A Less Boring History of the World

A history book like no other - an irreverent, rollicking, romp through everything interesting that ever happened on planet earth from 15 million years BC to today.

Dave Rear is a writer and lecturer who has spent his life reading, writing, and talking about history. While he hasn't time-travelled yet, it would be a convenient way to make him vanish. He lives in Tokyo with his wife and two kids, who – by law – are required to read all his books. They also wish he could time-travel.

Refreshes the parts other history books can’t reach... 
 
A bit ropy on the Renaissance? 
 
In the dark about the Enlightenment? 
 
Or, in fact, do you need a revision course on the entire history of the world and want to read a witty, irreverent, definitely not boring romp through everything that has ever happened on planet earth – from 15 billion years BC to the present day? 
 
Good. 
 
A Less Boring History of the World tells you everything you need to know from the Big Bang to Barack Obama, taking in the Byzantines, the Black Death, Bin Laden and the fall of bankers along the way, all boiled down to bite size chunks so that you can finally piece together all the different bits of history - and see how on earth we ended up in the mess we are today. 
 
A Less Boring History refreshes your memory and broadens your mind. And, if that’s not enough, it will also make you laugh. A lot.

Survive in Time: The Roman Empire

Choose your path as you explore the past, in this interactive adventure through time! 
 
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel back in time and visit the Roman Empire? I mean, think about all the great things the Romans did. Made long, straight roads so they could travel everywhere. Built amazing structures like the Colosseum. Enjoyed luxurious feasts and steaming hot baths. Nailed people to crosses and fed them to wild animals. 
Don’t worry, I’m sure nothing like that last one will happen to you on your time travelling adventure! Well, it might. But you’ll get to experience the other things too and you’ll have loads of great stories to tell your friends when you get home! If you get home. 
 
Thanks to our time machine, you’ll get to see all the wonders of the Roman Empire. But this is no ordinary adventure. This is one where YOU get to make the decisions and choose where to go, what to do and how to SURVIVE IN TIME. 
 
Buckle up. Your safe return is absolutely not guaranteed.

Dave Rear is a writer and academic who lives and works in Tokyo. He read history at Cambridge and, out of sheer lack of imagination, almost became a school teacher, until he came to his senses and emigrated. He now lectures in English language, history, social science and anything else his students let him get away with. He is married with a young son, who occasionally gives him five minutes or so to write.

Choose your path as you explore the past, in this interactive adventure through time! 
 
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel back in time and visit the Roman Empire? I mean, think about all the great things the Romans did. Made long, straight roads so they could travel everywhere. Built amazing structures like the Colosseum. Enjoyed luxurious feasts and steaming hot baths. Nailed people to crosses and fed them to wild animals. 
Don’t worry, I’m sure nothing like that last one will happen to you on your time travelling adventure! Well, it might. But you’ll get to experience the other things too and you’ll have loads of great stories to tell your friends when you get home! If you get home.Thanks to our time machine, you’ll get to see all the wonders of the Roman Empire. But this is no ordinary adventure. This is one where YOU get to make the decisions and choose where to go, what to do and how to SURVIVE IN TIME.Buckle up. Your safe return is absolutely not guaranteed.

Dave Rear

Choose your path, explore the past!

Choose your path as you explore the past, in this interactive adventure through time! 
 
Ever wondered what it would be like to explore the Great Pyramid of Giza and almost get eaten by a mummy? Or to sneak into the Hanging Gardens of Babylon while being chased by a bunch of angry guards? 
 
Thanks to the time machine in this book, you can visit all Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. But this is no ordinary time-travelling adventure. This is one where YOU get to make the decisions and choose where to go, what to do and how to survive in time. 
 
Buckle up. Your safe return is absolutely not guaranteed.

Dave Rear

Books by Dave Rear

Series by Dave Rear

Survive in Time

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter