Bad Days in History
National Geographic author Michael Farquhar assembles 365 accounts of bad luck, epic misfortune, and mayhem, each tied to a specific day of the year. The book collects historical episodes ranging from Caligula's blood-soaked end to hotelier Steve Wynn's unfortunate encounter with a priceless Picasso. It also recounts lost fortunes such as the would-be Apple investor who pulled out in 1977 and missed a $30 billion-dollar windfall.
Other entries recount romance gone wrong, including a 16th-century Shah who experimented with an early form of Viagra with empire-changing results, alongside truly bizarre moments like the Great Molasses Flood of 1919. The selection spans notable people, catastrophic events, and strange coincidences.
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Book details
- Publisher
- National Geographic
- Publication date
- April 18, 2017
- Print length
- 480 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN
- 9781426218071
Trivia
What to Know Before Reading Bad Days in History
A day-by-day collection of mishaps, pairing a calendar structure with historical anecdotes. Much of the setup centers on concrete people and events, including political figures, business decisions, and accidental disasters. The book emphasizes bad luck, lost fortunes, failed romances, and bizarre incidents rather than speculative or supernatural causes. This may appeal more to someone who likes compact historical trivia and daily curiosities tied to specific dates.
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About the author
Michael Farquhar
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