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10 Mistakes That Changed History

The Reckless Rules and Disastrous Decisions That Have Changed Our World
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( 225 ratings, 26 reviews)
Brief Description
A comic tour of history's greatest mistakes and how they have shaped our world, packed with reckless rulers, hare-brained plans, monumental mistakes and disastrous accidents. From breakups that ended empires to naps that sank ships, 10 Mistakes That Changed History is a hilarious retelling of the... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3000
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A comic tour of history's greatest mistakes and how they have shaped our world, packed with reckless rulers, hare-brained plans, monumental mistakes and disastrous accidents.

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

A comic tour of history's greatest mistakes and how they have shaped our world, packed with reckless rulers, hare-brained plans, monumental mistakes and disastrous accidents.

From breakups that ended empires to naps that sank ships, 10 Mistakes That Changed History is a hilarious retelling of the overlooked historical errors that have shaped our world.

Featuring many of the biggest characters and events in history, from Cleopatra to the sinking of the Titanic, comedian and historian Paul Coulter reframes our understanding of these pivotal moments.

Packed full of surprising facts and funny stories, this is the greatest hits of bad leadership decisions, misguided acts of heroism and mankind's most catastrophic lapses of judgement. All with monumental consequences.

Praise for the hit live show:
Top pick of the Edinburgh Fringe 2024, credited as one of the best shows by Scottish Herald, Mervyn Stutter and the Edinburgh Reporter.

'So engaging and entertaining that forgot I was there to review it.' Theatre Weekly

'Entertaining and informative.' Edinburgh Reporter

'The perfect balance between entertaining and educating.' Corr Blimey

'Coulter cleverly weaves the well-researched facts with modern day parallels; turning historical figures into relatable misfits.' Glam Adelaide

'Coulter's storytelling unmatched, and his references to current pop culture relevant and hilarious.' Edinburgh Fringe Review

'Infectiously charming.' LondonTheatre1

'A hilarious blend of storytelling, facts and comedy.' On the Record

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781804996485

Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 August 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin (Transworld)

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 200.0mm

Weight: 186g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Paul Coulter is a British comedian and historian based in Sydney, Australia. Paul is the writer and performer behind the Edinburgh Festival Fringe smash-hit, sell-out historical storytelling comedy show 5 Mistakes That Changed History. The show was a huge hit on the comedy festival circuit, selling out two years in a row at both the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2023 and 2024. Popular with both history-loving audiences and critics alike, 5 Mistakes That Changed History received fantastic reviews and was named one of the 'Picks of the Fringe'. Originally from Dorset, Paul is a history fanatic and read history at University College London. In 2025, Paul will be bringing his unique blend of history, storytelling and comedy to major comedy and history festivals around the world.

Also by Paul Coulter

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  • 10 Mistakes That Changed History
    A comic tour of history's greatest mistakes and how they have shaped our world, packed with reckless rulers, hare-brained plans, monumental mistakes, and disastrous accidents. We all make mistakes, but rarely do they change the course of human history. From break-ups that ended empires to naps that sank ships, 10 Mistakes That Changed History is the hilarious retelling of some...
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