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Bestseller
BestsellerE-book
Author Patrick, Bethanne, author.

Title An uncommon history of common things / [Bethanne Patrick and John Thompson].

Publication Info. Washington, District of Columbia : National Geographic, 2009.
Boston, Massachusetts : Credo Reference, 2015.

Item Status

Edition [Enhanced Credo edition]
Description 1 online resource (64 entries) ; digital files
Physical Medium polychrome
Description text file
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references.
Contents Foreword -- About this book -- Food & Drink: Daily fare -- On the side -- Beverages -- Snacks -- Sweets -- Utensils & containers -- Seasons & Holidays: Spring -- Summer -- Fall -- Winter -- Ceremony & customs: Courtesies -- Weddings -- Babies -- Funerals -- All-American -- Symbols & Markings : Gestures -- Signs -- Superstitions -- Tributes -- Hair & body markings -- Hearth & Home: Buildings -- Houses -- Rooms -- Elements -- Appliances -- Backyard -- Garments & Accessories: Clothing -- Underwear -- Headwear -- Footwear -- Fasteners -- Accessories -- Laundry -- Medications & potions: Hygiene -- Beautification -- Health -- First aid -- Toys & Games: Old-fashioned fun -- Classic games -- Sports -- Classic toys -- Other pastimes -- Tools & Innovations: Tools -- Communication -- Transportation -- Observation -- Weapons -- Medicine -- Economy -- Further reading.
Access Access restricted to authorized users and institutions.
Summary From hand tools to holidays to weapons to washing machines, "An Uncommon History of Common Things" features hundreds of colorful illustrations, timelines, sidebars, and more as it explores just about every subject under the sun. It is a freewheeling reference to hundreds of customs, notions, and inventions that reflect human ingenuity throughout history. Who knew that indoor plumbing has been around for 4,600 years, but punctuation, capital letters, and the handy spaces between written words only date back to the Dark Ages? Or that ancient soldiers baked a kind of pizza on their shields--when they weren't busy flying kites to frighten their foes? Every page of this quirky compendium catalogs something fascinating, surprising, or serendipitous. A lively, incomparably browsable read for history buffs, pop culture lovers, and anyone who relishes the odd and extraordinary details hidden in the everyday, it will inform, amuse, astonish--and alter the way you think about the clever creatures we call humans.
Form Also available in print.
System Details Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Local Note Credo Reference.
Credo Reference General Reference
Subject Civilization -- Miscellanea.
Civilization -- Miscellanea.
Civilization.
Civilization -- Chronology.
Genre/Form Chronologies.
Subject Technological innovations -- Miscellanea.
Technological innovations.
Genre/Form Trivia and miscellanea.
Subject Inventions -- Miscellanea.
Inventions -- Miscellanea.
United States -- Civilization -- Miscellanea.
United States.
United States -- Civilization -- Chronology.
Genre/Form Electronic books.
Trivia and miscellanea.
Chronologies.
Added Author Thompson, John M. (John Milliken), 1959- author.
Credo Reference (Firm), distributor.
Other Form: Print version: 1426204205 9781426204203 (DLC) 2008040447 303 pages : illustrations (chiefly color)
ISBN 9781426204203 hardback
1426204205 hardback
9781426204210 deluxe
1426204213 deluxe
9781784029876 electronic version