We got in the car on Sunday evening expecting to be home by 8:30 pm, 9:00 at the latest. We got home at 11:30 pm. Yeah, it took us two hours to go six miles. I wasn’t driving, I don’t think I could have made it. There was a semi-truck that caught fire and then caused a wild fire. I don’t know any more details besides – thankfully – there were no injuries and it pretty much doubled the time it takes us to get home. UGH. But, as is our thing lately we listen to books on Audible. On the way we listened to a hilarious science fiction called “The Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent.” It was performed by Adam Baldwin and was pretty funny. I really hope Larry Correia writes more and gets Adam to perform again. Since I figure not all of you are interested in science fiction that is all I will say about that one. But the other one we listened to might have a broader appeal since it has to do with history. Even though it is about history that affected us all it is not told in the same light as I am familiar with most history being told. It is presented more in the framework of relationships. So, it was more interesting to me than the stating of a person’s accomplishments. This book gives you some ideas as to why certain things are now a part of our society and history. The book is “Rivals! Frenemies Who Changed the World.” It is four short stories about real people. And it is VERY interesting.
I didn’t know that “most of our dinosaur fossils were discovered because two grown men absolutely hated each other.” Did you? This story blew my mind, I mean, I am ok with dinosaur bones, but I don’t understand the desire to own them. And by own them I don’t mean own some of them, I mean OWN THEM ALL. Own ALL of the dinosaur bones. What IS that even? And the race to be the first one to pronounce the discovery of them led to so many mistakes is the categorizing and EVERYTHING about dinosaurs for so long. I didn’t know any of this. That they started out as friends is what is amazing, then their desire to outdo the other one is what made them crazy. Who won, Cope or Marsh? Is it he who owns the most wins? Or he who named the most wins?
Then I learn that I have been saying Adidas all wrong, it is actually AhdeDAAS (AH-dee-DAHS according to Wiki). More German sounding . . . because it is German. Two brothers started making shoes in 1924, and is often the case in families, they did not agree on things. But as is not often the case in families each brother actually accused the other of being a Nazi. As you can imagine they didn’t work well together and they split with one brother formed Puma. These companies were responsible for an entire town being divided. So divided that if you were in a shop that sided with Adidas and you were wearing Puma shoes you would be refused service. It was crazy. Then as the years went on the feuding did not stop and was passed onto sons. All of this family feuding was the start of the corporate sponsoring in sports. It is incredible the lengths they went to in order to have athletes wear their shoes. I am still shaking my head. And this was family!
Then there is the story of Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots. While I may not be divulging any spoilers by saying Mary Queen of Scots ended up being beheaded, I will let you listen to the details of that beheading as it did not go smoothly. The story reminds us that royalty and politicians have behaved badly throughout history.
The last story just cements that idea as we hear about Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. The book mentions this might be “the most famous rivalry of all time”. It is an interesting story and somewhat funny (but not really) to hear that politicians have been doing the same things to each other and the public since there was such a thing. The story briefly explains how Hamilton “hindered Burr’s career and insulted his character for 15 years”. It also gives a history of duels which I was unaware of as I am only familiar with the “old west” type of duels.
I don’t really remember any of the history we were exposed to in school and I am not really interested in it so I don’t seek it out. So a lot of this was new and interesting to me. And the way it was told, read, and performed was very entertaining. If you are slightly interested in history I think you will enjoy this. I know I did. It also helped get us through the two hours of sitting and barely moving on the freeway.
Do you like to learn about history? Do you like to listen to books? Did you know any of this?
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