What do you think?
Rate this book
The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects
Learn the fascinating history and trivia behind the everyday items we take for granted—from the host of the popular podcast The Story Behind. Many of us learn about the major inventions that shape our world. But we too often overlook the objects we use every day. In The Story Behind, Emily Prokop, creator of the Webby Award nominated podcast, explores the who, how, and huh? of everything from Band-Aids to bubble gum; hypnosis to Hula Hoops; and lullabies to lead pipes. Along the way, she demonstrates how the major events of history—from wars, plagues, and revolutions to historic achievements and discoveries—have influenced some of the world’s most pervasive inventions. Revealing fascinating new details on topics covered in the podcast, the book also explores many new subjects. Learn how lollipops got started in ancient Egypt, how Kevlar came to be, and why Comic Sans was created. Learn the torture device origins of certain exercise equipment and how some musical instruments were first developed for espionage. From food, fashion, and games to transit and modern technology, The Story Behind offers a closer look at the things closest to us.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2018
722 people are currently reading
749 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
May 1, 2022
A fun-facts book about daily objects and how and why they were invented. Topics range from buttons to gunpowder. I love learning trivia knowledge so this book was quite fun for me. But I know many people would get bored while reading it. I would recommend reading a few pages every day, it would be less tiring. The TLDR section at the end of every topic wasn't annoying to me, it was a nice recap. Especially if you wanna go back to the book months later and just want to check some details.
October 18, 2018
Good light book. Almost want to call it the perfect toilet book which sounds bad but isn't. Each chapter is a few pages and the wit and joy in each is great. The little fact at the end is also awesome. Didn't know there was a podcast, so going to give that a try too.
December 31, 2018
The story behind simple and random objects that we see/use in our daily life, like paper clip, buttons, chocolate chip cookies, water gun, ...... From items found in office to technology and weapons, this book takes you to a journey in the past to find the origin of different objects. It's simple, fun and good to know.
April 12, 2023
Loved the facts. So many things you never realised would be cool to learn. Only thing I would say is to dip into it every now and then. I read in one go so it got a little repetitive. However it’s not anyone’s fault that the Egyptians started most things
May 1, 2020
I feel like I’m in a safe space here and can say that I carry a book wherever I go. I know that there are some people who settle for Kindle books or maybe even prefer them (I have thoughts about this), but I prefer real books to hold in my hand. I almost always have one in my purse, and so obviously if I have one of my larger purses, the size of the book doesn’t matter. However, I do have a few smaller purses and so space is at a premium. I mean, I have to have room for a bajillion random receipts and suckers from the bank for bribes and all kinds of random weird stuff, so that means that I need to have a smaller book. The good news is that The Story Behind is just such a book. It is small and fairly light, so it can fit in even my smallest purses, which is quite delightful. Not bringing a book is just not an option. I don’t want to be caught with only my phone for company.
There were lots of cool things about this book, the least of which is its size. It’s a small size, but it packs quite a punch. First of all, the book is divided into different parts, which are named for different categories such as “At the Office,” “Food,” or “Technology.” Within these different sections there are short chapters that are just a couple pages long that tackle the story behind something, such as bubble wrap (one of my fave chapters—bubble wrap wallpaper, anyone?), the paper bag, lullabies, etc. It’s cool because it takes on normal every day things and gives the history behind them (and even what is happening with them currently) in just a few pages. At the end of the chapter there’s a “Did you know?” that has a fun little bit of trivia, and then to cap it off it has a “TL;DR” (too long, didn’t read) section that summarizes the whole thing. As the chapters are only a few pages long, I didn’t find that I would read those instead of the chapter, but it was a really nice to recap what I had just read.
I think I’ve mentioned that I read several books at a time. I like to have options when I’m reading. I’m not always in the mood for one kind of book, but that doesn’t mean I won’t read. This just means that I’ll pick another book from the several I’m reading and start reading. One thing I really appreciated about The Story Behind is that when I didn’t have a ton of time, or just really needed a palate cleanser or even wanted to think about something else briefly, I could just pick up this little book, read a chapter, and feel enlightened, educated, and not have to commit to anything big. This would be the perfect bathroom ‑book. Everyone can enjoy it—its small, its low commitment, it’s interesting.
Also, it’s well-researched and well-written. The writing is concise and precise, allowing for each section to be jam-packed with info, but Prokop does a great job of making the reading easy and companionable. I can tell she’s a podcaster—I enjoyed the conversational tone and the funny little tidbits she adds in. It doesn’t take away from the actual topic, but gives it context and depth and I really appreciated that.
If you are a listener of Prokop’s podcast, The Story Behind, I think you would really enjoy this. Some of the chapters she’s covered in her podcast, but there are some that she hasn’t. If you are a collector of info and random facts, I think you would really enjoy this book. Finally, if you are looking for a fun gift for readers of any type, or even something for yourself that is easy to read in quick bites, this book is definitely for you.
Read my full review here, which also includes two other books from Mango Press: https://www.readingforsanity.com/2020...
There were lots of cool things about this book, the least of which is its size. It’s a small size, but it packs quite a punch. First of all, the book is divided into different parts, which are named for different categories such as “At the Office,” “Food,” or “Technology.” Within these different sections there are short chapters that are just a couple pages long that tackle the story behind something, such as bubble wrap (one of my fave chapters—bubble wrap wallpaper, anyone?), the paper bag, lullabies, etc. It’s cool because it takes on normal every day things and gives the history behind them (and even what is happening with them currently) in just a few pages. At the end of the chapter there’s a “Did you know?” that has a fun little bit of trivia, and then to cap it off it has a “TL;DR” (too long, didn’t read) section that summarizes the whole thing. As the chapters are only a few pages long, I didn’t find that I would read those instead of the chapter, but it was a really nice to recap what I had just read.
I think I’ve mentioned that I read several books at a time. I like to have options when I’m reading. I’m not always in the mood for one kind of book, but that doesn’t mean I won’t read. This just means that I’ll pick another book from the several I’m reading and start reading. One thing I really appreciated about The Story Behind is that when I didn’t have a ton of time, or just really needed a palate cleanser or even wanted to think about something else briefly, I could just pick up this little book, read a chapter, and feel enlightened, educated, and not have to commit to anything big. This would be the perfect bathroom ‑book. Everyone can enjoy it—its small, its low commitment, it’s interesting.
Also, it’s well-researched and well-written. The writing is concise and precise, allowing for each section to be jam-packed with info, but Prokop does a great job of making the reading easy and companionable. I can tell she’s a podcaster—I enjoyed the conversational tone and the funny little tidbits she adds in. It doesn’t take away from the actual topic, but gives it context and depth and I really appreciated that.
If you are a listener of Prokop’s podcast, The Story Behind, I think you would really enjoy this. Some of the chapters she’s covered in her podcast, but there are some that she hasn’t. If you are a collector of info and random facts, I think you would really enjoy this book. Finally, if you are looking for a fun gift for readers of any type, or even something for yourself that is easy to read in quick bites, this book is definitely for you.
Read my full review here, which also includes two other books from Mango Press: https://www.readingforsanity.com/2020...
December 12, 2019
I wanted to like this. The TLDR bit at the end of each chapter grated on me. Why pick the book up if you didn't intend to read it? Why give us an unnecessary recap of what we just read? It bothered me.
Otherwise, I just couldn't get excited about anything covered in the book. It was ok. Just nothing super special.
Otherwise, I just couldn't get excited about anything covered in the book. It was ok. Just nothing super special.
March 28, 2023
I've always liked books, articles, and podcasts about little trivia like this. There are so many objects in our world and they each have a history! We often gloss over those things that have existed since we were born. For me that includes all the items on the cover (like the traffic lights and the slinky). What separates this book from others in the same genre is that the author isn't afraid to say when the true story is unknown or when there are multiple claims to the creation of a particular object.
Since the stories are pretty short (3-4 pages in epub format on my smartphone), they're great for reading if you're stuck in line somewhere or for the proverbial bathroom book.
Since the stories are pretty short (3-4 pages in epub format on my smartphone), they're great for reading if you're stuck in line somewhere or for the proverbial bathroom book.
December 9, 2025
Okay... this was a great, digestible format (each chapter was quick and ended with a fun fact and a tldr, although as someone who teaches summary construction, I do have minor beef with the amount of detail included in each tldr.)
Honorable things to mention:
-If you listen, there WILL be a memorable chapter and you will remember this review and we will blink at one another over it a little. Sure. Why the heck not, Emily.
-SHE MENTIONED A LONG LOST STORY (for me) THAT I HAVE LITERALLY BEEN LOOKING FOR SINCE I READ IT IN SEVENTH GRADE!!! AUDIBLE SIGH OF RELIEF!!!!! (Horace Miner's "Body Ritual" in case ur wondering)
Honorable things to mention:
-If you listen, there WILL be a memorable chapter and you will remember this review and we will blink at one another over it a little. Sure. Why the heck not, Emily.
-SHE MENTIONED A LONG LOST STORY (for me) THAT I HAVE LITERALLY BEEN LOOKING FOR SINCE I READ IT IN SEVENTH GRADE!!! AUDIBLE SIGH OF RELIEF!!!!! (Horace Miner's "Body Ritual" in case ur wondering)
May 31, 2024
Why is there a TLDR at the end of every chapter. Seemed more of an ad for the podcast. Million miles wide but only 2 inches deep on each product.
March 20, 2025
(3.5)
Exactly what it says on the tin.
Exactly what it says on the tin.
January 3, 2023
الوشم : Tattoo
.
.
أوتزي رجل الجليد هو أقدم مومياء تم العثور عليها ، ويعود تاريخه إلى ما قبل 5300 عام. لم يظهر فقط دليلًا على آذان مثقوبة ، ولكن كان لديه أيضًا ما لا يقل عن سبعة وخمسين وشمًا.
يتكون الوشم من نقاط وصلبان صغيرة من كاحليه إلى رقبته. يُعتقد أن هذه هي الأوشام كانت بهدف العلاج ، وليس الديكور ، لأنها تتوافق مع المفاصل التي من الممكن أنها ضعفت على مدار حياته.
بعد آلاف السنين ، استمر تقليد الوشم لدى المصريين ، وخاصة الإناث. وُجد أن النساء المحنطات لديهن وشم على أعلى أفخاذهن وثدييهن وبطنهن ، ويُعتقد أنه تم إجراؤه للحماية أثناء الحمل والولادة.
كان الوشم شائعًا منذ قرون في جميع أنحاء العالم ، مع وجود أدلة على وجوده في اليونان وإيطاليا والصين واليابان ، حيث تأتي كلمة "وشم" من الكلمة التاهيتية تاتو ، وتعني الضرب . تم إحضار هذه الممارسة إلى أوروبا بعد رحلة الكابتن جيمس كوك في عام 1769. عندما جاء المبشرون إلى الجزر وتحول السكان الأصليين إلى المسيحية ، حاولوا وقف ممارسة رسم الوشم ؛ كان يُعتقد أنه يتلف الجسد الذي كان من المفترض أن يحتفظ به في المعبد ، لكن حظره لم ينجح. يبدو أن الأوشام تنتشر بشكل كبير بسبب اعتقاد الناس أنها تجلب الحظ السعيد ، خاصة بين العمال الذين لديهم وظائف عالية الخطورة ، مثل عمال المناجم أو البحارة.
.
Emily Prokop
The Story Behind
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
.
.
