Napoleon's Hemorrhoids: And Other Small Events that Changed History

ISBN: 1510744401

Author: Mason, Phil

Condition: New

New York Times Bestseller! A compendium about tiny ripples that created big waves in history. What was Hitlers real name? Which famous artist was mistakenly thought to be stillborn, until his uncle revived him by blowing cigar smoke in his face? And what were Albert Einsteins last words?Hilarious, fascinating, and a roller coaster of dizzying historical what-ifs and lesser-known anecdotes, Napoleons Hemorrhoids is a potpourri for serious historians and casual history buffs that reveals how much of history turned out to be the consequences of fortune, accident, or luck.Here, youll learn that Communist jets were two minutes away from opening fire on American planes during the Cuban missile crisis, when they had to turn back as they were running out of fuel. Youll discover that before the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleons painful hemorrhoids prevented him from mounting his horse to survey the battlefield. Youll learn that Nixons White House taping system was accidentally revealed by an aide, causing his downfall in the Watergate scandal. Youll discover how Coca-Colas most famous advertisement, launched in 1971 was inspired by an unplanned all-night layover at an Irish airport.(And . . . no one actually knows Einsteins last words. They were in German, a language his nurse did not speak.)A treasure trove of astonishing anecdotes about the tiny ripples that created big waves in history, Napoleons Hemorrhoids reveals how our most famous incidents, best-loved works of art, and most accepted historical outcomes are simply twists of fate.