The Mental Floss History of the World: An Irreverent Romp through Civilization’s Best Bits

Pop quiz! Who said what about history? History is . . . (a) more or less bunk. (b) a nightmare from which I am trying to awaken. (c) as thoroughly infected with lies as a street whore with syphilis. Match your answers: (1) Stephen Daedalus of James Joyce’s Ulysses (2) Henry Ford (3) Arthur Schopenhauer It turns out that the answer need not be bunk, nightmarish, or diseased. In the hands of mental_floss, history’s most interesting bits have been handpicked and roasted to perfection. Packed with little-known stories and outrageous—but accurate—facts, you’ll laugh yourself smarter on this joyride through 60,000 years of human civilization. Remember: just because it’s true doesn’t mean it’s boring! Now with Breaking News “If You Thought the Last Depression Was Great . . .” Answers: (a) 2 (b) 1 (c) 3