The Origins of Everyday Things

The Origins of Everyday Things
Author: Ruth Binney
Publisher: Reader's Digest Association
Total Pages: 346
Release: 1999
Genre: History
ISBN:

"The Origins of Everyday Things" traces the evolution of customs, manners, and commonplace objects through the twists and turns of time to uncover their history-making roots.

Origin of Everyday Things

Origin of Everyday Things
Author: Johnny Acton
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
Total Pages: 332
Release: 2006
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 9781402743023

Describes the origins of over 400 everyday items, arranged in alphabetical order.

Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things

Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things
Author: Charles Panati
Publisher: Chartwell Books
Total Pages: 480
Release: 2016-08-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 0785834370

Relates facts and information about a host of ordinary things ranging from safety pins to negligees.

Sacred Origins of Profound Things

Sacred Origins of Profound Things
Author: Charles Panati
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 609
Release: 1996-12-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1101656077

In this enlightening and entertaining work, Charles Panati explores the origins of hundreds of religious rituals, customs, and practices in many faiths, the reasons for religious holidays and sacred symbols, and the meanings of vestments, sacraments, devotions, and prayers. Its many revelations include: * Why the Star of David became the Jewish counterpart of the Christian cross * What mortal remains of the Buddha are venerated today * How the diamond engagement ring became a standard * That the first pope was a happily married man * How Hindu thinkers arrived at their concept of reincarnation * Why Jews don't eat pork, why some Muslims don't eat certain vegetables, and how some Christians came to observe meatless Fridays Sacred Origins of Profound Things is an indispensable resource for all those interested in the history of religion and the history of ideas--and an inspiring guide to those seeking to understand their faith.

The Story Behind

The Story Behind
Author: Emily Prokop
Publisher: Mango Media Inc.
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2018-10-15
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 163353829X

Surprising history of ordinary things Learn the fascinating history and trivia you never knew about things we use daily from the host of The Story Behind podcast. Everyday objects and major events in history: Every single thing that surrounds us has a story behind it. Many of us learn the history of humans and the major inventions that shaped our world. But what you may not have learned is the history of objects we surround ourselves with every day. You might not even know how the major events in history (World Wars, ancient civilizations, revolutions, etc.) influenced the inventions of things we use today. The history and science behind the ordinary: From the creator of The Story Behind podcast comes this revelatory new book. The Story Behind will give insight into everyday objects we don’t think much about when we use them. Topics covered in the podcast will be examined in more detail along with many new fascinating topics. Learn how lollipops got started in Ancient Egypt, how podcasts were invented, and why Comic Sans was created. Learn the torture device origins of certain exercise equipment and the espionage beginnings of certain musical instruments. Ordinary things from science to art, food to sports, customs to fashion, and more are explored. Readers will: • Understand the wonders behind everyday objects • Learn truly obscure history and fun facts that will change the way they see the world • Learn how major historic events still affect us today through seemingly mundane things • Become formidable trivia masters

Sexy Origins and Intimate Things

Sexy Origins and Intimate Things
Author: Charles Panati
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Total Pages: 548
Release: 1998
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 9780140271447

Where did the word love come from? Has there ever been a gay pope? How did Valentine's Day originate? From the lascivious to the romantic, from the hard-core to the scientific and the scholarly, this engaging and eye-opening compendium of little known facts about sex is both informative and endlessly entertaining.

A Million Years in a Day

A Million Years in a Day
Author: Greg Jenner
Publisher: Macmillan
Total Pages: 369
Release: 2016-06-21
Genre: History
ISBN: 125008945X

Who invented beds? When did we start cleaning our teeth? How old are wine and beer? Which came first: the toilet seat or toilet paper? What was the first clock? Every day, from the moment our alarm clock wakes us in the morning until our head hits our pillow at night, we all take part in rituals that are millennia old. Structured around one ordinary day, A Million Years in a Day reveals the astonishing origins and development of the daily practices we take for granted. In this gloriously entertaining romp through human history, Greg Jenner explores the gradual—and often unexpected—evolution of our daily routines. This is not a story of wars, politics, or great events. Instead, Jenner has scoured Roman rubbish bins, Egyptian tombs, and Victorian sewers to bring us the most intriguing, surprising, and sometimes downright silly historical nuggets from our past. Drawn from across the world, spanning a million years of humanity, this book is a smorgasbord of historical delights. It is a history of all those things you always wondered about—and many you have never considered. It is the story of your life, one million years in the making.

The Origins of Everything in 100 Pages (More or Less)

The Origins of Everything in 100 Pages (More or Less)
Author: David Bercovici
Publisher: Yale University Press
Total Pages: 237
Release: 2016-11-22
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0300224974

Covering 13.8 billion years in some 100 pages, a concise, wryly intelligent history of everything, from the Big Bang to the advent of human civilization. With wonder, wit, and flair—and in record time and space—geophysicist David Bercovici explains how everything came to be everywhere, from the creation of stars and galaxies to the formation of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, to the origin of life and human civilization. Bercovici marries humor and legitimate scientific intrigue, rocketing readers across nearly fourteen billion years and making connections between the essential theories that give us our current understanding of topics as varied as particle physics, plate tectonics, and photosynthesis. Bercovici’s unique literary endeavor is a treasure trove of real, compelling science and fascinating history, providing both science lovers and complete neophytes with an unforgettable introduction to the fields of cosmology, geology, genetics, climate science, human evolution, and more. “For determined minds hoping for cogent, clever explanations for what we know of the history of the universe, Bercovici nails it.” —Shelf Awareness “Explaining life, the universe and everything in 100 pages may be a tall order, but physicist and volcano enthusiast Bercovici rises to the challenge. . . . Origins delivers on its promise—and (bonus!) it’s even fun to read.” —Discover “Clear, concise, comprehensive, and written with verve and a sense of humor, The Origins of Everything is a delightful journey through time from the big bang to the present day.” —Doug Macdougall, author of Frozen Earth