Famous Phonies: Legends, Fakes, and Frauds Who Changed History

Changed History #1

by Brianna DuMont

Amazing true stories about Shakespeare, Hiawatha, Homer, George Washington, and more.

If you like to think of Shakespeare only as a brilliant bard, or prefer only to know Pythagoras by his math skills, then you might want to put this book down. Seriously. Because this book is about to change your idea of history. But if you like a little controversy, or want to impress your parents and friends with some little-known tidbits of historical drama, then F amous Legends, Fakes, and Frauds Who Changed History is for you. 

Over the centuries, plenty of scandals, swindles, and skeletons have passed under history’s radar and missed out on being included in your textbook. (We’re looking at you, George “I cannot tell a lie” Washington.) Some of the biggest names in history can be found between these pages—and the light isn’t flattering. These figures are lucky that prime-time TV and all-access internet didn’t exist in Ancient Greece, Renaissance Europe, medieval England, or Revolutionary America, or else they could have kissed their sterling reputations goodbye. Famous Legends, Fakes, and Frauds Who Changed History explores the underbelly of history, making you question everything you thought you knew about history’s finest. Follow the fake lives of these twelve history-changers to uncover the fabrications of the famous and the should-be-famous!

So, if you can handle it, take a peek at inside. Some of the famous “phonies” covered in this book

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Historical, Middle Grade, Childrens, Juvenile

168 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2014

Reviews

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too humorous, I'd say. Who are we to say we know better what Confucius was about than he and the people who followed his ideas for millenia? Docking a star for this.

Docking another star for the tasteless cover. I almost didn't tack this book onto my bookshelves for its tawdry looks.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the drawings but the humor was a little "over the top".

Most of these people are unknown; it's fairly easy to joke it all up and disprove uncommon knowledge. Interesting concept, but how are we to really know?

Loved the quote in the very beginning: "History would be a wonderful thing, if only it were true." --Tolstoy

Ghastly sense of humor. ugh

[Bunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very clever, and fun. Not just the facts and information, but the writing is funny and sharp, rather than dry. It would be so easy to make this dry.

Unfortunately, not all of the chapters were interesting for me. It's hard to be fascinated by fake legends when you've never heard of the legend in the first place. But there was enough there to keep my interest, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book to read. There were lots of things I liked about it, and some I didn't. The book takes a look at various famous (and some lesser known, but important) people and legends from history. It then exposes the false ideas and misconceptions we have about these people.

On the positive side, the author has a sarcastic, humorous "voice" that makes the book fun to read. There are also several lesser known legends that I found interesting and I liked learning about them. The book is well researched, easy to read, and interesting enough to keep the intended audience (kids ages 8-12) interested.

On the down side, I didn't agree with the assessment of many of the historical figures. The sarcastic "voice" that made the book so fun to read also reduced these legends into bumbling knuckleheads that happened to trip into fame, fortune, or power. I have a difficult time believing they were as clueless as they are presented in this book.

Obviously, I have mixed thoughts on the book. I think kids will like it. It's informative and fun to read, but I'm not completely sold.

Content: clean

Source: I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My blog: Batch of Books

[American Mensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brianna DuMont, author of the Changed History Series, is at it again with Famous Phonies telling the facts you probably won’t see in your history books! It is important to note that this is not a history textbook and contains some wonderful humor often in the form of illustrations and side facts. Be aware, the content of this book might completely change how you look at some of your favorite role models, so read at your own risk! Over time authors have found that an exciting exaggerated story sells better than the true boring story. Often, the more ridiculous the story the better it would be remembered. Therefore leaving out some of the less attractive details became common. For example, you probably have heard that George Washington accepted no payment during his office as president, while this is true, many books neglect the fact that he instead just billed everything he purchased to the government which added up to millions of today’s dollars! Or perhaps you’ve heard of Homer, the blind bard, who wrote The Odyssey and The Iliad. These two epics were colossal writings taking several days to recite, which would be quite difficult for a supposedly blind Homer. There is little evidence that Homer even existed, and much less showing he wrote these two epics. In addition, seven different cities claim to be his birthplace. Real or not, Homer’s writings influenced the strategy and planning of leaders from Alexander the Great to Xerxes of Persia. If you are a fan of amazing sayings then you have undoubtedly heard of Confucius, the great teacher and creator of hundreds of influential proverbs gathered in The Analects. However, his quotes and life story weren’t written down until over 100 years after his death. Because of this, it is hard to tell fact from fiction as the stories had been retold and adjusted so many times. Some tales claim he was nine feet tall, had thousands of disciples, and created hundreds of wonderful narratives, but none of these can be proven true or false! If those few facts seem surprising, know that they are just a few of the shocking truths in this book. Famous Phonies features 12 historical characters from Confucius in China, Hiawatha in North America, to William Shakespeare in England. In addition, Famous Phonies carries plenty of fun and hilarious illustrations and definitions to help the truth go down easier. Due to the type of content covered (which includes plenty of war), I would say this book is appropriate for anyone 10 or older. Famous Phonies is a book with fun and shocking truths on every page, perfect for anyone who wants to know more about these famous historical figures. This book gets 5 Famous stars!
Zander H., 14, Gulf-Coast America Mensa

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many kids have the mistaken impression that history is boring. Unfortunately, many textbooks make this problem worse by being boring themselves. I don't think I've ever read a history textbook that wasn't boring. That's why narrative nonfiction books like this one are so important. Not only is the snarky tone of the author interesting and bound to be appealing to teenagers, but the information is fascinating. History is actually very messy with very little known about some people and events. And often what has been learned in school is either incomplete or incorrect. For example, George Washington, the 1st President of the United States, has attained legendary status in the minds of many Americans, but that leads to the overlooking of his flaws and mistakes. In this book, DuMont shares some of the things that made George Washington all too human. That makes him easier to understand as a real person who helped establish a country. Some of the individuals included in this book were real people such as Confucius, George Washington, Pythagoras, and William Shakespeare. Yet there are questions about the legitimacy of the credit they've been given for changing the world. Others discussed in the book are not verified to even have existed and yet somehow managed to leave a mark on the world. This is a fascinating, snarky book that proves that history doesn't have to be boring.

[Kayla Zabcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

75%

It's good to remember that legendary people were just that: people. They weren't perfect saints, they had flaws just like you and me. I like that this book covered people who were 100% known to have existed but weren't quite how we remember them today (George Washington, The Turk), some that existed but we're not sure if they were exactly who we think they were/one person (William Shakespeare, Confucius), and some that are said to have existed but we don't really know (Pope Joan, Gilgamesh).

I can see why some were annoyed by the light-hearted, humorous tone of the book, however I think that was a tactical decision; historians and scientists can get a little defensive about their fields, and when brought into question in full seriousness you could really ruffle some feathers. By sticking to a lighter, jokey tone it avoids stepping on toes. The author herself admits that we just don't know the full stories behind these legendary people, and that she's not claiming that they're fakes, just that they COULD be, and that MAYBE we shouldn't accept people as perfect just because they're famous.

I do wish there were more women in the book. I admit that I personally don't know of any other women who could fit into it, however that fact in itself could have been addressed - were women maybe more successful at faking it/being faked? is there not enough historical material about women to make such judgements? is the existence of legendary women less likely to be questioned? There are plenty of women throughout all of history, are you seriously telling me every single one of them lives up to all of their legends? If so, that could've been mentioned in the introduction.

[Sydney Robertson · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I understand the project of this book clearly (thank you to the author for adding an opening note), it did not land. I am a history teacher and feel very strongly about source work in research. This book isn't totally disrespectful of historical study, but it does feel dismissive rather than supportive. The source work done by the author was minimal and the representation of where information came from is non existent. I understand this is for kids, but they are capable of following footnotes or prose notations.

By the end, every chapter felt like a copy of the previous. The author was exposing a lot about how we can't know anything for sure, which I appreciate! Without a critical eye then also being offered to why we revere these figures despite the discrepancies, I found the book to be lackluster and doing more harm than good for young historians and learners.

[Lacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aimed at middle schoolers, this book claims it will be debunking the legends that the reader presumably already knows. Buuuuuuuuuuuuuut . . . out of the 12 people here I hadn't even heard of some of them (knew eight total) I think I would have only been familiar with five, and how are you supposed to debunk something your target audience doesn't even know yet?

Also, the writing style is just trying too hard. As in "thinking Michael Jordan is a timely pop culture reference when publishing a book in 2014" level of trying too hard. The whole time I was reading I kept thinking of that "hello, fellow youths" gif. No idea what show that was from, but I'm sure you know them one I'm talking about.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't remember where I saw this recommended. It turned out to be a history companion book for middle schoolers. As such, it is a very fast read for adults. I did learn things about the figures in the book, like Shakespeare, Confucius and Homer, to name a few. But, the writing is full of clever jokes and references that are intended to make it more appealing to kids and I found myself wondering if kids would really get the humor in every case.
At any rate it was fun for this old man.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was NOT a good read for me. The only chapter I enjoyed was the one about Major William Martin, and this book could upset someone who really believes in one of the people inside. A couple times I had to (yes, really) skip some pages. That isn't usually like me! The author has captions of some photos that some people would call jokes. I don't have a word for this. The closest thing I can think of is "snarky comments".

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the variety of people included in this book; there are people from different places, different time periods, and they have different degrees of fame. I think sometimes humor overwhelmed the substance, but not egregiously. The premise is interesting, and I think this is a non-fiction book that would appeal to a lot of readers.

[MiMi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Great to read about little known quirky details of history. Should be very helpful to get kids excited. Quality research, that was written in a fun humorous voice --- keeping kids excited.

[LA · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and interesting read

[Tressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting tidbits in this.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun! It was really informative in an amusing way!

[Everson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring. DNF

[James Banzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brianna DuMont's book is directed towards children ranging in age from 10 to 14. The book is her initial offering into what she calls a Changed History series. Famous Phonies; Legends, Fakes and Frauds Who Changed History is designed to appeal to the middle-school student who tends to be turned away from square, adult language. Ms. DuMont is not dull. She speaks the language of the intended audience.

Notwithstanding William Shakespeare and George Washington, most of the subjects covered in DuMont's book are not highly recognizable. Young readers are introduced to The Turk, Pope Joan, Major William Martin, Prester John and others. The author digs into the phoniness of real and legendary historical figures in a way that makes learning experiences exciting.

Do you remember a teacher at the middle school level who inspired you to learn? One such teacher of geography comes to mind. I will always remember the name of the capital of Honduras because he told of a fictional animal. He called a galpa, and said it was native to Honduras. His silly story involved someone deciding to approach from behind to goose it. You get the idea. I have always remembered that Tegucigalpa is the Honduran capital.

What's next for Ms. DuMont sounds tantalizing. She has posted on her Twitter account that the second book in the series relating to changed history will be about fugitives. She tweeted in the middle of February 2015 that it would come out in a year. While you are waiting for that one, consider grabbing onto the book about phonies. It would be the perfect birthday gift for a child not quite ready for high school.

This was another of those free reads that I got from Goodreads!

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Famous Phonies: Legends, Fakes and Frauds Who Changed History by Brianna DuMont should put to rest any notion that history is boring. In twelve chapters focusing on historic figures, DuMont sets about answering questions such as: Did a female pope ever sit on the throne in Rome? Did Homer really write The Iliad and The Odyssey? How did Confucius become a legend? Was George Washington a good general?

The people DuMont highlights include those above as well as Shakespeare, Hiawatha, Pythagoras, Gilgamesh and more. In each case she looks in depth into the tales surrounding the person, in some cases even showing that the person of legend never existed. But DuMont also points out how the stories about the famous people often inspired others to go to war, change the rules, or even create new inventions. For instance, The Turk, a famous chess-playing automaton from the 1700s, helped inspire inventors who started the Industrial Revolution. And a planted dead body helped the Allies win World War II.

Famous Phonies is full of interesting tidbits that will have you thinking critically about other legends you take for granted. It’s fun to read, with several pull-out facts and supporting sidebars included with each chapter. The result is a fascinating read for those who love history as well as those who think they don’t. I highly recommend it for readers aged 9 to 12 and their parents.

The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about some legendary characters from history, a couple that I'd never heard of, but most that I was at least somewhat familiar with. I found the WWII-era story of Major William Martin especially interesting; gross, but interesting. I liked how the author questioned the assumptions we have about some of these characters, many of whom lived so long ago that we actually know little or nothing about them. But I was finally rather annoyed by how often she reiterated this; there are only so many different ways in which you can say the same thing repeatedly before it just becomes totally tedious and monotonous. Overall, a good read for those interested in little tidbits of stories from history, especially if looking for something with a different take!

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is supposedly for the Junior High crowd, as a 30-year-old male I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It was great to read about historical figures and have my understanding of them completely change. But most importantly, the style of writing makes this a quick and fun read. From witty comments to pop culture references, I enjoyed reading this great book on my vacation. Looks like it'll be a part of a series? If so I can't wait for the next. I'm probably going to be gifting this to a lot of relatives of all ages this holiday season too

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my kids, but once I started I soon realized that it's perfect for adult history buffs, too. What I love about this book is that it includes historical figures from around the world, not just those in the West. My favorite parts are the chapters about Confucius, William Martin, Prester John, and The Turk. It's fun to see how these figures (and in the case of The Turk, a machine) became larger than life. And it's exciting to learn why they weren't what we have been taught to believe. I can't wait to read the next books in this series!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book! It's entertaining and educational — I didn't know the truth about any of these historical figures it turns out. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from start to finish and would highly, highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a twist on history. When I was a kid, this would've been a book I would've adored reading. I loved reading bibliographies on historical figures. I bought a copy for my little cousins too, and they're really enjoying it. Great book for the holiday season!

[BookNerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tone of the book is full of attitude, which keeps the material from being boring. The author did a good job selecting interesting figures, too. The fake WWII spy (Major William Martin) and the fake robot (the Turk) were my favorite phonies who changed history. I also liked Prester John, the king-hoax during the Middle Ages that launched a number of crusades. I had never heard of him before. Good book for anyone with a reluctant learner.

[Kate Van Haren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with lots of interesting facts! As a social studies teacher, I will recommend this for my students and adult history buffs. My one minor complaint is that the author tries to be too funny in parts. Most of the facts do not need the over exaggerated commentary. Overall, I really enjoyed the book!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun read for history buffs that don't take their history too seriously. I was already familiar with many of the "famous phonies," but there were a few that I did not know. I do think some of the references, like Yoko Ono & The Terminator, will confuse the audience for whom this is intended. Still a fun read!

[Tennille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a First Reads book. This book would be great at getting older grade schoolers to peek behind the standard lessons of familiar figures in history books--and some who may not be as familiar to them. There is humor throughout and it's written in a fresh, non-textbook voice.

[Mallee Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light hearted read about a variety of people who through legend or trickery, fooled the world. Certainly appealing to children. I particularly liked The Turk, not only by how the machine fooled the world, but how it inspired a man called Babbage.