Some of you might remember Paul Harvey's "The Rest of the Story," a book compiled from a number of radio broadcasts in the 70's and 80's. It consisted of bite-size anecdotes of strange occurences, often featuring well-known people, or historical events. Harvey always ended the broadcast with a zinger, and said "And now you know the rest of the story." Cabinet of Curiosities took a cue from Harvey, for what is a podcast but a 21st century radio show? Mankhe also collected his podcasts and featured them in this book.
This is a book not meant to be read in one sitting. Each of his anecdotes are 2-3 pages long-perfect for reading on the train or while waiting in a doctor's office. The subjects range from premonitions, like Mark Twain experienced in his youth, to the strange history of the croissant. The offerings are entertaining and enlightening...most of the information was new to me, and I'll probably enjoy sharing his tales with others.
If you have time on your hands and want to learn some new trivia, Cabinet of Curiosities just might be the book you need. As with any cabinet, you can open it and shut it at will without losing time or your train of thought. And now you know the rest of the story.

This book is a compilation of short historical “did you know” narratives about a wide range of people, events and creatures. Many of these I had read elsewhere, so I found myself skimming over several chapters as it was not new information. For those who have not either listened to the author’s podcast series or read about the contents of the book, you will find it informative and an interesting read.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

Random coincidences and strange attractions almost seem commonplace in the pages of this book. Podcaster Aaron Mahnke tells hundreds of short stories reminiscent of Ripley's Believe it or Not, including everything from mind-reading horses to the time American troops nearly nuked North Carolina.

There's something about these stories that's inherently fascinating, making it impossible to turn away. I could have done without the rambling intros to many of these stories, and the way Mahnke dramatically withholds a key fact until the very end is sometimes aggravating (because then I need to go back and re-read the story to appreciate just how strange it is). This book is a fun coffee-table volume or a pleasant way to spend a few minutes waiting for the taxi. It's mostly clean and generally not horrific, making it suitable for younger readers, though it's not intended to be a kids' book. I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys weird trivia.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I read only 10% of this book, but I am not going to read any more. The stories are brief and interesting, but each one ends with a very schlocky and cutesy conclusion and I just can’t keep reading.

I can see how this would be a good podcast, and I tried reading just one story at a time, but life is too short to keep reading a book I find this irritating.

This book was not exactly what I was expecting. A cabinet of curiosities was a “collection of objects that told a story about the world and its history,” according to Google. As such, I expected each story to be predicated on an interesting object, but instead the stories stood by themselves. I was somewhat disappointed by this, but I still enjoyed the book as it was.

In “Cabinet of Curiosities,” Aaron Mahnke shares a compilation of intriguing, odd, and sometimes downright alarming true stories, which are divided into such categories as Creatures, Mysteries, and True Crime to name a few. Each story is short and succinct, and often includes uncanny coincidences. The last sentence in each is comprised of a pithy ending statement. To some extent, “Cabinet of Curiosities” reminded me of the Guinness World Record books, although with a little more background information. My favorite story featured Carl Unthan, who was born without arms yet lived life to the fullest. This would be a good book for those interested in the genre, as well as anyone who enjoys a book with plenty of good stopping points.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review.

Some years ago, I stumbled across Aaron Mahnke's podcast Cabinet of Curiosities and immediately began devouring it. I enjoyed its bite-sized content, the narrator's punny twists, and the subjects were genuinely, well, curious. I confess, life got in the way, and I fell out of the habit of listening to the podcast—or podcasts, in general. So, I was surprised and excited when I discovered Mahnke took the podcast to a new medium.

Cabinet of Curiosities as a book remains true to form. Each story is just a few pages, so it makes for easy and fun reading—whether you want to pick it up for one story at a time or, as I did back in my podcast heyday, devour a whole lot of them. Further, I enjoyed the organization of the content, with the stories being collected topically under American History, Mysteries, True Crime, Creatures, War, and other subject matters. 

Now, to be fair, the book could use more citations (though some sources are included at the end). This leaves some of the stories to questionable integrity and historicity. At the same time, I think that is what makes these stories curious in nature. They are shrouded in lore and legend. If you're looking for a historically accurate work that makes you go, "Aha!," this may not be it, but if you're looking for entertaining urban tales and interesting stories that makes you go, "Hmmm," look no further than Cabinet of Curiosities.

And, as I mentioned, if you're unsure what you're looking for, well, there's also the audio format in Mahnke's podcast by the same name. If you enjoy that format, then this book will only be a continuation of that.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy in return for my honest review.

As a fan of Aaron Mahnke's hit podcast Cabinet of Curiosities, this book was naturally a must-read. It’s like bingeing the podcast, but in book form—straight to the point, fascinating, and packed with bizarre stories from history.

The book captures the same eerie charm and oddball intrigue that fans of Aaron Mahnke have come to expect. Mahnke masterfully strings together a tapestry of strange historical moments, from Abraham Lincoln’s son’s wild rescue to the cursed car that killed James Dean.

It’s a beautiful and, at times, creepy collection of quirky stories, perfect for both podcast veterans and newcomers. Whether you're reading about peculiar inventions or extraordinary people, Mahnke keeps you hooked with his signature storytelling style. Cabinet of Curiosities is a treasure trove of the odd and the downright weird—guaranteed to make you the most interesting person at any dinner party.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review Cabinet of Curiosities prior to publication.

This was such a fun collection of short stories about all Sorts of things. I enjoyed reading a story here and there and taking my time. It is super different than what I typically read but it was super interesting. I am intrigued to listen to the authors podcast now.

Many readers will come to Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities from his podcasts, but no previous acquaintance is required to enjoy the book. Inspired by the British Museum’s Enlightenment Room, a collection of oddities categorized to add context, Mahnke’s collection of strange stories is also grouped into sections such as “Curious Americana,” “Unbelievable Stunts,” “Strange Literature,” “Remarkable Inventions,” “Baffling Origins,” and “Wartime Wonders.” While some stories end in lessons or morals, sometimes humorous, others end in mystery.

If you would like to learn how Teddy Roosevelt gave a 45-minute speech immediately after being shot, how an Ohio student had his class project grade changed from a B- to and A by traveling to Washington, D.C. and convincing Congress to adopt his project for the nation, who survived being struck by lightning three times within twelve years and then again after death years later, what famous writer took his pseudonym from a prison guard while serving time, why a man was buried in a Pringles can, or how bakers saved Vienna from Ottoman invasion in 1693 and invented a celebratory treat well known today, and much more, then this book is for you!

Thanks to NetGallley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader egalley of this enlightening and fun book.

A fun and very well-written book . . . I enjoyed these anecdotes and think it will be a hit with all types of readers. However, my interest in the book wanted fairly quickly in spite of its quite obvious strengths.

An easy book to put down and pick up at random - it covers a plethora of subjects- literature, history, death, war, mysteries, and more - with each item only taking a few pages. a fun read if you in the mood for odd facts and random stories in small chunks.

I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.

Aaron Mahnke brings the spirit of his beloved podcast to the page, offering a delightful collection of intriguing tales from history. Mahnke curates a treasure trove of bizarre and fascinating stories that span cultures and eras.

The book is structured in short, digestible chapters that make it easy to dip in and out. Some anecdotes are genuinely captivating, while others deliver a hearty dose of humor, ensuring that there’s something for everyone. However, the transition from podcast to print may not entirely hit the mark for everyone. While the quick-read format might appeal to many, those seeking a deeper, more immersive exploration of these curiosities may find themselves wanting more context and depth.

With over a hundred stories, the collection covers an eclectic range of topics, however, the brevity of each entry sometimes leads to a sense of repetition and a feeling that some narratives could have been culled for a more concise volume. Mahnke's casual writing style, peppered with puns and lighthearted commentary, adds a whimsical touch that may resonate with fans of quirky history. Yet, this tone might also render the material less serious for those looking for a more scholarly approach.

Overall, this book is a fun, entertaining read perfect for those who enjoy oddities and want to uncover unusual facts about the world.

There were some stories I really enjoyed, some stories I skimmed, and stories I skipped. Honestly I wonder if Aaron had a million stories to share and he just couldn’t decide which ones to leave out because this book felt so long. Too long. Great for the podcast, maybe too much for a book, or maybe just a bit more paring down?

“Cabinet of Curiosities” is by Aaron Mahnke. This book is based upon his podcast, which I didn’t know about (but I don’t follow podcasts). Anyway, I think this is a book that has a great concept - short chapters with some historical content, possibly a story one has never heard before. Some of these tales I’d read before (Shakespeare, Ms. Lombard, Tennessee) and others I’d never read before and looked up online (mainly those who survived air and sea disasters). A number of the stories were entertaining and strange and I do feel like I learned some new historical tidbits. But what bothered me a little was that interwoven amongst the true stories were “legend stories” - yes, they’re interesting stories, but digging deeper, they’re not verified true stories, which was a bit disappointing (looking at you, Wizard of Oz). I think the bite-sized stories is a great way to present this info - reminding me of those “bathroom books” from long ago. I ended up reading a huge chunk of this book in one sitting and felt like I’d been binging a TV show and really needed to take a break. But the binging did bring to light some of the flaws of this book - the puns (I love puns, but there were a lot of them), the use of “I” (which works on a podcast but was a bit jarring to read as it broke the fourth wall), and that the flow became a bit repetitive with an uneven pace. Not every story is going to be gripping, but I found myself skimming a number of stories the further I read this book. Overall, I applaud the overall concept but I’d recommend reading this in little bits, or. Maybe a section at a time. Great idea, but I do wonder if the podcast version is stronger than the written form - and how much of this book was a “best of” from the podcast or if this book contained new stories for a general audience.

Cabinet of Curiosities is literally the literal version of a traditional cabinet of curiosities. It’s a book made up of very short stories of real life oddities, coincidences and quirks. If you like anything unusual, this recounting is probably perfect for you. It feels a bit too choppy and all encompassing to me. There is everything from archaeological discoveries, daring feats of animals, celebrity inspirations and interactions and ghost stories. Most stories are only two to three pages long, which means there’s a lot of stories in this book. Some of them I’ve read a more comprehensive book about, which makes seeing it summed up in a few pages feel like being shortchanged of the whole richness of background behind it. The author often has a very casual writing style with many of the stories ending in puns. That makes it hard to take it very seriously, which again might make it perfect for a certain audience, but makes it more of a throwaway book, or one for those who like odd history instead of bathroom humor when they need something to occupy their mind a few minutes at a time. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun book of curious history. I enjoyed it mostly, but the cheesy puns were too much. It made the end of every chapter cringey. Beside that, I really liked it. History and curiosities are a few of the things I really enjoy. More on the subject, less cheesy puns!

I good read of history. I was expecting something a bit and exciting. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for a copy.

Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre is a collection of weird historical anecdotes that will take you on a wild ride!

The chapters are short, so it's easy to read a little at a time. Some of the stories are fascinating, while others are flat-out hilarious! Unfortunately, some of them started feeling repetitive so it might have been a good idea to cull some of the stories and possibly make the book a little shorter.

That said, Cabinet of Curiosities would be the perfect gift for someone who enjoys being able to read a chapter or two, walk away and do something else, and come back to read some more. It's an appropriate book for all ages.

Many thanks to both #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Cabinet of Curiosities. This book has an expected publication date of November 12, 2024.

#ShortStories #UnbelievableAndBizarre #AaronMahnkePodcast

I’m a fan of the podcast, from way back. Always interested in perusing the macabre history of the world! Possibly a draw to reluctant readers who are into the pod but not sure about a non fiction book.

This is a worthwhile bathroom book. That means the anecdotes so contained are short enough to read one for a bathroom task such as tooth brushing. The author had collected a wide variety of subjects both in setting and protagonist. Many of the stories won’t stand up to rigorous scrutiny but that can be said of most if not all current media presenatations.

The tone of the book is a short tale with a kicker in the end. Often to keep the entire picture hidden until the end of the piece, the author only uses a subject’s first name or a name the protagonist isn’t usually known by. Then at the end of the little story, the entire situation is revealed. I enjoyed predicting what the ending would reveal as part of my reading. I often got it right.

Like the original cabinet of curiosities, the book does a good job of being a non-controversial distraction and in some cases, quite informative. The author provides non-academic references as an afterward.

This isn’t a book to sit down and read cover to cover like a novel. It’s, as I said, good in bathroom sized small doses.