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A Short History of the World in 50 Failures

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Brief Description
Explore the failures, mistakes and missed opportunities that shaped history in this new entry in the bestselling series. From the botched attempt to create a life-extending elixir that produced gunpowder, to the unsuccessful stint in medical school which led to a career in naturalism for Charles... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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A Short History of the World in 50 Failures

A fascinating and entertaining alternative history of the world told through fifty of the greatest failures, catastrophes and missed opportunities ever to occur.

A fascinating and entertaining alternative history of the world told through fifty of the greatest failures, catastrophes and missed opportunities ever to occur.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Explore the failures, mistakes and missed opportunities that shaped history in this new entry in the bestselling series.

From the botched attempt to create a life-extending elixir that produced gunpowder, to the unsuccessful stint in medical school which led to a career in naturalism for Charles Darwin, to the missile detection system malfunction that almost sparked a nuclear war, the course of human history has so often been shaped by failures of all magnitudes.

In fifty bite-sized chapters spanning thousands of years, A Short History of the World in 50 Failures details how the world as we know it has been defined by plans gone awry, opportunities not seized upon and schemes that were always fated to end in catastrophe.

Whether it’s the pharaoh Akhenaten’s misplaced attempt to found a new religion or Napoleon’s doomed invasion of Russia, discover a fascinating collection of outsized tales and historical snafus that created the world as we know it today.

Series: A Short History of the World

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781789297089

Publisher: Michael O'Mara Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 December 2024

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Michael O'Mara Books Ltd

Illustration: B/w line drawings throughout

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 178.0mm

Weight: 230g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Ben Gazur is a freelance writer and author specializing in history, folklore and science. He has written for outlets including the Guardian, the BBC, All About History and Fortean Times. His books cover everything from Epicurus to history’s strangest deaths and British food folklore.

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