The Awful Truths: Famous Myths, Hilariously Debunked [Paperback]

Brian M. Thomsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2006

ho was Mario Puzo's model for the Don Corleone character in The Godfather? Was it Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno? The infamous Salvatore Maranzano? No . . . it was Puzo's mother! Senator Joseph McCarthy was responsible for the infamous "Hollywood Blacklist," right? Well, actually . . . no, he had nothing to do with it.

Perfect for the cocktail party pundit or trivia buff, the quirky tidbits in The Awful Truths turn history, culture, sports, and entertainment upside down. The book examines some of our culture's oldest, most popular myths, and tells the fascinating, hilarious, and shocking stories behind what really happened, accompanied by funny illustrations that bring the players to life. Each truth is supported with ironclad evidence that skillfully explains how and where our misconceptions originated. Sometimes the truth hurts—but with The Awful Truths, it doesn't have to.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Verdict is in. Brian Thomsen’s The Awful Truths is guilty of being both entertaining and informative. A supreme achievement. (F. Lee Bailey )

About the Author

Brian Thomsen is the author of several books and an editor of fifteen anthologies and collections, including You Did What? He is also the author of numerous articles, ranging in topic from history to media tie-ins to religion.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060836997
• ISBN-13: 978-0060836993
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,466,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Entertaining & Amusing Book of Celebrity Anecdotes, February 28, 2007

By 

Soldier CEO (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Awful Truths: Famous Myths, Hilariously Debunked (Paperback)

This is a great book of anecdotes---amusing, informative and full of surprise and delight for a fan of history. Winston Churchill once called anecdotes "The Gleaming Toys of History" and I agree.

Author Brian Thomsen has captured a wonderful collection of modern celebrity and historical anecdotes that tell interesting and surprising facts of "the story behing the story" of famous people(ie.Joe DiMaggio), places (Ireland), and movies("It's a Wonderful Life"). His style is sharp and full of wit (dry and wet). The research is impressive.

I was especially pleased that the anecdotes are popular enough for me to tell before a wide spectrum of audiences. I give, on occassion, speeches and attend quite a few corporate dinners. This book allows me to spice up the conversation and inject interesting appropiate stories on these occasions. It has been said that "a person who can dominate a London dinner party can control the world"---this book may not allow you to control the world, but it will make your slice of it more interesting for your companions. I give this gem of a book a solid five star ranking

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unraveling Famous Myths!, December 20, 2006

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Awful Truths: Famous Myths, Hilariously Debunked (Paperback)

Quick true-or-false quiz: Johnny Cash served hard time in the slammer; Ulysses S. Grant was last in his West Point class; The phrase 'Under God' has always been part of the Pledge of Allegiance. If you answered false to all three, congratulations! If you didn't, you should pick up a copy of this book to learn the truth about Johhny C. and lots of other history and pop culture myths.

In 246 pages, author Brian Thomsen debunks over 60 popular myths ranging from St. Patrick to the Bush Administration. Along the way the reader discovers that the Alamo wasn't necessarily a heroic last stand, that Abner Doubleday didn't invent baseball, that the 'Great Escape' wasn't so great, who Mario Puzo's real-life model for Don Corleone was and so on.

Light fare but fun reading.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Awful Truths: Famous Myths, Hilariously Debunked, January 28, 2007

By 

Nancy E. Goff "Larry Goff" (Grand Rapids Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Awful Truths: Famous Myths, Hilariously Debunked (Paperback)

Some of it is "old hat" facts an educated person should have already known, some of it is "interesting gossip", and a small portion is new knowledge. It is a real "bathroom book". I have enjoyed it but probably would not give it as a gift.