Interesting, short anecdotes on a number of different topics. A bit uneven and a little too jokey for my taste.

Cabinet of Curiosities is a fascinating and well curated collection of weird/odd/macabre history tidbits presented by Aaron Mahnke. Released 12th Nov 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Although a bit chaotic in organization (intentional, on the part of the curator, as it happens), this book is absolutely *packed* with the sort of interesting (sometimes *odd*) party trivia which will boost readers' performance at pub trivia nights as well as potentially enhance their allure at cocktail parties.

The entries run the gamut from American history to war to true crime. Each entry is a few pages at most and contains lots of minutiae and background info. Some will be familiar to most readers, much of it will likely be new. This is emphatically not an in-depth book. There are few annotations, and the author presents information sourced heavily from Wikipedia (which is *fine* but generally can't be regarded as rigorous). Still, it's a fun ride.

The sound-effects enhanced unabridged audiobook runs 12 hours 58 minutes and is read by the author (and guest). He reads engagingly and well and has a chatty mid-America folksy accent. Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read, and the soundtrack does a lot to enhance the experience.

Four stars. It would make an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gifting purposes.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I was disappointed with how short the stories were in Cabinet of Curiosities. Knowing how Manke lays out his podcast episodes and the tv series episodes, I was expecting shorter stories, but definitely not this short. However, if you are looking to skim the surface to find a story you might be interested in, this would make a great coffee table book since the stories are so short and sweet.

Wikipedia is referenced quite often, which surprised me, as I would have assumed more reputable sources would have been used.

All in all, if you’re looking to skim some very interesting stories, or only read a page or two a day, this book is great.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with an audio copy of the book for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings expressed are my own.

I was so excited when I saw that Aaron Mahnke was putting out a book based on one of his podcasts. I really got into podcasts during COVID but have dropped off of listening to them in recent years. Cabinet of Curiosities was one of my favorites because I loved the bite size information that you got in each episode and if you wanted to look into anything more you could.

Since it has been a while most of these stories were new to me, what I really appreciated is that there are some of the stories that are completely new and are only in the book for now. Plus some of the dad jokes to sign off of each story were amazing.

If you like learning about new things and want to consume it in small chunks this is the book for you.

This was an entertaining supplement to Aaron Mahnke's podcasts. I think I personally prefer Lore to Cabinet of Curiosities since it focuses more on urban legends and the supernatural, but I really enjoyed the trivia and historical facts in this book. Cabinet of Curiosities would make for a great coffee table book or a game book to quiz your family and friends on their knowledge of random historical events. If you need to study for trivia night, this is the perfect book.

This was interesting, it reminded me of fact books from when I was a kid. I think it is a book for people who like to pick up a book read a story and put it down. A casual read if such a thing exists. To read it all from start to finish is a bit to much.

I liked this book. It was very interesting and the anecdotes were cleverly written. I did not finish it though. I do still want to read this book but I'd rather read a physical copy so I can see all of the photos and illustrations. I plan on trying to get this book from my library. I would definitely recommend this book to those that are interested in quirky history.

**Review: *Cabinet of Curiosities* by Aaron Mahnke – A Delightfully Strange Journey Through the Unbelievable**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

Aaron Mahnke has made a name for himself by digging up the strange, eerie, and unexpected corners of history, and *Cabinet of Curiosities* is no exception. Drawing from his popular podcast of the same name, this collection of bizarre historical oddities, uncanny coincidences, and unsettling tales offers readers a fascinating tour through the weird and wonderful. Whether you’re a fan of Mahnke’s previous work or just someone with an insatiable curiosity for the obscure, this book is an absolute treat.

Much like a real cabinet of curiosities, the book is a collection of short, digestible stories, each showcasing an unusual event, person, or mystery from history. The range is impressive—one moment you’re learning about a stowaway dog that became a war hero, and the next, you’re diving into the origins of the croissant or the strange fate of Abraham Lincoln’s son. Mahnke presents each tale with the perfect mix of historical research, engaging storytelling, and a dash of dramatic flair, keeping readers hooked from one story to the next.

The book’s format is one of its greatest strengths. The stories are quick, making this an ideal read for picking up in short bursts or binging in a single sitting. It’s perfect for trivia lovers, history buffs, and anyone who enjoys collecting obscure knowledge to impress (or mildly annoy) friends. While many of the stories have a playful, almost Ripley’s Believe It or Not! vibe, Mahnke also touches on the macabre and unsettling, reminding us that history is often stranger—and darker—than fiction.

If there’s one minor drawback, it’s that some stories feel a bit too polished, with punchline-style endings that lean more into entertainment than deep historical analysis. Those looking for a more in-depth historical examination may find the book a little light, but for what it sets out to do—entertain, intrigue, and spark curiosity—it excels.

**Final Verdict:** *Cabinet of Curiosities* is a thoroughly entertaining and well-crafted collection of historical oddities that will delight fans of Mahnke’s work and newcomers alike. It’s a book you’ll want to keep on your shelf to revisit whenever you need a quick dose of the unusual. Highly recommended for lovers of weird history, trivia, and the delightfully bizarre.

Real Rating: 3.75* of five

Fun trivia book. I don't listen to Mahnke's podcast but this definitely makes me understand why people do, with his engaging, personable affect, and the combination of infotainment and attractive design.

Sourced anecdotes largely point you to Wikipedia, some are not *quite* as presented here (lookin' at you Saqqara-bird story) but honestly...you'd buy this as a giftie for the nibling who's a <I>Jeopardy!</I>-watcher and they'd enjoy debunking the stuff as much as anything.

I did not download this book in time to read it so I am unable to provide feedback. I regret that I missed the opportunity to read this book. Perhaps I will now purchase it!

I was originally drawn to Cabinet of Curiosities because I'm always a sucker for knowledge, in any dose. Stories of strange or interesting coincidences are always a great inspiration for a new story or a trip down a research rabbit hole that will lead to fun conversations with friends or family.

The book opens with stories of coincidence and things that make you go hmmmm. I found that although a handful I had heard before, most of the introductory tales were relatively unknown and as someone who is an avid reader, I found this refreshing. However, as the book progressed, some of the tales took on more of a skeptical or supernatural take. A few were even easily debunked as being blatantly false which soured me a bit on the remaining stories. I am of a very scientific mind, so although I can appreciate weird coincidences, I have a difficult time with supernatural or supernatural leaning events being reported as fact without any other alternative explanation. Items that have been discovered in antiquity that claim to be of advanced tech when in reality the knowledge and advancement of most ancient civilizations was quite vast and so much of that knowledge had been lost or destroyed due to conquests, natural disasters, and the like. To automatically suggest time traveling, aliens, or other unearthly explanations removes credibility in my eyes.

Overall, this was a fun "bathroom read" as my generation used to call it before the advent of smart phones. It is something easy to pick up and read a few stories while in a waiting room or at night before bed. Although interesting and thought provoking, I would take some of the more speculative stories with a grain of salt and categorize them more as legends than actual fact as stories, whether oral or written accounts can always be exaggerated.

Recommended for fans of history and weird, but true (ish) tales.

Thank you to NetGalley, Aaron Mahnke, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️
ℂ𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕥 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕖𝕤
𝗔𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗻𝗸𝗲

The author created the podcast Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities and now he’s put some of these stories in writing.

This is a collection of short stories. Some were fascinating, others didn’t interest me. It was nice to be able to skip around and read them when I had a few extra moments in my day. In fact, I preferred reading it this way.

The book is full of puns meant to entertain. In my opinion, there were too many of them. It made reading one story after another a bit tedious which is why I read one here and there.

The stories are quick and easy to read. I’m sure most readers could find stories that intrigue them among the many offered in this book. Some are more well known than others.

I’d like to check out this podcast to compare it to the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for providing this ebook for me to read and review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

I normally like weird fact books, but I think I'm just not a fan of Mahnke's writing style. Each one is written as a brief story, and he tends to leave out one piece of info until the very end as a surprise twist. Especially when it refers to famous people, he'll call them by a middle name or legal name until the reveal. It got annoying really quick, especially when I'm already familiar with a lot of these stories. These stories are fascinating on their own, it doesn't need a little 'gotcha!' moment to spice it up.

This is the perfect mental break for your brain! Multiple short stories that have the most interesting quirks and twists. Written by Aaron Mahnke of the popular podcast "Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities", there's sure to be things you would never learn anywhere else.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I was a kid, I loved getting my hands on the Guiness books of world records and Ripley's Believe it or Not collections. This Cabinet of Curiosities book caught my attention.
I received a copy from the author Aaron Mahnke with Harry Marks from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This is my own opinion of the book.

There is a truly amazing collection of historical stories here from bizarre or fascinating things to creepy happenings about U.S. Presidents, brave, (or nutty) people, heroes, animals and events. The book has been organized into several categories including Places, True Crime. Inventions, Death Defying and more.
There were some that had me saying, "oh wow" for sure. I liked the book as a whole. There were some stories that were summed up with some cornball humor for my taste, but I still gave it a 4 for very interesting content.

Cabinet of Curiosities is a collection of unique stories that happened and you do not want to miss. Each story in this had me intriguted andthe stories were so interesting to learn. The author did a great job writing this and it was an easy read. I am looking forward to listening to the authors podcast now, which is what the book is based off. Overall, this was such a fascinating read that I highly enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who loves non fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this read in exchange of my honest review of Cabinet of Curiosities by Aaron Mahnke.

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

this book was just meh. I think the author tried to hard to make his reveal for the stories surprising but honestly it felt a bit childish. it was like reading the phrase “bond, james bond” over and over again. I also have issue with using wikipedia has a source for a non-fiction book, i’m very surprised that was allowed.

This was exciting and kept my attention! Very interesting and odd little vigentes that were organized in a way that was easy to follow. Learned a lot and was entertained!

A fun collection of some very interesting snippets/stories. It definitely piqued my interest and I enjoyed it quite a lot. I do wish some more details or information was added, I want to know more.

These are fun anecdotes, but I wish that Aaron Mahnke had delved deeper into these topics in a way that didn't necessarily make them longer but revealed some facts that I couldn't just glean from Wikipedia (which, based on the source list, Mahnke relied on heavily).