A Brief History of Vice

How Bad Behavior Built Civilization

By: Robert Evans

Narrated by: Tristan Morris

Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

History has never been more fun - or more intoxicating.

Guns, germs, and steel might have transformed us from hunter-gatherers into modern man, but booze, sex, trash talk, and tripping built our civilization. Cracked editor Robert Evans brings his signature dogged research and lively insight to uncover the many and magnificent ways vice has influenced history, from the prostitute-turned-empress who scored a major victory for women's rights to the beer that helped create - and destroy - South America's first empire. And Evans goes deeper than simply writing about ancient debauchery; he recreates some of history's most enjoyable (and most painful) vices and includes guides so you can follow along at home. You'll learn how to:

• Trip like a Greek philosopher
• Rave like your Stone Age ancestors
• Get drunk like a Sumerian
• Smoke a nose pipe like a pre-Columbian Native American

A celebration of the brave, drunken pioneers who built our civilization one seemingly bad decision at a time, A Brief History of Vice explores a side of the past that mainstream history books prefer to hide.

©2016 Robert Evans (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Mixing science, humor, and grossly irresponsible self-experimentation, Evans paints a vivid picture of how bad habits built the world we know and love.” (David Wong, author of John Dies at the End)

“Evans' goal is to investigate and illuminate the human tradition of merriment and debauchery, which he does with tact, humor, and insight.” (Publishers Weekly)

“An engaging and compelling assemblage of pop culture and cultural anthropology (pop cultural anthropology?), an exploration of the growth of civilization via things that our own culture has in many ways declared taboo. This is one of the more entertaining books, fiction or nonfiction, or whatever, that you'll read this year.” (Allen Adams, The Maine Edge)

Entertaining & Informative

Because if all his traveling experience and historical and scientific investigation, this author has created a comprehensive and entertaining collection of new and interesting information that the Virgins and Scholars of Vice History and Science can appreciate.

Great Book!

This book was very interesting, enjoyable and informative from a perspective which I had never before considered. Like Robert Evans other work, it is very well done. As a scientist and anthropologist, I enjoyed the delivery, perspective and the impromptu low n studies.

Great!

Both instructional and educational. It has that robert Evens flare for totally not criminal advice.

Great book

super interesting book my only question is why in God's name didn't Robert Evans read it himself?

Narrator is rigid

A fascinating text, but the narrator makes it difficult to get through. His narrating is rigid and almost sounds robotic. Wishing they had Robert Evans narrate it instead.

Where is Robert Evans???

I downloaded this book after finding podcasts hosted by Robert Evan's. This audiobook would have been a million times better narrated by the author. The sarcasm and dry wit that the author intones does not come across when read aloud by this narrator. Still enjoyed the book and have recommended to others.

Robert is great. Listen to his podcasts too!

Controversial, laced with profanity, and skirting legality: everything I love about Robert Evans and his work packed into a single book! Check out his podcasts first if you aren't sure if you'll like this book. Also, check out his podcasts if you DO like this book and want more!

Awesome

I highly recommend thos book for anyone that gives too many FUCKS. it's uplifting and motivational. I absolutely love it!

Very interesting.

I've listened the authors podcast for awhile, and was pleasantly surprised to find this book. Robert Evans is always the perfect blend of well researched information, and a tongue and check delivery.

robert is a treasure.

the willingness for Robert to experiment with some of these things is courageous. I commend him for his research.