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Who Ate the First Oyster?: The Extraordinary People Behind the Greatest Firsts in History Paperback – May 5, 2020

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 322 ratings

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Who wore the first pants? Who painted the first masterpiece? Who first rode the horse? Who invented soap? This madcap adventure across ancient history uses everything from modern genetics to archaeology to uncover the geniuses behind these and other world-changing innovations.

Who invented the wheel? Who told the first joke? Who drank the first beer? Who was the murderer in the first murder mystery, who was the first surgeon, who sparked the first fire--and most critically, who was the first to brave the slimy, pale oyster?

In this book, writer Cody Cassidy digs deep into the latest research to uncover the untold stories of some of these incredible innovators (or participants in lucky accidents). With a sharp sense of humor and boundless enthusiasm for the wonders of our ancient ancestors,
Who Ate the First Oyster? profiles the perpetrators of the greatest firsts and catastrophes of prehistory, using the lives of individuals to provide a glimpse into ancient cultures, show how and why these critical developments occurred, and educate us on a period of time that until recently we've known almost nothing about.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Who Ate the First Oyster?

“[Cassidy] takes readers on a rapid-fire pop-science tour of historic discoveries and inventions . . . Making history fun is often a challenge, and here Cassidy succeeds. I read this book in one quick sip and imagine it to be a perfect gift book for young and old adults. . . . This casual but thoughtful tour through time is a great way to travel, particularly now, when we’re all stuck at home.”
San Francisco Chronicle

“Cassidy tells the stories of individuals over the past thousands and even millions of years whose names will never be known, but whose innovations benefit us to this day.”

—New York Post

“A fun and enlightening quick trip through all the clever, stupid, dangerous, and gross human firsts that we've all wondered about.”
—Zach and Kelly Weinersmith, New York Times bestselling authors of Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That'll Improve and/or Ruin Everything

“In this fascinating and entertaining book, Cody Cassidy has done what might seem impossible: illustrating the identity, life, and death of some of the most momentous—and entirely anonymous—figures in human (and prehuman) history.”
Ryan North, author ofHow To Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler

“Illuminating and entertaining . . . Cassidy humanizes prehistory with wit and a firm grasp of the science behind these anthropological case studies. Enthralled readers will develop a new appreciation for the ancient past.”
Publishers Weekly

“Cassidy embarks on a wide-ranging, far-flung journey of curiosity that easily engages the reader. Chapters are brimming with history that may surprise readers as well as compel them to further investigate.”
Booklist

“A breezy read through millennia of human development.”
Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Cody Cassidy is the co-author of the popular science book And Then You're Dead, which was translated into more than ten languages, and a former bookstore clerk in Buenos Aires. While writing Who Ate the First Oyster? he attempted to shave with chipped obsidian like the inventor of the world's first razor, retraced the final steps of an ancient murder victim through the Pyrenees and the Alps, brewed beer by spoiling gruel, and fired a replica of an ancient bow and arrow, among other experiments. He lives in San Francisco.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books (May 5, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 014313275X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143132752
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.55 x 0.6 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 322 ratings

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Cody Cassidy
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
322 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides interesting information about human development and history. They describe it as an entertaining, well-written read with short chapters that make it easy to follow. The story is engaging and the writing style is described as engaging.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

12 customers mention "Fun to read"10 positive2 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read. They appreciate the author's humorous approach to complex subjects like technology advances through human history.

"...really distinguishes this book is that the author actually makes his subject matter fun. Easy to read. Amusing...." Read more

"...This one is quite wonderful as well as his How to Survive History. Funny and smart. Hard to pull off but voila!" Read more

"Interesting and a fun read. Short chapters make it easy to read at your leisure." Read more

"This is just delightful - full of fun stuff. A good read." Read more

12 customers mention "Information quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides interesting information and well-researched content. It provides a view of history before history was written. The book combines anthropology, sociology, primatology, and storytelling in fun short essays. Readers mention it brings to light many interesting historical food facts.

"...as many related science books -- they tend to be informative, well-researched, and turgid...." Read more

"...The book reads as a series of fun short essays and combine anthropology, sociology, primatology and story telling to make a compelling and quick read." Read more

"...Funny and smart. Hard to pull off but voila!" Read more

"This is a GREAT book that gives a view of history WAY before history was documented in any way...." Read more

12 customers mention "Readability"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They describe it as a quick, enjoyable read.

"...All in all, one of the best books of its kind around. Highly recommended." Read more

"...The book reads as a series of fun short essays and combine anthropology, sociology, primatology and story telling to make a compelling and quick read." Read more

"...This one is quite wonderful as well as his How to Survive History. Funny and smart. Hard to pull off but voila!" Read more

"Interesting and a fun read. Short chapters make it easy to read at your leisure." Read more

3 customers mention "Story telling"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storytelling. They find the book interesting and fun, with short chapters that make it easy to read at their own pace.

"...short essays and combine anthropology, sociology, primatology and story telling to make a compelling and quick read." Read more

"Interesting and a fun read. Short chapters make it easy to read at your leisure." Read more

"...We both read it straight through and found the stories very interesting." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2023
    I've read lots of books on evolutionary, socio-, and other kinds of biology; as well as many related science books -- they tend to be informative, well-researched, and turgid. What really distinguishes this book is that the author actually makes his subject matter fun. Easy to read. Amusing. The concept of telling this kind of history through the invention of the people behind the history is innovative and makes the book feel more like you're somehow reading a biography (albeit a made up one). All in all, one of the best books of its kind around. Highly recommended.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2025
    Interesting and a fun read. Short chapters make it easy to read at your leisure.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2023
    I have had a growing set of books to use in the lavatory and to get in that library there has to be short and interesting items that I can use to keep busy. This one is quite wonderful as well as his How to Survive History. Funny and smart. Hard to pull off but voila!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2020
    Cody Cassidy chose interesting points in human development and made compelling arguments for their inclusion as pivotal to our societal development (such as who drank the first beer or who ate the first oyster). I love that he names each character and explains his choices (a woman probably ate the first oyster and drank the first beer, but a man probably performed the first surgery).

    The book reads as a series of fun short essays and combine anthropology, sociology, primatology and story telling to make a compelling and quick read.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2024
    This is just delightful - full of fun stuff. A good read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2023
    Bought this for my brother-in-law for Christmas. We both read it straight through and found the stories very interesting.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2022
    Enjoyed reading this book - learned a lot.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2021
    This is a GREAT book that gives a view of history WAY before history was documented in any way. These people changed our lives, and changed the world, and nobody will ever know their names (well, maybe one - the person who 'invented writing'. Short, easy to read chapters about each discoverer. Can't wait to share it.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Despina V
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty nice book
    Reviewed in Canada on March 10, 2024
    This book turned out to be really interesting - great evening read. I really liked that each chapter's story is independent of the others. Makes you think of how our ancestors have laid out the foundation for everything we've accomplished in the last 2000 years!
  • filube
    4.0 out of 5 stars Ein sehr nettes Buch für zwischendurch
    Reviewed in Germany on May 7, 2020
    Leicht zu lesende Lektüre für zwischendurch. Das Buch ist gefüllt mit Interessanten, teilweise spekulativen, Geschichten über wichtige Entdeckungen und Erfindungen, die die Menschheit jeweils auf ein neues Niveau gehoben haben.
    Die bemühten Anstrengungen, Erfindungen und Entdeckungen Frauen oder Männern zuzuweisen sind teilweise etwas ermüdend.
    Die ungewöhnliche Herangehensweise rechtfertigt aber 4 Sterne.
  • Danomcd
    5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing read! my teenager sons love it
    Reviewed in Canada on March 11, 2024
    What a great series! My son's (age 12 and 14) can't stop reading these novels.