This companion book to the hugely popular podcast of the same name, The Rest Is History with historians and podcast hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, cheekily explains curious and weird moments in human history. This official tie-in book, which includes witty introductions from both Holland and Sandbrook, is a wacky collection of historical musings, charts, wildly random Top 10 lists, and illustrations by Adam Doughty that are as irreverent as they are hilarious (just like the podcast).
With no rhyme or reason for their entries, Holland and Sandbrook are charming tour guides from ancient times, ranging from a choose-your-own-adventure piece on Sparta to "The (Movie) Making of Ronald Reagan"--and a whole lot in between. Fans of the podcast will love the arch wit Holland and Sandbrook bring to the writing. The authors briefly present the topics in a variety of imaginative ways: for example, readers will learn about the Tudors through the lens of a Succession episode guide in "Tudor Succession Season Two," while "Rasputin's Autopsy" reads as a faux autopsy report that pokes fun at the fallible conspiracy theories surrounding the life, death, and legend of the mystic.
Funny and, at times, frivolous, The Rest Is History should not be confused with a "real" history book but rather savored for the utter glee Holland and Sandbrook bring to their disparate subjects and topics. Laughter and chuckles abound, making this a jolly, informative read for the history fan and neophyte alike. --Peggy Kurkowski, book reviewer and copywriter in Denver