken into six parts, covering the nitty gritty details, but also some strange facts. It is mostly chronological, but jumps around a little bit, as required, to cover related topics and events. Each section ends with some quick dot point facts and then a trivia quiz, to test how well you were listening to the prior chapter.
Overall, an enjoyable and interesting listen.
Narration by Derek Newman is good. Clear and easy to follow, he is well paced. Nothing exciting in the narration but good solid, enjoyable work.
January 21, 2018
Interesting Read
Quick read, I had good understanding about WW II but this book put things in the proper context and time frame. I would like to read one on the American Civil war.
Quick read, I had good understanding about WW II but this book put things in the proper context and time frame. I would like to read one on the American Civil war.
August 1, 2018
Excellent rrad.
Any fans of WW II, history or just of trivia will be well pleased. As a long time WW II fan I was surprised by the amount of trivia that I did not know. Very informative,
Any fans of WW II, history or just of trivia will be well pleased. As a long time WW II fan I was surprised by the amount of trivia that I did not know. Very informative,
June 4, 2019
Great book. Would be a good book for review for kids in school. I learned some things I never knew. I enjoyed the little test at the end of the chapter. I used it for light reading when I was at the doctors office waiting for my appointments and such.
March 5, 2021
Dumbed down, yessss!
Sometimes WW2 books are so technical that I get bored. This was informative and held my interest. I especially enjoyed the quizzes. I made an A on all of them.
And I like how we can see the role of the European AND Asian side.
Thanks for a great read!!!
Sometimes WW2 books are so technical that I get bored. This was informative and held my interest. I especially enjoyed the quizzes. I made an A on all of them.
And I like how we can see the role of the European AND Asian side.
Thanks for a great read!!!
January 4, 2023
A short and easy read with a couple of fun facts, but it's also not incredibly complex or in-depth, though that's also by design. I have no regret in reading it but it's not exactly the most exciting book I've ever read.
January 26, 2023
Excellent facts
I enjoyed reading the trivia facts and taking the mini quizzes....I only missed 1 question out of all of them. Definitely something to teach the children so history doesn't repeat itself.
I enjoyed reading the trivia facts and taking the mini quizzes....I only missed 1 question out of all of them. Definitely something to teach the children so history doesn't repeat itself.
July 15, 2023
This book was amazing! I absolutely love learning about history and this book expanded my knowledge of World War 2. I would definitely recommend “The World War 2 Trivia Book” for people who love history because this book has so much information to expand your understanding of this time period.
March 26, 2024
This is a short, quick read and very elementary. I learned a number of interesting and possibly not well-known facts about WWII. I did find it a bit concerning that none of the information presented was footnoted or cited in any way. Hmmm.
November 15, 2017
Excellent selection of facts, many of them ranged from funny 'fun facts' to short paragraph explanation. All in all excellent.
January 13, 2018
Good
Good book. Great for all ages! I would have liked more of the "test yourself" questions but thumbs up to the author!
Good book. Great for all ages! I would have liked more of the "test yourself" questions but thumbs up to the author!
February 27, 2018
There was some interesting facts that I did not know.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews