| Author/Contributor(s): | Panati, Charles |
| Publisher: | William Morrow Paperbacks |
| Date: | 10/17/1989 |
| Binding: | Paperback |
| Condition: | NEW |
Uncover the surprising history behind the ordinary objects of daily life, from kitchen accidents to ancient superstitions.
Panati tracks these oddities across thousands of years of human habit--tracing forks to eleventh-century Tuscan tables and dry matches to an apothecary's accidental scrape. He reveals how common superstitions, such as the fear of black cats, arose as practical defenses against misfortune.
The volume uncovers the curious lore behind household routine--linking birthday candles to Greek moon worship and the umbrella to ancient Roman sunshades.
For lovers of facts, students of popular culture, history buffs, and science enthusiasts, the fascinating stories behind 500 everyday items, expressions, and customs--from Kleenex to steak sauce, Barbie Dolls to honeymoons.
- Inventions: Discover how kitchen blunders and laboratory accidents produced staples like the potato chip at a Saratoga resort and the microwave born beside a radar tube.
- Ancient Customs: Trace familiar rituals to their surprising roots, detailing how Etruscans consulted sacred hens on an alphabet board to invent the wishbone tradition.
- History of Science: Explore wartime research breakthroughs that went awry, such as the failed rubber substitute of boric acid and silicone that became Silly Putty.
- Social History: Learn how sanitation crises reshaped the home, showing how watchmaker Alexander Cumming designed the first stink trap to seal out sewer fumes.
- Popular Culture: Unpack the peculiar stories behind childhood icons, revealing how a political cartoon of Theodore Roosevelt sparing a bear cub launched an enduring toy craze.