Laughing Histories

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “There’s such warmth to Dumas’ writing that it invites the reader to pull up a seat at her table and smile right along with her at the quirks of her family and Iranians and Americans in general.”—Booklist In the New York Times bestselling memoir Funny in...

Uncover the hidden origins of Halloween that no one talks about! Halloween isn’t just a night of costumes, candy, and spooky fun — it’s a holiday drenched in rich, mysterious history. What if the true magic of Halloween lies in the surprising stories and forgotten traditions that have shaped it over thousands of years? This book is your ticket to uncover the bizarre origins and lesser-known secrets behind your favorite Halloween customs. Discover how ancient rituals, cultural oddities, and even monster myths have influenced today’s holiday — and how these oddities fuel our ongoing...

In 1692, it did not pay to be a nonconformist in Salem Village, Massachusetts. This was especially true if the nonconformist just happened to be an elderly, improvised widow. Susannah Martin found this out the hard way. Susannah Martin stood trial, received a conviction, and suffered hanging for bewitching some of the good folk of Salem, Massachusetts and the surrounding area. More than two dozen persons related the crimes Martin committed. It seems that Susannah Martin’s most heinous crime may have been that she had a sense of humor. When she heard the ridiculous accusations made against...

The peril of paper money was seen in 1782 when Josiah Quincy wrote George Washington "that there never was a paper pound, a paper dollar, or a paper promise of any kind, that ever obtained a general currency but by force or fraud, generally by both." Are you interested in preserving your hard-earned purchasing power for the future beyond banksters' manipulation and their illness, inflation? There are only two ways to save for the future in our modern society: intrusive banks or stacking precious metals. The outcome of both choices is the antithesis of each other. The former system leads to ...

Still Laughing features never-before-told stories from the creation of one of the most groundbreaking shows in television history.

In the National Book Award longlist book This Side of Wild, Newbery Honor–winning author Gary Paulsen shares surprising true stories about his relationship with animals, highlighting their compassion, intellect, intuition, and sense of adventure. Gary Paulsen is an adventurer who competed in...

Told through intimate diary entries, this historical fiction series unfurls the extraordinary sagas of the Bible's best-known characters through the eyes of ordinary girls. In The Laughing Princess of the Desert, the second book of The Promised Land Diaries, Rhoda is orphaned and brought into Abram's household to help his beautiful wife, Sarai. Getting used to the nomadic life of camels and goat-hair tents, Rhoda must exercise courage as she serves the remarkable woman who will one day become matriarch of the Jews.

Who doesn’t love a good trivia challenge? Jewish & Israel Trivia takes your brain on a fun, fact-filled journey through history, culture, and all things Jewish! Packed with original questions, surprising hints, and Aha! moments, this book is the perfect combo of learning and laughing. Who needs this book? Trivia Titans: Think you know it all? Prepare to be humbled! Shabbat Showoffs: Impress your family with quirky facts over dessert. History Buffs & Culture Nerds: Deep dives into Jewish lore and Israeli life. Fun-Lovers: Whether it’s for game night or killing time on a plane, this book ...

This essay comes from the NPR series This I Believe, which features brief personal reflections from both famous and unknown Americans. The pieces that make up the series compel listeners to rethink not only what and how they have arrived at their beliefs, but also the extent to which they share them with others.