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On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down: Number 2
SH!T HAPPENS. AGAIN.
That famous photo of the Loch Ness Monster was faked as an act of revenge against The Daily Mail. Before “Scotty” saved the starship Enterprise a bunch of times, future actor James Doohan stormed the beaches at Normandy to help save the world from Nazis and he got shot to sh!t. Originally known as “Napalm Girl,” Thị Kim Phúc survived, escaped to Canada, and now helps child victims of war. The first pride parade was inspired by the New York Stonewall Riots, when the LGBT community fought back against police oppression. When Trump lost the 2020 election, his lapdog lawyer Rudy Giuliani held a press conference at Four Seasons Landscaping, located between a crematorium and a porn store. In 17th century Italy, when divorce was not at all a thing, hundreds of women married to abusive husbands employed Giulia Tofana to poison them. Iñupiat woman Ada Blackjack, and her cat, survived in the remote Arctic for two years when all the men on the expedition died …
Sh!t goes down every single day of the year, year after year. Sometimes it’s a battle that changes the course of history, other times it’s a life-saving medical advancement. Bravery is counter-balanced with cowardice. Along with slavery, there is self-sacrifice. History is full of deeds both noble and despicable. Some were motivated by greed, others generosity. Many dedicated themselves to the art of killing, while others focused on curing. There have been grave mistakes and greatness, confrontation and cooperation.
Early in the twentieth century Spanish philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Yet history serves not just as warning, but encouragement. Humanity is not endless suck. There is inspiration to be found amidst the atrocities.
On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down will significantly expand your knowledge of world history in the most hilarious and profane way possible.
That famous photo of the Loch Ness Monster was faked as an act of revenge against The Daily Mail. Before “Scotty” saved the starship Enterprise a bunch of times, future actor James Doohan stormed the beaches at Normandy to help save the world from Nazis and he got shot to sh!t. Originally known as “Napalm Girl,” Thị Kim Phúc survived, escaped to Canada, and now helps child victims of war. The first pride parade was inspired by the New York Stonewall Riots, when the LGBT community fought back against police oppression. When Trump lost the 2020 election, his lapdog lawyer Rudy Giuliani held a press conference at Four Seasons Landscaping, located between a crematorium and a porn store. In 17th century Italy, when divorce was not at all a thing, hundreds of women married to abusive husbands employed Giulia Tofana to poison them. Iñupiat woman Ada Blackjack, and her cat, survived in the remote Arctic for two years when all the men on the expedition died …
Sh!t goes down every single day of the year, year after year. Sometimes it’s a battle that changes the course of history, other times it’s a life-saving medical advancement. Bravery is counter-balanced with cowardice. Along with slavery, there is self-sacrifice. History is full of deeds both noble and despicable. Some were motivated by greed, others generosity. Many dedicated themselves to the art of killing, while others focused on curing. There have been grave mistakes and greatness, confrontation and cooperation.
Early in the twentieth century Spanish philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Yet history serves not just as warning, but encouragement. Humanity is not endless suck. There is inspiration to be found amidst the atrocities.
On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down will significantly expand your knowledge of world history in the most hilarious and profane way possible.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2022
107 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 10, 2023
The most common complaint of many people who've read anything by James Fell is the use (or overuse) of profanity. More importantly, the word f4ck, which in my and many other opinions, is the absolute BEST way to convey the specifics in any given story that he writes about. There simply isn't another word out there that makes sense and brings the rest of the story to life.
I've learned about many episodes in our world that I never knew about just because he writes about them. The fact that he punctuates the writing with "to the point" wording and (yes, that sometimes means profanity) keeps the reader engaged is what makes his writing work for me.
If you're at all offended by the use of coarse language, then by all means, don't bother to pick up this book, you'll likely hate everything about it. If you even get very far into it, which most detractors don't.
But...if you love to learn and keep pushing the boundaries of that learning, then this is a MUST have book. The 2nd of two, it's a cornucopia of fascinating information and I can't recommend it enough. My daughter surprised me with this second, SIGNED copy for my birthday this past year and I was just blown away. She knows me, she gets me and, she also loves James Fell!!
I've learned about many episodes in our world that I never knew about just because he writes about them. The fact that he punctuates the writing with "to the point" wording and (yes, that sometimes means profanity) keeps the reader engaged is what makes his writing work for me.
If you're at all offended by the use of coarse language, then by all means, don't bother to pick up this book, you'll likely hate everything about it. If you even get very far into it, which most detractors don't.
But...if you love to learn and keep pushing the boundaries of that learning, then this is a MUST have book. The 2nd of two, it's a cornucopia of fascinating information and I can't recommend it enough. My daughter surprised me with this second, SIGNED copy for my birthday this past year and I was just blown away. She knows me, she gets me and, she also loves James Fell!!
December 18, 2022
Another awesome book for James Fell!
This second series of short, sweary historical essays is even better than the first! I have a Masters degree in history and was a career librarian so I have read more academic volumes than I can even remember, many of them written so dryly that they were difficult to get through. So it was a joy to discover Fell's books which open up history to the average person. I have learned so much about women in history that I didn't know and am building a new reading list to follow up on some of the people and events presented.
The writing style is fun and the author doesn't hold back on his opinions about the actions of people who are evil, cruel, or just plain stupid. He calls them out in no uncertain terms and uses more than a few swear words to do so. It doesn't offend me in the slightest! I hope a third volume is in the works. Highly recommended!
This second series of short, sweary historical essays is even better than the first! I have a Masters degree in history and was a career librarian so I have read more academic volumes than I can even remember, many of them written so dryly that they were difficult to get through. So it was a joy to discover Fell's books which open up history to the average person. I have learned so much about women in history that I didn't know and am building a new reading list to follow up on some of the people and events presented.
The writing style is fun and the author doesn't hold back on his opinions about the actions of people who are evil, cruel, or just plain stupid. He calls them out in no uncertain terms and uses more than a few swear words to do so. It doesn't offend me in the slightest! I hope a third volume is in the works. Highly recommended!
March 28, 2025
Rounding up to a 4.5 ⭐'s. This author is from my hometown and I really enjoy his "sweary" History! He has a master's degree in history And although I've read or have known about some of the history, he talks about, the stuff that he can find on every day of the year that he throws into the book is just actually extraordinary. I mean so many historical events happen on every day of the year so he is a lot to choose from. I would really recommend these books, especially to the guys who like to read about their history in a really interesting format. He's bringing out a third book called "Greedy Sexist Racist Bigots - A History of Humanity". I will purchase that for sure.
November 22, 2022
The sweary historian is back with another year. I loved volume one and this one was also excellent. The only semi complaint I have is there were more details about the history in the first book, but each day does give a great summary and starting point should one want to learn more.
December 27, 2022
Superb work, funny and insightful. Well named
March 18, 2023
Number 2 is accurate.
Just like the first, Fell's historical inaccuracies is only surpassed by his four letter word fixation here.
Flush this book out of your reading consideration.
Just like the first, Fell's historical inaccuracies is only surpassed by his four letter word fixation here.
Flush this book out of your reading consideration.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2023
Awesome book
I love the stories from around the world. I also love the creative insults used for the worst ex-president ever.
I love the stories from around the world. I also love the creative insults used for the worst ex-president ever.
January 4, 2024
I love the way James Fell writes his history, makes it fun and the pages fly right by. Hilarious and I learn all kinds of interesting facts.
August 9, 2024
These books are great! One page of some interesting, little known bit of history for every day of the year. I can't wait for his next one! And I subscribe to his substack! And he hates trump (my favorite of his alternate names is the Danger Yam!)
April 17, 2025
Yep, it's book number 2!!! Started 3-24-25. Just as fascinating as the first book!! Finished 4-17-25. Another spectacular book by historian James Fell!! Gee, I wonder if there will be a Book Three. It took me a while to read this one as I was trying to read a fiction book at the same time----I got to page 83 of that one and I gave up. Since I didn't finish it, there will be no review of it, or even a mention of it. The Fell book however is easy to talk about. I again learned a lot about these historic events. He starts off the book with hate mail he's received rather than rave reviews. A very courageous act on his part. It shows he can stand up to his critics, and it shows what a---holes his critics are. I hope it encourages him to write even more about world history---the deplorables need all the education they can get.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews