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Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre
The new book based on the long-running hit podcast by Aaron Mahnke, which has translated into over 120-million downloads to date, and a monthly average of over 2 million listeners.
The podcast, Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities, has delighted millions of listeners for years with tales of the wonderful, astounding, and downright bizarre people, places, and things throughout history. Now, in Cabinet of Curiosities the book, learn the fascinating story of the invention of the croissant in a country that was not France, and relive the adventures of a dog that stowed away and went to war, only to help capture a German spy. Along the way, readers will pass through the American state of Franklin, watch Abraham Lincoln’s son be rescued by his assassin’s brother, and learn how too many crash landings inspired one pilot to leave the airline industry and trek for the stars.
For the first time ever, Aaron has gathered scores of his favorites in print, and curated them into a beautiful, topical collection for devoted followers and new fans alike.
The podcast, Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities, has delighted millions of listeners for years with tales of the wonderful, astounding, and downright bizarre people, places, and things throughout history. Now, in Cabinet of Curiosities the book, learn the fascinating story of the invention of the croissant in a country that was not France, and relive the adventures of a dog that stowed away and went to war, only to help capture a German spy. Along the way, readers will pass through the American state of Franklin, watch Abraham Lincoln’s son be rescued by his assassin’s brother, and learn how too many crash landings inspired one pilot to leave the airline industry and trek for the stars.
For the first time ever, Aaron has gathered scores of his favorites in print, and curated them into a beautiful, topical collection for devoted followers and new fans alike.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 12, 2024
223 people are currently reading
11339 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Mahnke
26 books1,312 followersOne of the most successful podcast producers in the world, Aaron Mahnke began his career in 2015 with the launch of Lore, which went on to become a breakout hit.
Aside from racking up over 450-million downloads to date, Lore was adapted for two seasons of television on Amazon, and as a three-book set from Penguin Random House. Aaron has also toured extensively, delivering his trademark storytelling experience to thousands of people across the country.
In 2019, Aaron also published his first comic book series, Wellington, through IDW. And in 2021, he launched the first of a new slate of fiction podcasts, beginning with the breakout hit Bridgewater, starring Misha Collins, Melissa Ponzia, Karan Soni, Alan Tudyk, and Tricia Helfer.
Aside from racking up over 450-million downloads to date, Lore was adapted for two seasons of television on Amazon, and as a three-book set from Penguin Random House. Aaron has also toured extensively, delivering his trademark storytelling experience to thousands of people across the country.
In 2019, Aaron also published his first comic book series, Wellington, through IDW. And in 2021, he launched the first of a new slate of fiction podcasts, beginning with the breakout hit Bridgewater, starring Misha Collins, Melissa Ponzia, Karan Soni, Alan Tudyk, and Tricia Helfer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
October 14, 2024
I generally try and be as lenient as I can be with books which are not meant to be in-depth and vigorous. Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities falls into this category as it is a collection of very short (about a page) entries of interesting tidbits. You can pick it up and put it down as needed without worrying about losing the theme as there is none except to be random and hopefully interesting.
Two things truly turned me off. First, Wikipedia is heavily sourced in this book. Don't get me wrong, I don't have an aversion to Wikipedia as a research option. I know many amazing authors who start there and then dig deeper. The problem is Mahnke very often stopped there. For a blog or a podcast, I wouldn't have anything to say because those are free. However, if you are asking people to part with their hard earned money for your book, you need to do more and make it worthwhile. If I can just as easily do a quick google, then the researching rigor is not book worthy.
The other problem is Mahnke's exaggerations, oversimplifications, and misleading prose. Very early on, Mahnke makes statements which are unsupported or exaggerated. He makes a comment that a Pony Express rider's amazing ride was a big reason California sided with the Union. I quickly googled the sources and I couldn't find anything substantial to support this claim. Now, don't get me wrong, the rider's actual journey was worth writing about and needs no embellishment. However, this strange and unnecessary comment planted a seed of doubt about the scholarship of what I was reading.
A few chapters later, a locket with locks of George and Martha Washington's hair is treated as a bizarre curiosity. This was actually a pretty common thing to do in that era (Source: Combing Through the White House by Theodore Pappas which is a fun book!). These are two very early examples which left me questioning the rest of the book as opposed to being able to enjoy the content. Once an author of non-fiction has lost your trust, then it is a very hard thing to earn back.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
Two things truly turned me off. First, Wikipedia is heavily sourced in this book. Don't get me wrong, I don't have an aversion to Wikipedia as a research option. I know many amazing authors who start there and then dig deeper. The problem is Mahnke very often stopped there. For a blog or a podcast, I wouldn't have anything to say because those are free. However, if you are asking people to part with their hard earned money for your book, you need to do more and make it worthwhile. If I can just as easily do a quick google, then the researching rigor is not book worthy.
The other problem is Mahnke's exaggerations, oversimplifications, and misleading prose. Very early on, Mahnke makes statements which are unsupported or exaggerated. He makes a comment that a Pony Express rider's amazing ride was a big reason California sided with the Union. I quickly googled the sources and I couldn't find anything substantial to support this claim. Now, don't get me wrong, the rider's actual journey was worth writing about and needs no embellishment. However, this strange and unnecessary comment planted a seed of doubt about the scholarship of what I was reading.
A few chapters later, a locket with locks of George and Martha Washington's hair is treated as a bizarre curiosity. This was actually a pretty common thing to do in that era (Source: Combing Through the White House by Theodore Pappas which is a fun book!). These are two very early examples which left me questioning the rest of the book as opposed to being able to enjoy the content. Once an author of non-fiction has lost your trust, then it is a very hard thing to earn back.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
August 9, 2024
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing the advanced copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: November 12, 2024
Based upon the popular podcast by Aaron Mahnke, Cabinet of Curiosities is finally arriving in print! Sadly, I have little experience in the podcast world, so I had never heard of this series before.
➠This is an amazing collection of bite-size stories (each one an average of 3-4 pages in length) varying in topics from bizarre coincidences, literature, history, death, war, mysteries, and the supernatural.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been oddly fascinated and drawn to the bizarre, the otherworldly, the macabre. I’m really just a huge undercover nerd who loves to soak up knowledge on these topics. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing all this collection had to offer and gained so much from the stories. I thrived on the thoughts it provoked and was genuinely entertained the whole time! That being said, I think it’s probably best to enjoy this collection a little bit at a time. Savor it! I spread it out over a few months enjoying a story here and there on lunch breaks and at bedtime!
Honorable Mentions:
▪︎ Agatha Christie’s background story
▪︎ Violet Jessop and the luck of the Irish
▪︎ The entire literature section (of course)
▪︎ Prophetic dreams and conspiracies
▪︎ Ghosts, cursed cars…and so much more!
Highly recommend checking this out if you are a lover of oddities and searching for a one-of-a-kind adventure!
Publication Date: November 12, 2024
Based upon the popular podcast by Aaron Mahnke, Cabinet of Curiosities is finally arriving in print! Sadly, I have little experience in the podcast world, so I had never heard of this series before.
➠This is an amazing collection of bite-size stories (each one an average of 3-4 pages in length) varying in topics from bizarre coincidences, literature, history, death, war, mysteries, and the supernatural.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been oddly fascinated and drawn to the bizarre, the otherworldly, the macabre. I’m really just a huge undercover nerd who loves to soak up knowledge on these topics. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing all this collection had to offer and gained so much from the stories. I thrived on the thoughts it provoked and was genuinely entertained the whole time! That being said, I think it’s probably best to enjoy this collection a little bit at a time. Savor it! I spread it out over a few months enjoying a story here and there on lunch breaks and at bedtime!
Honorable Mentions:
▪︎ Agatha Christie’s background story
▪︎ Violet Jessop and the luck of the Irish
▪︎ The entire literature section (of course)
▪︎ Prophetic dreams and conspiracies
▪︎ Ghosts, cursed cars…and so much more!
Highly recommend checking this out if you are a lover of oddities and searching for a one-of-a-kind adventure!
