[FULL DISCLOSURE: I received my copy of this book free from the author and/or publisher. I was not paid for this review and the opinion expressed is purely my own]
Twisted History
The book itself is coffee-table sized and at 170 pages is not terribly long. It does have an index but no bibliography. That being said, this is not an academic book but rather one to pick up and browse through when you only have a few minutes and want something more intellectually challenging than TV or video games.
The book is essentially 32 mini biographies of various figures throughout history that did either evil or noble things. All of the usual suspects are in there from Joan of Arc to Hitler but there are some in there who many people have never heard of such as the serial killer H.H. Holmes and Dick Turpin. Each biographical sketch is roughly 3-4 pages long and provides a surprisingly thorough overview of the individual’s life given the length of the sketch. There are images throughout the book. Lastly, it is written in a very readable manner. It is slightly irreverent but that just adds to the books appeal.
In summation, this is a very readable book and I very much recommend it. This would make a perfect addition to any living room as a book of quick curiosities. It would also be an excellent book to give to teenagers in an attempt to waken an interest in history as the sketches are short and entertaining and thus less likely to elicit complaints of history being boring. All in all, this an excellent book that achieves its objectives admirably.