أوتزي رجل الجليد هو أقدم مومياء تم العثور عليها ، ويعود تاريخه إلى ما قبل 5300 عام. لم يظهر فقط دليلًا على آذان مثقوبة ، ولكن كان لديه أيضًا ما لا يقل عن سبعة وخمسين وشمًا.
يتكون الوشم من نقاط وصلبان صغيرة من كاحليه إلى رقبته. يُعتقد أن هذه هي الأوشام كانت بهدف العلاج ، وليس الديكور ، لأنها تتوافق مع المفاصل التي من الممكن أنها ضعفت على مدار حياته.
بعد آلاف السنين ، استمر تقليد الوشم لدى المصريين ، وخاصة الإناث. وُجد أن النساء المحنطات لديهن وشم على أعلى أفخاذهن وثدييهن وبطنهن ، ويُعتقد أنه تم إجراؤه للحماية أثناء الحمل والولادة.
كان الوشم شائعًا منذ قرون في جميع أنحاء العالم ، مع وجود أدلة على وجوده في اليونان وإيطاليا والصين واليابان ، حيث تأتي كلمة "وشم" من الكلمة التاهيتية تاتو ، وتعني الضرب . تم إحضار هذه الممارسة إلى أوروبا بعد رحلة الكابتن جيمس كوك في عام 1769. عندما جاء المبشرون إلى الجزر وتحول السكان الأصليين إلى المسيحية ، حاولوا وقف ممارسة رسم الوشم ؛ كان يُعتقد أنه يتلف الجسد الذي كان من المفترض أن يحتفظ به في المعبد ، لكن حظره لم ينجح. يبدو أن الأوشام تنتشر بشكل كبير بسبب اعتقاد الناس أنها تجلب الحظ السعيد ، خاصة بين العمال الذين لديهم وظائف عالية الخطورة ، مثل عمال المناجم أو البحارة.
.
Emily Prokop
The Story Behind
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
November 24, 2018
One of the books from the "Trivia Champion" Humble Bundle. And yes, it belongs to a "Trivia Champion" bundle.
The whole book consists on small stories about random objects: The smiley face, the revolver, the hydrant, the wipper, all consist in a small story behind it or some anecdote, like a campus on war due a water gun.
The stories are small and funny.
The only problem I had (and, again, personal problem) is that it is too American-centric. I mean, the whole war on a water gun mentions an American university; Dr Pepper is mostly unknown in Brazil; 90% of the people mentioned are American -- and, by the way, the little anecdote about the water gun has absolutely no relation to the creation of the product.
The whole book consists on small stories about random objects: The smiley face, the revolver, the hydrant, the wipper, all consist in a small story behind it or some anecdote, like a campus on war due a water gun.
The stories are small and funny.
The only problem I had (and, again, personal problem) is that it is too American-centric. I mean, the whole war on a water gun mentions an American university; Dr Pepper is mostly unknown in Brazil; 90% of the people mentioned are American -- and, by the way, the little anecdote about the water gun has absolutely no relation to the creation of the product.
December 4, 2018
Kind of ideal as a bathroom reader. Taken from a podcast, this is a bunch of 2-3 page stories on how various things got invented. Interesting without being super memorable. The tl;dr section at the end of each chapter feels rather unnecessary, given how short the chapters are.
August 11, 2021
When I found this book, I was instantly interested on the concept and idea of this book. This book includes the history of ordinary everyday objects. The book is also based off of a podcast the the author made. Some of the objects in the book, I have never heard of, like the theremin, an instrument that you don't even need to touch to play. The book also had completely random objects like sliced bread which is apparently one of the greatest inventions. This book was made to look like a script for the podcast, although most of the chapters were not included in the podcast (as the ones that were in the podcast were stated to be in it at the beginning of the chapter). This book was more casual than the ones that I have read so far. It was like a conversation, and the author seemed to have fun doing the research, because of how off topic the author could get, or how the author would put a couple jokes in the book. This came as a twist from any of the fiction books that I normally read. Although this book was very unique and interesting, there were a bunch of times when I found it boring, these were times when I had no interest in an object or the author was nowhere near relevant to the topic, this made me lose interest in the book, but I could still read it. I liked this book because I got to learn about the history of objects, about the inventors, the original use of the object, and how inspiration came to the inventors.
September 29, 2025
Bubble wrap, pockets, salt water taffy, the Slinky, the lead pipe, the Theremin, Mad Hatters. Ever wonder about the origins of these or other things you see in the world? This is the book with the info.
Writer, Emily Prokop, has done the research and put her findings between the covers of this book.
I received this for my birthday from a family member who knows my odd curiosity of stuff. I read it in bits and pieces. This gave me time to mull over the things I learned.
Did you know a woman designed and patented the flat bottomed grocery bag and the machine that folds it? Did you know the crossword puzzle was introduced in 1913? Did you know Wonder bread was the first sliced bread to be sold nationally?
The history of these items and more make up the contents of the book. Told in a light and entertaining style, it is fun to read. The info may not be earth shaking, but it is interesting and fun to find out.
Writer, Emily Prokop, has done the research and put her findings between the covers of this book.
I received this for my birthday from a family member who knows my odd curiosity of stuff. I read it in bits and pieces. This gave me time to mull over the things I learned.
Did you know a woman designed and patented the flat bottomed grocery bag and the machine that folds it? Did you know the crossword puzzle was introduced in 1913? Did you know Wonder bread was the first sliced bread to be sold nationally?
The history of these items and more make up the contents of the book. Told in a light and entertaining style, it is fun to read. The info may not be earth shaking, but it is interesting and fun to find out.
December 11, 2020
This is a fun book. Many of the chapters come from the podcast of the same name, but are just as fun to read as to listen to. Who knew that an early form of Kevlar could have saved President McKinley if only he'd worn the sample sent to him by an inventor? Or that the inventor of the Slinky left his wife and six kids to join a cult in Bolivia? It was her marketing prowess that put it on the map. Or that Liquid Paper-the predecessor to Wite-Out, was invented by the mother of a member of the Monkees rock band? She was a secretary who noticed painters painting over their mistakes, invented a product all her co-workers wanted to use, but was fired for too many typos. Bubble wrap was first introduced as a jazzy kind of wall paper. These stories are all great.
March 24, 2024
Firstly, the book is interesting; the stories contained within it are compelling to listen to. It's no wonder that the podcast came first, followed by this book. Secondly, I believe that this book would be better if it included stories about objects and products that are also available in Europe. Many of the stories told were boring to me because I wasn't familiar with those products and couldn't relate. It's like boasting to a friend about a Donald Duck gum she didn't get. It might be interesting and funny, but what's the point of listening to it?
The book was a bit chaotic for me; I missed the connection between the stories. Each chapter was a separate story, and I missed the summary of why these particular texts were compiled. Ultimately, I enjoyed this book.
The book was a bit chaotic for me; I missed the connection between the stories. Each chapter was a separate story, and I missed the summary of why these particular texts were compiled. Ultimately, I enjoyed this book.
January 1, 2021
This was a bit like cotton candy. It was sweet and enjoyable, but ultimately, it does not stay with you as long as you would like.
If you have ever wondered what the story is behind certain items, band-aids, windshield wipers, the revolver, tattoos, the traffic light, the t-shirt among probably a couple of dozen other things, then this will be an interesting diversion.
Interesting to think about the way things used to be and why they changed. In many cases, necessity IS the mother (or father) of invention.
If you have ever wondered what the story is behind certain items, band-aids, windshield wipers, the revolver, tattoos, the traffic light, the t-shirt among probably a couple of dozen other things, then this will be an interesting diversion.
Interesting to think about the way things used to be and why they changed. In many cases, necessity IS the mother (or father) of invention.
November 29, 2021
I really enjoyed the audio version of this fascinating book! I didn't know most of the stories that were shared and I learned a lot. My only complaint is that at the end of each section she does a brief "TLDR" version (too long, didn't read) that is a repeat of what I just listened to. Those parts were a total waste of my time. I guess if you read the hard copy, it would be easy to skip over those parts. But other than that, I would highly recommend this book!
November 2, 2024
An informative book that provides information about everyday objects entertainingly and concisely. Topics range from paper clips to pockets and diapers, in just a few pages long, making this an ideal book to read while waiting at the doctor's office, eating breakfast, or commuting to work.
It also has been broadcasted on a podcast of the same name hosted by the author:
https://castbox.fm/channel/3182603
It also has been broadcasted on a podcast of the same name hosted by the author:
https://castbox.fm/channel/3182603
January 25, 2020
Not that great
I was disappointed with this book. I thought the writing was poor and there were plenty of typos. For some of the objects I thought the history behind them went off on tangents that had nothing to do with the actual object. I didn’t want to not finish it so I forced myself to read the whole book.
I was disappointed with this book. I thought the writing was poor and there were plenty of typos. For some of the objects I thought the history behind them went off on tangents that had nothing to do with the actual object. I didn’t want to not finish it so I forced myself to read the whole book.
May 2, 2020
The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects expands on a podcast of the same name by Emily Prokop. Topics range from paper clips to pockets to diapers. Each chapter is just a few pages long, making this a good book to read while waiting at the doctor’s office, eating breakfast, or preparing for your next trivia game.
March 5, 2021
Fascinating from Start to Finish!
I'm already enthralling friends with the amazing factoids (and plugging this book dear author) in this pleasingly written book. I wish went on for another thousand pages. I definitely will be looking for the author's podcasts if they're still doing them. I can't recommend this book enough!
I'm already enthralling friends with the amazing factoids (and plugging this book dear author) in this pleasingly written book. I wish went on for another thousand pages. I definitely will be looking for the author's podcasts if they're still doing them. I can't recommend this book enough!
May 4, 2022
In truth, I am quite addicted to these types of books because I can skip around and read the sections which catch my eye and pique my interest, and I do not need to do the "tidbits of information" in any particular order. Did you know you can only chew gum in Singapore if you have a prescription? Now you do. LOL!
September 7, 2024
I thought this would be good to fall asleep to since doing that with a normal book wouldn’t really work. I’d set my timer to go off at the end of each chapter and it worked very well. It was interesting enough to keep my attention but not something I minded missing info on here and there. The stories are interesting throughout.
December 19, 2019
Very entertaining fun little book
The book was interesting of things that have been around for years that I had no idea of how it came to the public. Thank You for write this book I will have to check out your podcast.
The book was interesting of things that have been around for years that I had no idea of how it came to the public. Thank You for write this book I will have to check out your podcast.
March 4, 2020
I read most of this book. I enjoyed reading the story behind different things and who invented them. It is based on a podcast of the same name. It was easy to read and had short chapters. I just wanted to move on to another book so returned it to the kindle lending library
December 15, 2021
Very enjoyable
If you have a passion for trivia, this is the book for you. It is written in a very accessible style and not very technical. It could use some editing as there are errors, such as that the Aztecs made peanut butter half a century ago.
If you have a passion for trivia, this is the book for you. It is written in a very accessible style and not very technical. It could use some editing as there are errors, such as that the Aztecs made peanut butter half a century ago.
March 27, 2022
Time To Learn
There are many interesting facts in this book. While reading one may learn of the beginning of items, events, and people that explains what/how we know of these events/products/literature we use today.
There are many interesting facts in this book. While reading one may learn of the beginning of items, events, and people that explains what/how we know of these events/products/literature we use today.
July 23, 2022
There is nothing wrong with this book. And it found certain parts interesting. It’s a pretty simple and quick book with information already in the podcast. Most was very surface information that’s the only reason I wasn’t wowed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews