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Crazy Stuff Dictators Do: Insane But True Stories You Won't Believe Actually Happened
World history is unfortunately full of many men and a few women who ruled their countries ruthlessly and committed many crazy acts in the process.
Often when we look at these dictators we focus on some of the crazy things they’ve done without considering the impacts they had on those the countries and the course of world history.
This book takes a unique perspective on what is often a sensitive subject matter. You’ll be entertained by the craziness of these dictators but also frightened of the harm they caused.
In Crazy Sh*t Dictators Do you’ll
What African dictator said “If that is Hitler, then let me be a Hitler tenfold” and why?What two dictators made the same crazy decision to invade Russia?How did the Haitian dictator employ Voodoo in his brutal regime?Why Augusto Pinochet think throwing his opponents out of helicopters was a good idea?What book caused a dictator to order the death of its author?Who was the Asian dictator who’s wife bought more than 3,000 pairs of designer shoes on the government’s dime?And so much more!
This book is filled with many facts and trivia about some of the most fascinating and impactful dictators through history and the crazy sh*t they did.
Whether you have a passing interest in world history, have a morbid fascination with dictators, or want to bone up on your general knowledge, you can’t go wrong with Crazy Sh*t Dictators Do.
Often when we look at these dictators we focus on some of the crazy things they’ve done without considering the impacts they had on those the countries and the course of world history.
This book takes a unique perspective on what is often a sensitive subject matter. You’ll be entertained by the craziness of these dictators but also frightened of the harm they caused.
In Crazy Sh*t Dictators Do you’ll
What African dictator said “If that is Hitler, then let me be a Hitler tenfold” and why?What two dictators made the same crazy decision to invade Russia?How did the Haitian dictator employ Voodoo in his brutal regime?Why Augusto Pinochet think throwing his opponents out of helicopters was a good idea?What book caused a dictator to order the death of its author?Who was the Asian dictator who’s wife bought more than 3,000 pairs of designer shoes on the government’s dime?And so much more!
This book is filled with many facts and trivia about some of the most fascinating and impactful dictators through history and the crazy sh*t they did.
Whether you have a passing interest in world history, have a morbid fascination with dictators, or want to bone up on your general knowledge, you can’t go wrong with Crazy Sh*t Dictators Do.
- GenresNonfictionPolitics
221 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2020
174 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 7, 2021
I don't know how this book has a 3.88 rating. People must be easily impressed, amused, or both. The pros: good overall idea, and great cartoonish illustrations of the worst people in world history.
The cons: this book reads as being written below even an amateur historian's attempt. The writing is just bad, the editing equally bad. I get that with the eye-catching cover graphics, and title "Crazy Stuff That Dictators Do," there must have been a certain pressure to repeat that theme throughout the book's pages, in its dozens of variations that seem to stretch into the weird and certainly into the obnoxious. I mean, I wasn't expecting Pulitzer Prize-winning prose, but this wasn't even world history for dummies. It was rather like an 8th grader who took a bunch of Wikipedia entries, re-wrote them a bit, and then mixed in "now that's some crazy stuff!" once a page, just to stick with a theme that apparently entertains some segment of society that is...easily entertained.
The only explanation that I can come up with for a 3.88 rating is that the author got all his friends and family to review his book. Oh, and it was published in Las Vegas too, so there's that.
Really want to know about "crazy stuff that dictators do," from someone who knows what he/she is talking about? Read Samantha Power's A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide. Do some real work.
The cons: this book reads as being written below even an amateur historian's attempt. The writing is just bad, the editing equally bad. I get that with the eye-catching cover graphics, and title "Crazy Stuff That Dictators Do," there must have been a certain pressure to repeat that theme throughout the book's pages, in its dozens of variations that seem to stretch into the weird and certainly into the obnoxious. I mean, I wasn't expecting Pulitzer Prize-winning prose, but this wasn't even world history for dummies. It was rather like an 8th grader who took a bunch of Wikipedia entries, re-wrote them a bit, and then mixed in "now that's some crazy stuff!" once a page, just to stick with a theme that apparently entertains some segment of society that is...easily entertained.
The only explanation that I can come up with for a 3.88 rating is that the author got all his friends and family to review his book. Oh, and it was published in Las Vegas too, so there's that.
Really want to know about "crazy stuff that dictators do," from someone who knows what he/she is talking about? Read Samantha Power's A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide. Do some real work.
Read
November 22, 2020Back in the days when I went to high school, history had been my best subject; I had a 93 average for all of the history classes I took. I went to high school in NYCity from the 10th to the 12th grades.
While the teachers did cover the historical periods' main points they taught us, they didn't delve into the amazingly fascinating items that the author of this book, Bill O'Neill, has investigated for his readers.
It's enough that when we think about dictators, we usually look at their dictatorial behavior as being cruel and inhuman, and their reasoning for doing the things they did at times illogical; it doesn't begin to cover any of the outrageously bizarre things they did during their lives.
Women like Imelda Marcos would love having a husband like Marcos, who loved making sure she always had enough designer shoes while not caring about raising his people out of poverty. Interestingly, Marcos didn't control his country through any coup like other dictators usually do; he got elected in reality. Yet, he did plunder this country and its inhabitants to a despicable level.
Some of the dictators Mr. O'Neill covers in his fascinatingly enlightening book had been looked at favorably because of their political stance against Communism, and others with hatred regarding how they treat their people.
For having his readers, an incisive look at some of the world's most notorious dictators they'd never had would have known; otherwise, I've given Mr. O'Neill 5 STARS for his endeavor here.
While the teachers did cover the historical periods' main points they taught us, they didn't delve into the amazingly fascinating items that the author of this book, Bill O'Neill, has investigated for his readers.
It's enough that when we think about dictators, we usually look at their dictatorial behavior as being cruel and inhuman, and their reasoning for doing the things they did at times illogical; it doesn't begin to cover any of the outrageously bizarre things they did during their lives.
Women like Imelda Marcos would love having a husband like Marcos, who loved making sure she always had enough designer shoes while not caring about raising his people out of poverty. Interestingly, Marcos didn't control his country through any coup like other dictators usually do; he got elected in reality. Yet, he did plunder this country and its inhabitants to a despicable level.
Some of the dictators Mr. O'Neill covers in his fascinatingly enlightening book had been looked at favorably because of their political stance against Communism, and others with hatred regarding how they treat their people.
For having his readers, an incisive look at some of the world's most notorious dictators they'd never had would have known; otherwise, I've given Mr. O'Neill 5 STARS for his endeavor here.
December 7, 2020
Oh, I Believe It!
I enjoy this author's books. He has trivia books and books that are essentially a collection of short articles about interesting topics, like heroes and heroines who changed history. This book about the crazy things that dictators do is like the latter. He has chosen a handful of dictators, both those known to us in contemporary times as well as ones from history. He provides a little background about them personally as well as what they did to their country. Each dictator’s section ends with trivia about him. For what could be a very downer topic, the author has managed to imbue levity and a sense of “oh, my G*d, can you believe he did this?” into the articles. If you have an interest in history, or of course, dictators throughout time, you may find this book as gripping a read as I did.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
I enjoy this author's books. He has trivia books and books that are essentially a collection of short articles about interesting topics, like heroes and heroines who changed history. This book about the crazy things that dictators do is like the latter. He has chosen a handful of dictators, both those known to us in contemporary times as well as ones from history. He provides a little background about them personally as well as what they did to their country. Each dictator’s section ends with trivia about him. For what could be a very downer topic, the author has managed to imbue levity and a sense of “oh, my G*d, can you believe he did this?” into the articles. If you have an interest in history, or of course, dictators throughout time, you may find this book as gripping a read as I did.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
December 27, 2020
Boy do they
This is a very enlightening book about dictators around the world. Now I will say that I have heard of most of them since I majored in History in college. So I had a chance to read about some of them. This book is not an in depth study of them it is just enough to pique your interest to maybe want to find out more. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to read about crazy in rulers.
This is a very enlightening book about dictators around the world. Now I will say that I have heard of most of them since I majored in History in college. So I had a chance to read about some of them. This book is not an in depth study of them it is just enough to pique your interest to maybe want to find out more. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to read about crazy in rulers.
November 2, 2021
A very cursory discussion for each dictator. Each story gave a short explanation of how the leader came into power, followed by a short description of some of the policies he implemented. The policies might have been poor choices, but there really isn't that much "crazy" in this book. We don't have leaders appointing chickens as defense ministers, or anything like that.
I quit reading about a quarter of the way through.
I quit reading about a quarter of the way through.
May 25, 2021
Only Inhuman People Become Dictators
The organization of this book was excellent in that each dictator’s life was briefly profiled and the crazy stuff that they did was presenters with the horrific consequences for the people. After the synopsis of rack despot, a separate section details some disgusting facts about the person’s rule of the country.
The organization of this book was excellent in that each dictator’s life was briefly profiled and the crazy stuff that they did was presenters with the horrific consequences for the people. After the synopsis of rack despot, a separate section details some disgusting facts about the person’s rule of the country.
August 26, 2021
Probably not every ones favorite but I read it and am impressed by the history of these dictators and how they came to power. Some I only vaguely recall It is good to review how wild things can get if the citizens do not act with wisdom and honestly. Almost all screwed the people who let them take over. A good lesson and reference book.
February 25, 2021
Entertaining book.
I have found this book to be both entertaining and informative. It's a list of various dictatos with bite-sized bios about what strange actions that placed them in this book.
I have found this book to be both entertaining and informative. It's a list of various dictatos with bite-sized bios about what strange actions that placed them in this book.
March 8, 2021
Intensely interesting
A complete book of crazy dominant people and the fascinating truths about them. A very quick and easy read too
A complete book of crazy dominant people and the fascinating truths about them. A very quick and easy read too
June 17, 2022
To fun to read
This book is fun to read about all the craziness of the dictators.not surprised to see how they ruined their countries.
This book is fun to read about all the craziness of the dictators.not surprised to see how they ruined their countries.
December 1, 2020
All the insane dictator “greats” and stupid, disgusting and horrible things they did to their own people and the world!
Yep that’s right all the dictators who thought they were God’s gift to the world and the insane, stupid, and horrible things they did to their own people and the world!! Would not call this a comedic compendium of persons...but very thorough and well done!!!
Yep that’s right all the dictators who thought they were God’s gift to the world and the insane, stupid, and horrible things they did to their own people and the world!! Would not call this a comedic compendium of persons...but very thorough and well done!!!
November 3, 2023
Super short stories. Really gives the formula for being a dictator and taking over a nation. Very interesting how much they all have in common.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews