Ask the Past

Have you ever longed for the “good old days”? You might want to think again. Archibald has collected a riotous collection of how to advice from ancient times up through the 19th century. Do you have bedbugs? Simply sprinkle gunpowder on your sheets and then set afire. Do you want to avoid pregnancy? Tie some goat innards or weasel testicles around your neck. Don’t embarrass yourself on the dance floor – make sure your codpiece is tied on tightly. Learn how not to fart. Learn how to make others fart uncontrollably. Learn how to stop on nosebleed with hog poop. Trust me, you will be oh so glad to live in the 21st century. And you’ll also be glad you read this book. I laughed so hard reading it, people stopped to ask what I was laughing at.

If you're as intrigued by random bits of history as our family is, Ask the Past: Pertinent and Impertinent Advice from Yesteryear by Elizabeth P. Archibald may be just what you didn't know you wanted to read. I learned how to dye my hair green (from a source dated 1563), some new tips for childbirth (scream loudly so people will feel sorry for you and give you treats), and to only give cheap clothes to small children because they tear and stain them. Although I knew that last one already.

It's all in the original spelling and grammar and some entries are more challenging to decipher than others. There's a brief comment after each entry and I found myself giggling at quite a few of them. What I really wish the book included was some explanation of the historical context.

If you're intrigued, you can check out Ask the Past, the blog that the book is based on, or the Ask the Past Facebook Page. Both will give you a good feel for what the book is all about.

I loved this book, I found myself laughing out loud at the things we believed at one time. I kept calling over my coworkers to check out different places in the book. We have already decided that we WILL be buying this book when it comes out.