Customer Reviews

Milton's Teeth and Ovid's Umbrella: Curiouser and Curiouser Adventures in History

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was fortunate enough to get Prof. Olmert at Univ of MD...an excellent lecturer whose great sense of humor and wit comes through this book.

He delves into the origins of football, what does toothbrushes have to do with industrial revolution...and my personal favorite chapter - how horse-racing influenced fashion...!

A definite read for anyone who likes history, the origin of commonplace items, or the trivia afficinado!

Michael Olmert provides an entertaining and educational glimpse into the history of everyday events and items. As a student of his I found his writing unique and inspiring, this book is a must have.

If you are interested in one particular subject, then this book is a good starting place for scholars that can use the bibliographical references. Olmert's style of writing is easy to understand and he offers the reader a wealth of interesting tidbits. For those who love trivia, this book is for you.

Olmert has a way of writing which hooks you right away; by the time
you look up you realize you've been reading it all day. It's a
refreshing way to read history!

Olmert has a unique style and wit that begs for more and more adventures! His historical insights are a real treat for all ages.

Filled with delightful insights and food for the imagination, Olmert's book highlights the path of man's ingenuity. Addictive and astute read.

Olmert's choppy writing style and tangents make this book completely undesirable. The text always seems to stray away from what the reader would expect and WANT. For instance, being a major baseball fan, I went straight to that section upon opening the book. However, all that is there is an explanation of the term "texas leaguer" (not something even die-hard baseball fans really care about - I mean c'mon, don't be TOO specific).