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You Are History
From the alarm clock to the toilet, discover the incredible history all around you in this hilarious and fascinating book from popular historian and podcaster Greg Jenner.
Thought history was only in museums? Think again! Join Greg Jenner as he takes you on a trip through the amazing history hidden in the things you use every day. Did you know that the first TV was made out of biscuit tins and knitting needles? Or that the humble paperclip helped lead an anti-war movement? Or that a few hundred years ago it was fashionable to style your hair with cat poo?! Find out the delightful, daft and downright deadly history of your everyday life that your teachers won’t tell you about. Bursting with humorous illustrations and entertaining true stories, this is history – but not as you know it!
Thought history was only in museums? Think again! Join Greg Jenner as he takes you on a trip through the amazing history hidden in the things you use every day. Did you know that the first TV was made out of biscuit tins and knitting needles? Or that the humble paperclip helped lead an anti-war movement? Or that a few hundred years ago it was fashionable to style your hair with cat poo?! Find out the delightful, daft and downright deadly history of your everyday life that your teachers won’t tell you about. Bursting with humorous illustrations and entertaining true stories, this is history – but not as you know it!
144 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2022
About the author
Greg Jenner
7 books355 followersGreg Jenner (FRHistS) is a British public historian, broadcaster, and author noted for using humour and pop culture to communicate the complexities of the past. He is the host of the chart-topping BBC comedy podcast YOU'RE DEAD TO ME
Greg is the author of three books:
- ASK A HISTORIAN: 50 SURPRISING ANSWERS TO THINGS YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW (2021)
- DEAD FAMOUS: AN UNEXPECTED HISTORY OF CELEBRITY, FROM BRONZE AGE TO SILVER SCREEN (2020)
- A MILLION YEARS IN A DAY: A CURIOUS HISTORY OF DAILY LIFE, FROM STONE AGE TO PHONE AGE (2015)
He is also the Historical Consultant to BBC's Emmy and multi-BAFTA award-winning comedy sketch-show HORRIBLE HISTORIES, being solely responsible for the factual accuracy of over 2,000 sketches and 150 comedy songs. He also worked on HORRIBLE HISTORIES: THE MOVIE - ROTTEN ROMANS.
As a broadcaster, Greg is the host of the chart-topping BBC comedy podcast YOU'RE DEAD TO ME in which comedians and academic historians are paired up to explore different historical subjects with a bold blend of humour and nuanced detail. The series regularly tops the Apple podcast charts, and was the number 1 show on BBC Sounds in 2021.
Greg is also a regular voice on BBC Radio 4, and was resident historian on the science and history series THE ORIGIN OF STUFF, hosted by Katy Brand. In 2019 he wrote and presented a 3 hour radio documentary about historical comedy for BBC Radio 4 Extra called HILARIOUS HISTORIES in which he interviewed Stephen Fry and several other guests. He's made numerous other appearances on British national radio, TV, podcasts, and has written in numerous newspapers and magazines.
On TV, he co-hosted BBC2's INSIDE VERSAILLES discussion programme for two series, and was one of the expert panellists on BBC2's THE GREAT HISTORY QUIZ (broadcast on Christmas Eve 2015), joining team captains Lucy Worsley and Dan Snow.
Greg is both a passionate defender and careful critic of the way in which the past is exploited for entertainment. He is an Honorary Research Associate at Royal Holloway, University of London where he teaches on the Public History MA course. He also teaches occasionally at his alma mater, the University of York, where he studied for 4 years before abandoning plans for a PhD to instead go into the TV industry.
Greg is an avid Twitter user and his handle is @greg_jenner.
Greg is the author of three books:
- ASK A HISTORIAN: 50 SURPRISING ANSWERS TO THINGS YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW (2021)
- DEAD FAMOUS: AN UNEXPECTED HISTORY OF CELEBRITY, FROM BRONZE AGE TO SILVER SCREEN (2020)
- A MILLION YEARS IN A DAY: A CURIOUS HISTORY OF DAILY LIFE, FROM STONE AGE TO PHONE AGE (2015)
He is also the Historical Consultant to BBC's Emmy and multi-BAFTA award-winning comedy sketch-show HORRIBLE HISTORIES, being solely responsible for the factual accuracy of over 2,000 sketches and 150 comedy songs. He also worked on HORRIBLE HISTORIES: THE MOVIE - ROTTEN ROMANS.
As a broadcaster, Greg is the host of the chart-topping BBC comedy podcast YOU'RE DEAD TO ME in which comedians and academic historians are paired up to explore different historical subjects with a bold blend of humour and nuanced detail. The series regularly tops the Apple podcast charts, and was the number 1 show on BBC Sounds in 2021.
Greg is also a regular voice on BBC Radio 4, and was resident historian on the science and history series THE ORIGIN OF STUFF, hosted by Katy Brand. In 2019 he wrote and presented a 3 hour radio documentary about historical comedy for BBC Radio 4 Extra called HILARIOUS HISTORIES in which he interviewed Stephen Fry and several other guests. He's made numerous other appearances on British national radio, TV, podcasts, and has written in numerous newspapers and magazines.
On TV, he co-hosted BBC2's INSIDE VERSAILLES discussion programme for two series, and was one of the expert panellists on BBC2's THE GREAT HISTORY QUIZ (broadcast on Christmas Eve 2015), joining team captains Lucy Worsley and Dan Snow.
Greg is both a passionate defender and careful critic of the way in which the past is exploited for entertainment. He is an Honorary Research Associate at Royal Holloway, University of London where he teaches on the Public History MA course. He also teaches occasionally at his alma mater, the University of York, where he studied for 4 years before abandoning plans for a PhD to instead go into the TV industry.
Greg is an avid Twitter user and his handle is @greg_jenner.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 24, 2023
This book might be aimed at kids but I would highly recommend a listen regardless. Greg has so much enthusiasm and passion for history and it makes the listen more enjoyable. The physical version has illustrations to go along with it. This is a great history of the everyday objects we often take for granted.
October 24, 2023
This book is about the history of ordinary things most of us use every day but don't think twice about, like a pillow or a coat; common objects that turn out to have a long and surprising history. I've listened to the audiobook version and Greg Jenner narrates it perfectly - his enthusiasm for history is contagious, and he uses humour all the way through. It is aimed at children, but for adults too this book is interesting, informative and highly enjoyable.
December 1, 2022
I fear my inner nerd is on the loose, but this book was so excellent - I absolutely loved learning about the history of (pretty boring and bog standard) household objects (including cats!) and every day items we use (cars, toilets, soap etc).
This book has everything, or at least everything I use and wanted to learn about (the cat included). From socks, umbrellas, welly boots and bicycles all the way to the less expected gossiping chair, pyjamas, water fountains and wet weather gear - it genuinely seemed to cover everything, across the ages, to present day! In truth, I was expecting the usual chat about how the light bulb came about rather than a comprehensive history lesson - the toilet was there too though, admittedly.
The illustrations are nice, the content is easy to read and totally accessible across several age groups and readers, but particularly nerdy ones I suspect. Highly recommended.
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
This book has everything, or at least everything I use and wanted to learn about (the cat included). From socks, umbrellas, welly boots and bicycles all the way to the less expected gossiping chair, pyjamas, water fountains and wet weather gear - it genuinely seemed to cover everything, across the ages, to present day! In truth, I was expecting the usual chat about how the light bulb came about rather than a comprehensive history lesson - the toilet was there too though, admittedly.
The illustrations are nice, the content is easy to read and totally accessible across several age groups and readers, but particularly nerdy ones I suspect. Highly recommended.
ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2022
You are History is a fascinating children's non-fiction book that covers a lot of subjects mainly which children use, are part of or know of.
