Amazing true stories about Shakespeare, Hiawatha, Homer, George Washington, and more. If you like to think of Shakespeare only as a brilliant bard, or prefer only to know Pythagoras by his math skills, then you might want to put this book down. Seriously. Because this book is about to change your idea of history. But if you like a little controversy, or want to impress your parents and friends with some little-known tidbits of historical drama, then Famous Phonies: Legends, Fakes, and Frauds Who Changed History is for you. Over the centuries, plenty of scandals, swindles, and skeletons have passed under history’s radar and missed out on being included in your textbook. (We’re looking at you, George “I cannot tell a lie” Washington.) Some of the biggest names in history can be found between these pages—and the light isn’t flattering. These figures are lucky that prime-time TV and all-access internet didn’t exist in Ancient Greece, Renaissance Europe, medieval England, or Revolutionary America, or else they could have kissed their sterling reputations goodbye. Famous Phonies: Legends, Fakes, and Frauds Who Changed History explores the underbelly of history, making you question everything you thought you knew about history’s finest. Follow the fake lives of these twelve history-changers to uncover the fabrications of the famous and the should-be-famous! So, if you can handle it, take a peek at inside. Some of the famous “phonies” covered in this book include: George Washington Pythagoras Hiawatha Gilgamesh Confucius Major William Martin William Shakespeare Pope Joan Homer Prester John Huangdi The Turk

Questioning why Americans remain uneasy at the End of History, contends that we are blighted by the construction of a phony culture dominated by the value of the confidence man, and demonstrates America's transformation into this culture of artifice, where the practices of confidence tend to make everything and everybody into a phony. The author explores the various dimensions of American cultural phoniness, ranging over phony language, phony people, phony places and things, phony events, phony deals, and phony politics. Paper edition (unseen), $18.95. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This award-winning book for reluctant readers is a fascinating collection of remarkable deaths--and not for the faint of heart. Over the course of history, men and women have lived and died. In fact, getting sick and dying can be a big, ugly mess--especially before the modern medical care that we all enjoy today. From King Tut's ancient autopsy to Albert Einstein's great brain escape, How They Croaked contains all the gory details of the awful ends of nineteen awfully famous people. Don't miss the companion, How They Choked!

The Catcher in the Rye," written by J.D. Salinger and published in 1951, is a classic American novel that explores the themes of adolescence, alienation, and identity through the eyes of its protagonist, Holden Caulfield. The novel is set in the 1950s and follows Holden, a 16-year-old who has just been expelled from his prep school, Pencey Prep. Disillusioned with the world around him, Holden decides to leave Pencey early and spend a few days alone in New York City before returning home. Over the course of these days, Holden interacts with various people, including old friends, a former teacher, and strangers, all the while grappling with his feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction. Holden is deeply troubled by the "phoniness" of the adult world and is haunted by the death of his younger brother, Allie, which has left a lasting impact on him. He fantasizes about being "the catcher in the rye," a guardian who saves children from losing their innocence by catching them before they fall off a cliff into adulthooda. The novel ends with Holden in a mental institution, where he is being treated for a nervous breakdown. He expresses some hope for the future, indicating a possible path to recovery..

Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes, epic failures even lead to super successes . . . sometimes they become deep dark secrets. But remember-to fail is human, to laugh about our shortcomings divine. From Montezuma II's mistaking a conqueror for a god to Isaac Newton turning from science to alchemy to J. Bruce Ismay's jumping the lifeboat line on the Titanic, How They Choked knocks fourteen famous achievers off their pedestals to reveal the human side of history. Successful “failures” include: Marco Polo Queen Isabella of Spain Montezuma II Ferdinand Magellan Anne Boleyn Isaac Newton Benedict Arnold Susan B. Anthony George Armstrong Custer Thomas Alva Edison Vincent Van Gogh J. Bruce Ismay “Shoeless Joe” Jackson Amelia M. Earhart

Dramatic True Tales of Thomas Edison, Catherine the Great, Boss Tweed, Queen Elizabeth I, and More What do Mother Theresa, Honest Abe, and Mahatma Gandhi have in common? They’re all too upstanding to be included in Thrilling Thieves: Liars, Cheats, and Cons who Changed History. Sure, you’ll find some familiar faces like Queen Elizabeth I and Thomas Edison in here, but you’ll learn that behind their angelic smiles were cunning con artists who stole their way to gold, glory, and greatness. Follow the twisting trail of twelve troublemakers to learn what really made the Mona Lisa the most iconic painting in the world, meet the most powerful pirate from history (it’s probably not who you’re expecting), and watch empires rise and fall with the theft of a simple tea plant. Turns out our world owes a lot to those who dabble on the dark side. If you’re not scared of crooks, cons, and criminals, take a peek at this new side of history. Tales of twelve troublemakers inside include: The Venetians Francisco Pizarro Queen Elizabeth I Catherine the Great Madame Cheng Robert Fortune Robert Smalls William Tweed Thomas Edison Vincenzo Peruggia Klaus Fuchs

"Stealthy secrets & devious data that will test your lie detector!"--Cover.