For my first non-fiction book to review, I had to choose one of my favourites and one of the first non-fiction books I ever read. This book is exactly how it sounds, it's a history book about humans and, well, how we f**k everything up.
History interests me, but I find that plain old history books bore me. It could be about my favourite ancient civilisation, but if the book isn't written entertainingly enough, I can't finish it. Then I discovered this book, saw the title and had a giggle, but the blurb really drew me in.
Humanity has a penchant for ruining things, there have been colossal screw-ups throughout history and this book gives you a look at some of the most famous ones and some of the least known ones. At the end of each chapter is a list of some of the funniest versions of what that chapter was about. From really ancient times up to modern history, and it's covered.
After reading this book, I decided that humour was my favourite way to learn about history, I don't think I've ever laughed this much at a non-fiction book that wasn't a joke book.
Some of the screwups in this book make you want to face palm, you think 'how is someone that dumb or even that unlucky?' Like the one guy who was drunk driving in a desert and managed to hit the only tree for kilometres in any direction. Or inventors who get killed by their own inventions.
I very rarely see it anymore in any bookstores around where I am, but it's definitely a recommendation for anyone who likes history or even anyone who just likes to read about dumb things humans have done over the millennia.
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