Badass: The Birth of a Legend: Spine-Crushing Tales of the Most Merciless Gods, Monsters, Heroes, Villains, and Mythical Creatures Ever Envisioned – An Epic Mythology Compendium

by Ben Thompson

Ben Thompson—author of Badass , creator of the epic website badassoftheweek.com, and the Internet’s foremost expert on badassitude—is back to enthrall lovers of skull-smashing, bone-crushing bad behavior with his latest compendium, The Birth of a Legend. Like its macho predecessor, The Birth of a Legend celebrates fearless berserkers of every stripe, male and female, but this time pulls them from the hoary pages of mythology, fantasy fiction, and the silver screen—from Zeus to Beowulf to Dirty Harry Callahan, the most merciless gods, monsters, heroes, villains, and mythical creatures ever envisioned. Forget your whiny Twilight vampires and werewolves, these badasses kick butt!

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Humor, Mythology, Comedy, Reference, Short Stories

384 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2011

About the author

I write stuff about badasses.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Behold! Herein is contained a collection of history and pop culture's most notorious badasses. These guys and gals kick ass, take names, never give a crap, and spend their days punching humanity in the nutsack just because they can. They believe that, if you're looking for sympathy, it's in the dictionary between shit and syphilis. There's no challenge they won't accept, no life they will spare, no vengeance they won't seek, no maiden they won't fondle! Why? They all suffer from the totally sweet fever known as badassitude. And, as we all know, there's no cure for badassitude and, even if there were, who would want it?

Yeah, was all that a little too much for you? Well, it was for me, too. I will readily admit that I am indeed juvenile enough to have found the cover amusing, as well as sentences like this one describing the Egyptian gods: "As an added triple-shot of one hundred-proof badassitude, almost all of these bitchin' all-powerful smite-masters were represented by human bodies with insane animal heads grafted on top, making them so King Kong mega-weird-looking that it's like riding a surfboard of insanity down the Uncanny Valley." However, 300+ pages of this became tedious--so much so that I had to reduce my reading to a chapter or two between other books.

It wasn't long before every chapter began to sound as though a potty-mouthed version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Michelangelo was "Cowabunga"-ing his way through the narrative.

However, there were some bright spots:

1) The variety of cultures and time periods represented is impressive. We have everything from Viking, Aztec, Greek, Egyptian, Vodoun, Anglo-Saxon, to various African mythologies represented, as well as more modern cultural icons. (Any book where Skeletor and Darth Vader are rubbing shoulders is automatically worth 3 stars.)

2) Hell, yes for the women represented in the book! Kali, Oya, Atalanta, Bradamant of Clairmont, Skuld, The White Tights (it's worth reading this chapter alone), The Furies, Baba Yaga, and, my personal favorite, Medea, are all here, proving you don't have to have *ahem* a sword *ahem* to be a badass.

3) This is the type of book that I could definitely see turning around a boy who is a struggling reader. It's fun, opens up a variety of mythologies for further research, and uses a language all teenage boys understand. Sure, you could get your panties in a twist because words like balls, douche, badass, scrotum, and several juvenile sexual references are made, but if you think teenage boys aren't already using that language then you are not a badass. You're a dumbass. And I'm of the opinion that if it takes pandering to the lowest common denominator to hook a kid on reading, it's well worth it.

Despite the fact that the "badass" conceit wears pretty thin, this is a moderately entertaining and very well-researched read. I can honestly say that I learned a few things from it, added a few books for further reading to my "to read" list, and now have the line "He gets more ass than a public toilet seat" in my arsenal. It was well worth the read.

Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder and at Shelf Inflicted

[Sharon]

DNF - page 16

I think I like mythology enough to not require the chatty commentary.

[Phillip Fuller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badass: Birth of a Legend lists badass figures from legend and myth that are tough and crush their enemies. Ben Thompson lumps together figures from sacred texts like Samson with that loser Skeletor from that 80s toy informercial cartoon Master of the Universe. His defense is he is doing it tongue in cheek and is not trying to offend anyone. The text is written in the style of a trash talking street fighter with some fascinating facts mixed in. When I read this book I thought of Barbara Robinsons kid lit classic: The Best Christmas Pageant ever. What was reminiscent of Badass in that story was when those juvenile delinquent Herdman kids thought the Christmas angels were comic book superheroes.

[Brian Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

How does one even begin to write a review on this book? I won this epic volume of insanity thanks to a Goodreads giveaway - they know me so well! Legend has it that author Ben Thompson writes some type of Badass blog concerning all things "Badass." I don't doubt this.

The preview version of the book that I received was separated into four basic sections; Gods, Heroes, Villains, and Monsters. The author proceeds to spin the tales of these supremely awesome individuals and entities in a manner that is reminiscent of a drunk 8 year old. (This is not necessarily a bad thing.) Some of the lines in this book had me literally laughing so hard I found myself choking. However, other times the humor seemed a bit forced and (let's be honest here) I think Ben is a bit too obsessed with testicles.

A majority of the entries I found to be pure kickass. However, after X amount on Viking warriors, Hindu blood-deities and Russian cannibal-witches, an entry on Captain Kirk just doesn't fit. I think I would have preferred it had Thompson either went all out on Myths, Legends & Lore or stuck with modern imaginary figures from entertainment. The two just don't gel together so well.

Regardless, this book is hysterical, fun and actually informative. (Kind of.) If you can giggle through the John Woo analogies, the video game references and the idea of Zeus pimp-slapping someone with lightning bolt from his balls... well, you'll love this bizarre collection of Badasses.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you don't mind the complete irreverence for everything and everyone this book covers you'll probably enjoy it. I didn't know the author ran a website of tthings like this, I just found some of the stories and characters interesting as he covers everything from history to mythology. I definitely just skimmed the pop culture ones - I actually didn't even really read the Dalek chapter. But the others were fun.

[CJ - It's only a Paper Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, irreverent and spot on. With a book that mentions everyone from Zeus and Samson to Captain Kirk and Darth Vader, you can't really go wrong. There were really only two or three peeps I'd never heard of (and it's always funnier if you have) but still pop-culturally insightful as well as some pretty darn good research on the myths and legends.

Recommended for those that like a little bit of history/pop culture with a side of irreverence.

[LaDonna Qualtieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for creative writing, cultural education, laughter, a chapter on James T. Kirk, and unfiltered exuberance on the book’s topic. Envisioning the ancient slayers through a contemporary and slang lens, and including subjects of the present for good measure, this book is fluidly badass. Thank you, Ben Thompson, for knowing your shit and having the balls to share it.

[Regina Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lol Red Dwarf of Detroit - EPIC!

[Zheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Badass: The Birth of a Legend: Spine-Crushing Tales of the Most Merciless Gods, Monsters, Heroes, Villains, and Mythical Creatures Ever Envisioned was yet another fun read by Ben Thompson. I definitely laughed out loud a few times while reading this one, while still staying completely enthralled by some of the stories told. I've heard of most of the people mentioned in the book but there were a few "new" badasses I was introduced to. This book really did fly by faster then I thought it was going to take, which hey who can complain right?

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and interesting book

This book sets out to inform us about the fictional bad a**es. I found many new entries In The BA Ball of Fame. True they are found only in the pages of book and folklore. Still it fun to read about them and wonder how did people come up with them. If you have read any the other books by the author on BA then you know what is going to happen as you read. My thoughts on this book is was well worth the money and reading.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried this via audiobook. It was a mistake. I thought it was going to be short stories about legendary badasses. It read like stereo instructions. This is one of only 2 or 3 audiobooks I've not finished. I gave it two stars because, in playing the devil's advocate, I'm assuming the actual, physical version must be different. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Travis Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like sitting down with your super smart friend who watches way too many movies, smokes more weed than is probably advisable and having him accurately summarize the basic stories of some of the most epic characters from literature, screen, and history.

[Eric Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was silly and irreverent, but it did make me laugh out loud on multiple occasions. Giving it 4 stars mainly for the hilarious comparison between Skeletor and the artist formerly and once again known as Prince.

[jj Grilliette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mix of legends from many cultures and religions. Funny. The author uses some profane language, so be careful if that bothers you.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is much more of a humor book than a history/mythology book. The jokes are solid and there are actual facts sprinkled in there. Just expect to be entertained not informed by reading this book.

[Kristin Sholler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept was neat, and I learned some fun information, but sometimes it felt the writing was trying too hard to be edgy.

[Clint T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, informative, fun read. Gets a little repetitive.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my read-during-lunch book for a while, and though it is enjoyable for what it is, I got tired of it and moved on. What it is IS basically a list of mythological creatures, gods, and fictional characters the author has deemed badass. As he goes through the list he uses hyperbole to explain who they are and why they are so badass.

I was impressed with the number of women in the list, but 90 percent of the explanations of having power centered on the size of one's balls, so it's not really firmly in the win column for gender equality.

If you liked The Hangover (or The Hangover 2, I'm guessing) or spend a lot of time on the internet, this may be a book for you.

It is fun to dip into, just don't take it too seriously.

[Robert Risher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book by accident, but got sucked in when I checked the table of contents and saw a chapter on Diomedes, who is unquestionably the greatest badass of the Trojan War, despite the reputation Achilles somehow maintains. By the time I worked my way through the sections of Captain Kirk and Skeletor, I was forcing out that painful, silent laughter and making quite a spectacle of myself in the bookstore. While I would have a difficult time ranking this book amongst some of the all-time greats in literature, I definitely believe it accomplishes its purpose, caters perfectly to its target audience, and is surprisingly better than expected, hence, the 4 stars. Very entertaining if you need a good laugh.

[Scott Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

A totally solid, incredibly enjoyable read. Four stars because it's not quite as amazing as the previous installment in the series (if it can be called that) - which is only because while these badasses are indeed completely face-smashingly hardcore, they are all fictional, while the raging badasses of the first book actually existed (which is even more, well, badass).

Totally fun, everyone who picked up up while I was reading it and even glanced through it laughed out loud. Can you ask for more than that?

Yes, you can ask for a chapter on Mr. T. and one on Skeletor - and ye shall have it.

[Wellington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a lot of fun and silly. It's probably geared to someone who thinks South Park rocks - which it does.

You can't take book too seriously because the author took a lot of liberties with the stories. But stories starring Gilgamesh, Mordred, Minos and Medea ... I'm pretty sure people have embellished their stories over the years.

I applaud the author picking some not as well-known subjects like ... Baba Yaga, Oya, and Bradamant of Clairmont. Who? I thought the same thing but we read books to learn something. Just don't quote this guy if you are planning to write a essay that determines your GPA.

[Matthew Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen....I know that as a history teacher and overall history nerd I should not like these books. Well that is what the stuffed shirt ivory tower d-bags want us all to think. This book is simply hilarious and I feel that it does a great job of telling history for history lovers and non history lovers. The language is juvenile but that is what makes it so great for an uninterested teen, they get the language and they may finally find this stuff interesting! I would get in heaps of trouble to actually teach this book because of the language but I hope that all my students who don't like history would pick up this book and see if this gives them another view.

[Jeff Powers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had heard good things about this book. That it presented a bunch of stories of mythology written in concise easy go understand chapters. Making even the most obscure myths easily accessible. And I suppose it does do that. If you can get past the juvenile humor, and rather misogynistic/homophobic language. I get that it does this in attempts to be modern and humorous. But I suppose that just isn't for me. I can see how it could work for others and might even be a riot for some. But for anyone who is familiar with ancient myths or, like me, just isn't a fan of this kind of language, this book is best overlooked.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not exactly my kind of book, but you have to give Ben Thompson credit for doing his research and making these stories entertaining. I was especially impressed to see the Red Dwarf of Detroit on the list, as this creature has recently resurfaced in spirit in the Detroit area. Community members now hold an annual event to banish it from the city.

If you are into extreme tales about really intense people and creatures and don't mind some very coarse language, this book is for you.

Thank you to Goodreads First Reads for a free copy of the book!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Beavis and Butt-head suddenly gained IQ points, locked themselves in a bedroom stocked with an endless supply of Red Bull, and somehow managed to collaborate on a book - this would be the end result. Snooty readers or those with a refined sense of literary taste need not apply here, but if you're looking for a few low-brow laughs and can stand Thompson's relentless onslaught of hyperbole, bathroom humor, pop culture and video game references, this book is for you. I haven't laughed so hard while reading a book in a long time.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one he wrote and I think that is because the first one was based around about 90% real people but this one was almost entirely fictional in nature. There's something not quite as interesting as reading about this group.

Still, if you like the way that Thompson writes on his blog, or you like the way the first book read this is probably worth you picking up. If he were a history teacher every class would be filled to max capacity that any school in the country would allow and he'd have awesome ratings on ratemyprofessor.com if that says anything.

[Janessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is written for bruhs and frat boys. The macho talk and the shit talk makes this worthy of a bathroom read, nothing more. I am glad I got this one for free.

Added later::

After finishing this book, I still feel the same way I felt when I wrote the above. However, I might actually buy another book like this, but for the same reason. It is a chapter at a time kind of a book. That is why it took me so long to finish. All in all -- eh.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and silly read about a broad swathe of heroes and villains across a range of mythology, religions, and modern pop culture.

Any book that can equally discuss Darth Vader, Dirty Harry, and Gilgamesh with a healthy dose of scatalogical humor is definitely a perfect book for bathroom reads, in my opinion.

[Arwen Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Badass was fantastic. This one is proving to rival. Though there has been quite a bit of mention of nut punching and testicle wrenching and just general male genital mutilation to the point where I keep thinking "Ok dude... I get it... getting your nuts rocked is pretty intense. But you know what else is rough? a sucker kick to the vajeen. Thanks."

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing, easy read it tends to skirt details and utilizes more common knowledge over deeper academic research for many of the individuals and monsters spoken about. The breezy style makes it for a quick book and without dwelling on too much, it readily moves on to the next character, person, or monster, ready to sing their praises just as loudly.