{"product_id":"the-united-states-of-absurdity-isbn-9780399578755","title":"The United States of Absurdity","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe creators of the podcast \u003ci\u003eThe Dollop \u003c\/i\u003epresent illustrated profiles of the weird, outrageous, NSFW, and downright absurd tales from American history that you weren't taught in school.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe United States of Absurdity\u003c\/i\u003e presents short, informative, and hilarious stories of the most outlandish (but true) people, events, and more from United States history. Comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds cover the weird stories you didn't learn in history class, such as 10-Cent Beer Night, the Jackson Cheese, and the Kentucky Meat Shower, accompanied by full-page illustrations that bring each historical \"milestone\" to life in full-color. \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eCONTENTS \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e Great American Characters • 5\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Michael Malloy • 7 \u003cbr\u003e Lobster Boy • 11\u003cbr\u003e Oofty Goofty • 15\u003cbr\u003e David Hahn • 19\u003cbr\u003e Elvis and Nixon • 23\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e The Best of American Sports • 27\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rainbow Man • 29\u003cbr\u003e Rube Waddell • 33\u003cbr\u003e Lenny Dykstra • 37\u003cbr\u003e Tim “Doc” Anderson • 41\u003cbr\u003e Ten-Cent Beer Night • 47\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGreat American Medical Breakthroughs • 51\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e John R. Brinkley • 53\u003cbr\u003e Henry Heimlich • 57\u003cbr\u003e Freeman’s Lobotomies • 61\u003cbr\u003e The Stomach Men • 65\u003cbr\u003e Resurrection Men • 69\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e Very Bad American Ideas • 73\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Flying Pinto • 75\u003cbr\u003e Action Park • 79\u003cbr\u003e Jackson Cheese • 83\u003cbr\u003e Radium Girls • 87\u003cbr\u003e The Straw Hat Riot • 91\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e When Americans Go Wrong • 95\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Eggnog Riot • 97\u003cbr\u003e Newport Sex Scandal • 101\u003cbr\u003e The Vampire Panic • 105\u003cbr\u003e The Death of George Washington • 109\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e American Tails • 113\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Dolphin • 115\u003cbr\u003e Mike the Chicken • 119\u003cbr\u003e The Hippo Bill • 123\u003cbr\u003e George Spencer • 127\u003cbr\u003e Kentucky Meat Shower • 131\"\u003ci\u003eThe United States of Absurdity\u003c\/i\u003e, a new book from the hosts of the American history podcast \u003ci\u003eThe Dollop\u003c\/i\u003e, couldn't have picked a better time to arrive. Think of it as \u003ci\u003eA People's History\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eof the United States\u003c\/i\u003e for the slightly lazy.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—NPR.org\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"If my history teachers in high school had been half as smart and one-tenth as entertaining as Dave and Gareth, I could probably tell you who fought in the Spanish-American War today.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Josh Olson, Oscar-nominated screenwriter for \u003ci\u003eA History of Violence\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“This book, just like \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dollop\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003c\/i\u003ewill teach you things you'll wish you had learned in history class. I dare you not to be equal parts fascinated, horrified, and in stitches.”\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e —Al Madrigal, actor and comedian, \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Daily Show\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Dave and Gareth have created an amazing record of historical eccentricities which, while hysterically informative, has thus far only been available for your ears. This book will take \u003ci\u003eThe Dollop\u003c\/i\u003e into the uncharted territory of your \u003ci\u003eeyes\u003c\/i\u003e. And hopefully, if my many requests are heeded—there will be a scented version.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e —Chris Hardwick, \u003ci\u003e@midnight\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eTalking Dead\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eThe United States of Absurdity\u003c\/i\u003e is so funny that it makes me want to kidnap Dave and Gareth, keep them in a basement, and then live out their identities as my own…which would still not be the weirdest story in this book.\"\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cb\u003e—Wil Anderson, stand-up comedian, television host, writer, and podcaster\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds could make \u003ci\u003eanything\u003c\/i\u003e funny. This book is proof. Good thing they decided to use their powers for good to educate the masses with the lessons we can learn from history. Even the parts of history that make us vomit in our mouths a little.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Ronny Chieng, stand-up comedian and correspondent on \u003ci\u003eThe Daily Show with Trevor Noah\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eDAVE ANTHONY is a stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster. Beside co-hosting \u003ci\u003eThe Dollop\u003c\/i\u003e, he's been seen as a stand up on \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eJimmy Kimmel Live, \u003ci\u003eThe Late Late Show, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eand on Comedy Central\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eHe is a writer\/actor on \u003ci\u003eMaron\u003c\/i\u003e on IFC. In 2015, he was named Comedian to Watch by \u003ci\u003eL.A. Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGARETH REYNOLDS is a writer\/comedian who has written for shows on Comedy Central, Fox, TBS, and MTV. He has executive produced shows like MTV's \u003ci\u003eFailosophy\u003c\/i\u003e and the Travel Channel's \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eMancations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWarning: This book will change the way you look at America. By opening this book, you agree with and understand this fact and are okay with it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e With that said, welcome! Hi. Thank you for buying this book. (Or are you reading this at the book store, like a creep? Being all \u003ci\u003eHmmmmm what is this . . . I’ll just have a free read. \u003c\/i\u003eFreeloader.) This book’s about history, but not the type you are used to encountering. Sure, you may have heard of one or two of these stories, but by the end of this book, you will have a different perspective on America. Probably a conflicted one.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNow for \u003ci\u003eour \u003c\/i\u003ehistory. For us, the discovery of America’s hilariously absurd past started with our podcast: \u003ci\u003eThe Dollop\u003c\/i\u003e. For those of you who don’t know what a podcast is, it’s like a radio show that you can . . . oh, just Google it. We, Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds, met in Los Angeles on a mutual friend’s podcast (you should have Googled what podcasts are by now) and didn’t talk for a year after that. When Dave had the idea of doing an American history podcast, he knew exactly who to call: Chris Rock. Dave didn’t know Chris personally, but he was a big fan. Chris had done so many things Dave admired. Unfortunately, Chris’s busy schedule wouldn’t permit his joining such an undertaking. Dave then talked to Sarah Silverman, but she was on location with a film. Next was Louis C.K., but that was a reach. Dave Chappelle, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, the guy who sells Flex Seal on TV, Ira Glass, Amy Schumer . . . they were all really busy. Dave then turned to Gareth, who was ready and available. And \u003ci\u003eThe Dollop \u003c\/i\u003ewas born! We began meeting to discuss tales from United States history that were apeshit.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe quickly discovered that not only were these tales interesting to us, but others were drawn to the information as well. We started to build a following whose members all wanted to know the same thing: \u003ci\u003eHow have I never heard of this shit before?!? \u003c\/i\u003eIn a way, American history is like report cards. The good ones go on the fridge to be boasted over; the bad get tossed in the trash and we pretend like they never happened. Regardless, these tales will not only show you how insane American history is, but also reveal how much this country loves alcohol. God, we love alcohol. So much. Like at a crazy level. The anecdotes ahead contain the stuff they \u003ci\u003eshould \u003c\/i\u003ehave taught you in history class. If class consisted of a teacher telling you how we discovered the lobotomy or learned how stomach acids work, or about the time a lady lived with a dolphin, just how Elvis became a federal agent, or even why meat rained down from the skies in Kentucky one day, school would have been way less terrible. America has been fucked up since Christopher Columbus set foot on this occupied land and claimed he discovered it. Yes, we really have a fascinating past, but for some reason we don’t discuss it. So let’s!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith this book, we’ve got two aims: (1) winning a Pulitzer Prize and (2) sharing this absurdity with you. While one of these goals may be lofty, we think the Pulitzer is a slam dunk. No way we don’t win that. Anyway, enjoy the book and discovering that you \u003ci\u003edo \u003c\/i\u003eactually enjoy history. Or just put it down already if you’re still reading it at the bookstore. Seriously. This isn’t a library, pal.","brand":"Ten Speed Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301971939557,"sku":"NP9780399578755","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780399578755.jpg?v=1767742000","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-united-states-of-absurdity-isbn-9780399578755","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}