From information on boardgames, cutlery, potato crisps to toothpaste, hair gel, and the globe. This book has many random and unusual facts about each. In fact it covers 50 different subject areas.
Alongside the factual information on each item there are amusing facts and amazing illustrations. The text is never boring and is written to the right level and in an easy to understand manner without belittling the reader.
Each double page contains a different subject matter. My favourite has to be 'Jewellery Box' and the fact that Victorians wore Coprolite jewellery which actually meant they had fossilised dinosaur dung around their necks and dangling from their ears!!!!
An amazing book that teaches children in a fun and exciting way whilst educating them too.
From information on boardgames, cutlery, potato crisps to toothpaste, hair gel, and the globe. This book has many random and unusual facts about each. In fact it covers 50 different subject areas.
Alongside the factual information on each item there are amusing facts and amazing illustrations. The text is never boring and is written to the right level and in an easy to understand manner without belittling the reader.
Each double page contains a different subject matter. My favourite has to be 'Jewellery Box' and the fact that Victorians wore Coprolite jewellery which actually meant they had fossilised dinosaur dung around their necks and dangling from their ears!!!!
An amazing book that teaches children in a fun and exciting way whilst educating them too.
March 17, 2023
From the alarm clock to the toilet, the amazing history of things you use every day!
I never thought history could be so fun! Over the course of only a couple of weeks, I read a few pages each night before bed and soon learned lots of new fun facts, some of which both impressed and surprised me! Jenner has written an interesting and exciting book full of shocks and things you never knew.
Discover how cereal came to be and what were classified as beds in the Stone Age, the weird and painful history of soap, and the bike style in the "olden days"! I highly recommend this book and I think it's a great way to introduce younger people to history and show them that not all history is boring!!
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
I never thought history could be so fun! Over the course of only a couple of weeks, I read a few pages each night before bed and soon learned lots of new fun facts, some of which both impressed and surprised me! Jenner has written an interesting and exciting book full of shocks and things you never knew.
Discover how cereal came to be and what were classified as beds in the Stone Age, the weird and painful history of soap, and the bike style in the "olden days"! I highly recommend this book and I think it's a great way to introduce younger people to history and show them that not all history is boring!!
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
December 22, 2023
Aimed at young children, maybe pre teens?, I didn’t realise this when I bought it. I liked Jenners 50 Question’s book and thus bought this.
I’m still glad I bought it - audio book- despite it narrating effectively for a very youthful audience with some sound noise effects.
It follows life from waking up to going to school to going to bed and profiles in each chapter the history of everyday objects in your day eg shoes, bathing, pillows, games, clocks, toothbrushes etc etc.
It’s easy to dip in and dip out but overall an enjoyable insight into the historical context of our daily life and thus our place in history.
Very accessible to general public.
I’m still glad I bought it - audio book- despite it narrating effectively for a very youthful audience with some sound noise effects.
It follows life from waking up to going to school to going to bed and profiles in each chapter the history of everyday objects in your day eg shoes, bathing, pillows, games, clocks, toothbrushes etc etc.
It’s easy to dip in and dip out but overall an enjoyable insight into the historical context of our daily life and thus our place in history.
Very accessible to general public.
September 10, 2023
Really enjoyed this history of everyday objects! I have been reading it both alone and with a ten year old who enjoyed it just as much as me! It's funny, interesting and informative. A great book and a great gift too!
November 8, 2022
Entertaining history of everyday objects from toilets, beds, wet weather clothing to toothbrushes, computer games and chocolate. Great illustrations too.
January 22, 2023
Aimed at tougher readers, and cover a lot of the same ground as Million Years in Day, but still pretty good. Jenner's focus on the history of taken-for-granted objects is always interesting.
February 25, 2023
This is how you teach history and make it 10-fold more interesting!
July 18, 2023
Very interesting and great illustrations!
November 10, 2023
Funny facts and pretty illustrations...
January 3, 2024
fun to read with my kids we all love history we all love Greg Jenner
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews