Title: “On This Day In History, Sh!t Went Down”

Author: James Fell

Genre: Non-Fiction

Publication Date: October 10, 2023

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

“On This Day In History, Sh!t Went Down” by James Fell is a journey through history that offers readers a fresh and humorous perspective on the past. In this non-fiction book, Fell takes us on a fun ride through historical events, offering up bizarre, humorous, and often absurd recaps of various historical eras.

Fell’s writing style makes history much more easily accessible to readers of all backgrounds. The book is structured as a daily calendar, with each page featuring an event in history that occurred on that specific day. This style makes it easy to pick up and read at any time, without feeling a need to finish it all in one sitting or within a few days. I learned a lot of new information that I was not aware of as I read through the dates, which I appreciated as a big fan of history.

One of the book’s strengths is making history entertaining. The author doesn’t just retell the same old well-known stories, but instead highlights the bizarre, the scandalous, and the downright weird moments that often get overlooked in traditional history books. Eccentric historical figures, strange customs, and peculiar events are told throughout. 

I appreciate the sarcasm and language that Fell used in his retellings, but do think that this style will be off-putting for some readers. I love history, and “On This Day In History, Sh!t Went Down” excels in humor and entertainment, but I do think it’s important to note that this book isn’t meant to be a comprehensive history textbook. It’s a lighthearted romp through the past, and some readers may find themselves craving more in-depth historical analysis at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine,  Bantam for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.