Pamela G. reviewed The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody: Great Figures of History Hilariously Humbled on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Will Cuppy's writing is so funny and smart. This is a wonderful light read, perfect for travel. I'm so glad Barnes & Noble trotted this gem back out for us whippersnappers who weren't around when it came out in 1950.
Kayote B. (kayote) reviewed The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody: Great Figures of History Hilariously Humbled on + 254 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
The book got off to a very poor start. The ancient folks, Egyptian and Greek mainly, were not funny, were lame, and when it was written came through in the comments about women.
It did get better. Once he reached the Romans & later the humor actually appeared. If I'd had another book along I would have quit reading after the first few folks, and that would have been too harsh a judgment of the book. Still not spectacular, but enjoyable.
The footnotes continued to be irritating. I understand why he did it, it helped in poking fun at the style of scholarly writing he mimicking...it still got annoying to have to keep looking down. Too many short footnotes--I would rather more of the long ones--those were entertaining and not as disruptive to reading.
So, some of it was entertaining. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I knew a bit more about the people in question so I could more easily pick out what was real (but presented amusingly) and what was just being made up. I'm certain some of the latter was running around!
It did get better. Once he reached the Romans & later the humor actually appeared. If I'd had another book along I would have quit reading after the first few folks, and that would have been too harsh a judgment of the book. Still not spectacular, but enjoyable.
The footnotes continued to be irritating. I understand why he did it, it helped in poking fun at the style of scholarly writing he mimicking...it still got annoying to have to keep looking down. Too many short footnotes--I would rather more of the long ones--those were entertaining and not as disruptive to reading.
So, some of it was entertaining. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I knew a bit more about the people in question so I could more easily pick out what was real (but presented amusingly) and what was just being made up. I'm certain some of the latter was running around!
Karin A. (Jerseygirltoo) -
Helpful Score: 2
Amusing, but it helps if you already know something about ancient history to get the jokes.
