How to Survive History was a short but very fun book, all about different events and disasters from history, and according to both history and science, the best ways we could survive these events if we managed to go back in time. I loved reading about the different events and feeling as though I was there, and how I would safely manage to get by if stuck in the past. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history, and any fans of shows such as Horrible Histories, as I found the author’s style very light and engaging, and I feel like most ages would have a lot of fun reading this book.

Presented in short chapters, this is a good book for dipping into. Each topic is clearly well researched and concisely written. With the benefit of hindsight the historic events are told with engaging insight of what you would need to do if you were to relive that event and survive. For example which ship to be on of the 5 that set sail with Magellan on 8 August 1519, on his voyage to circumnavigate the world, to be one of just 18 survivors out of the 260 sailors who started the voyage. The odds on survival were low with many perils such as sea battles, shipwrecks, starvation, dehydration, disease, scurvy, sabotage, treachery, murder and mutiny.

The historic events range from the dinosaurs through, ancient civilisations, the dark and Middle Ages to more recent history such as the sinking of the Titanic and the worst tornado even in American history.

The elements of this book that I found most fascinating were those that give a sense of the social and cultural context. I found the earlier chapters on the dinosaur age and the Chicxulub asteroid a little less engaging as the were more theoretical and hypothetical.

How To Survive History is a dream read for history buffs and scientists alike. I really enjoyed reading it. It’s interesting and engaging to the point I felt like I actually had to survive the Black Death or get to off the Titanic whilst reading it. It’s a great book to read in one go or to dip in and out of. I learnt a lot reading it, about pirate mind games and how to out run a T-Rex and many other things.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that I have not read a non-fiction book for quite some time - they are not typically one of my chosen genres. However, when I saw this one, I hoped that I would get the opportunity to read it as History is definitely one of my favourite things to read about! And I absolutely LOVED this book! The author, Cody, has chosen several different events throughout history (some well-known, some not so well known to me) and has given a somewhat whimsical retelling of the events as if you, the reader, are there and are looking to survive whatever impending doom may be on your horizon. This proved to be a very refreshing read as I travelled through history and looked at events from new perspectives. If you have ever wondered if you would survive the dinosaur age, could outrun a tornado or if you would be one of those lucky few to survive the Titanic sinking, amongst other things, then this will give you all of the information that you need.
I would completely, whole-heartedly recommend this book to history lovers, non-fiction lovers or those who want a light-hearted dalliance with death throughout the ages.
Thank you NetGalley, Cody Cassidy and Bedford Square Publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The first thing you should note is that this book is in the second person. That can be annoying to some but it works in this instance - it really helps you get into the mindset of the particular era of history.

This book is also lighthearted with quite a few jokes. Probably the best thing though is that it covers some less well known elements of history that you don’t learn at school. I think this makes it a bit different.

The premise of the book as a whole is also different & it’s worth checking out.

Thanks to the author, publishers & NetGalley for this arc.

Compellingly written and brimming with facts, this is a quick and jolly run through some of history's worst places to be. Like Randall Munroe's What If? books, it's less about the answers to the questions posed and more about the fascinating things you learn along the way. It is popular history and I'm sure there'll be a few "um"s "er"s and "actually"s from people who actually know a thing or two about any of the events discussed, but this isn't written for them. There's the vague air of a Horrible Histories for adults, and that's a rather lovely thing to have.

Let's say you want to read a fun and interesting book. You want to learn something. You want to be entertained. You find yourself reading 'How to Survive History' by Cody Cassidy. You've made a good choice.

I really enjoyed this book - I liked that the book was split into easily digestible chapters of the 15 or so disasters that you were 'looking to survive', and so could be dipped in and out of really easily. I liked the fact it was there was a mix of famous events that we know a lot about (Titanic, the pyramids, the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs), and ones that I personally knew less about (the volcanic winter in the dark ages, the Donner party), but that each was incredibly well researched and so taught me something new in a very simple and approachable way.

A fascinating and entertaining read.

A fantastically written romp through histories darkest moments, this book will leave you longing for more. The details expounded in this book show you how well researched it is, yet it’s told in such an interesting and concise manner that it retains the readers interest, regardless of their scientific knowledge. My only wish is that the author included some of the more modern disasters like the Indonesian tsunami, and 9/11, but hopefully another book will be made in the series. I am definitely recommending this book to others

I think I knew even from the title of this book that I was going to love it. And as the introduction was anything to go by, it set itself up to be a thoroughly enjoyable and instant hit with me!

The author takes you through history, on a whistle stop tour through some of the most dangerous events in history. And we’re talking dangerous! But don’t worry, we get an action plan, and nifty little hints and tips to help us circumnavigate these tricky situations. Want to know if you can survive in the dinosaur age? Could you live through the titanic? What about tsunamis, earthquakes and even being aboard blackbeards ship? Wonder no more, this book delivers.

I love how it was written, a perfectly balanced mix between history and retelling of events but also bringing it to the reader and how you might experience it. There’s also a great mix of historical events, starting from further back in time to the nearer current.

It was so entertaining and I not only learnt a few snippets from throughout history but also really enjoyed reading it in a way I didn’t feel like it was too much of a heavy nonfiction. It was great, light and I finished it easily within a few days. It was brill!

This was so fascinating! I actually learned things I didn’t know. Particular strength chapters were the fall of Constantinople, the Black Death and the titanic chapters. History presented in small essays that entertained rather than bored, I particularly liked the diagrams that were included, only thing I would have liked in addition are photographs or paintings to bring history even more to life, a good light read.