A million years in a day a curious history of everyday life from the Stone Age to the phone age

"Who invented beds? When did we start cleaning our teeth? How old are wine and beer? Which came first: the toilet seat or toilet paper? What was the first clock? Every day, from the moment our alarm clock wakes us in the morning until our head hits our pillow at night, we all take part in ritua...

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Main Author: Jenner, Greg (Author)
Format: Books Print Book
Language: English
Published: New York : St. Martin's Press, 2016.
Edition: First U.S. edition.
Subjects:
Online Access: Cover image
Summary: "Who invented beds? When did we start cleaning our teeth? How old are wine and beer? Which came first: the toilet seat or toilet paper? What was the first clock? Every day, from the moment our alarm clock wakes us in the morning until our head hits our pillow at night, we all take part in rituals that are millennia old. Structured around one ordinary day, [this book] reveals the astonishing origins and development of the daily practices we take for granted. In this gloriously entertaining romp through human history, Greg Jenner explores the gradual and often unexpected evolution of our daily routines. This is not a story of politics, wars, or great events. Instead, Jenner has scoured Roman rubbish bins, Egyptian tombs, and Victorian sewers to bring us the most intriguing, surprising, and sometimes downright silly nuggets from our past. Drawn from across the world, spanning a million years of humanity, this book is a smorgasbord of historical delights. It is a history of all those things you always wondered-- and many you have never considered. It is the story of your life, one million years in the making"-- Provided by publisher.
Item Description: "Thomas Dunne Books."
Physical Description: xi, 356 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (pages 342-347) and index.
ISBN: 9781250089441
1250089441
Author Notes: Greg Jenner is a British public historian best known for his work as historical consultant and cowriter on the BBC's multi-award-winning comedy series Horrible Histories . After studying at the University of York for a BA in history and archaeology and an MA in medieval studies, Jenner has worked in the TV industry on award-winning historical documentaries, dramas, comedies, and digital interactive projects for the past eleven years. He lives in the United Kingdom.