October 10, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Nov. 12, 2024
Aaron Mahnke’s book, “Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre” is, for all intents and purposes, a non-fiction story. It is a collection of unique stories that actually did happen to average people around the world, who quickly became not so average. “Cabinet” is based on Mahnke’s podcast, and is a quick and easy-to-devour novel.
The stories in “Cabinet” are only a few pages long, each, and they are divided into sections such as “People”, “War”, “Places” and “Things”, where relevant stories are grouped by category. “Cabinet” features tales of the upside-down postage stamp that almost seemed to predict the future, the dog who fought in a war and was actually captured by the opposing side and tales of ghostly apparitions appearing to people just in time to save someone they love. Some of the stories I had heard before but most were brand new to me and, although some were historical, there were some tales that were more modern, but all of them had one thing in common- they were utterly bizarre and almost always unexplainable.
I am not familiar with Mahnke’s podcast (or his previous books related to his previous podcasts) and the only “Cabinet of Curiosities” I have heard of before is the Guillermo del Toro Netflix show (this book is in no way related and the two are very, very different) but the subject matter of this story called to me. I am a fan of all things weird, unexpected, paranormal or spooky, so this was going to be a book that I did not want to miss out on.
As mentioned, the tiny tales in this collection make this book easy-to-read and their grouping by category helps the story develop a cohesive flow. Mahnke writes just as I imagine he would talk, with a lot of humor, and I enjoyed hearing about all the odds and ends that influenced the world.
Books with podcasts at their centre (or based on podcasts, or podcasters) is developing into its own genre so quickly, it’s hard to know where to start. But if you are a fan of Mahnke, or want a clever read with light humor and eccentric subject matter, “Cabinet of Curiosities” is as good a place as any.
Expected publication date: Nov. 12, 2024
Aaron Mahnke’s book, “Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre” is, for all intents and purposes, a non-fiction story. It is a collection of unique stories that actually did happen to average people around the world, who quickly became not so average. “Cabinet” is based on Mahnke’s podcast, and is a quick and easy-to-devour novel.
The stories in “Cabinet” are only a few pages long, each, and they are divided into sections such as “People”, “War”, “Places” and “Things”, where relevant stories are grouped by category. “Cabinet” features tales of the upside-down postage stamp that almost seemed to predict the future, the dog who fought in a war and was actually captured by the opposing side and tales of ghostly apparitions appearing to people just in time to save someone they love. Some of the stories I had heard before but most were brand new to me and, although some were historical, there were some tales that were more modern, but all of them had one thing in common- they were utterly bizarre and almost always unexplainable.
I am not familiar with Mahnke’s podcast (or his previous books related to his previous podcasts) and the only “Cabinet of Curiosities” I have heard of before is the Guillermo del Toro Netflix show (this book is in no way related and the two are very, very different) but the subject matter of this story called to me. I am a fan of all things weird, unexpected, paranormal or spooky, so this was going to be a book that I did not want to miss out on.
As mentioned, the tiny tales in this collection make this book easy-to-read and their grouping by category helps the story develop a cohesive flow. Mahnke writes just as I imagine he would talk, with a lot of humor, and I enjoyed hearing about all the odds and ends that influenced the world.
Books with podcasts at their centre (or based on podcasts, or podcasters) is developing into its own genre so quickly, it’s hard to know where to start. But if you are a fan of Mahnke, or want a clever read with light humor and eccentric subject matter, “Cabinet of Curiosities” is as good a place as any.
February 17, 2025
Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre is a collection of weird historical anecdotes that will take you on a wild ride!
The chapters are short, so it's easy to read a little at a time. Some of the stories are fascinating, while others are flat-out hilarious! Unfortunately, some of them felt too similar to others in the book.
That said, Cabinet of Curiosities would be the perfect gift for someone who enjoys being able to read a chapter or two, walk away and do something else, and come back to read some more. It's an appropriate book for all ages.
Many thanks to both #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Cabinet of Curiosities. This book has an expected publication date of November 12, 2024.
#ShortStories #UnbelievableAndBizarre #AaronMahnkePodcast
The chapters are short, so it's easy to read a little at a time. Some of the stories are fascinating, while others are flat-out hilarious! Unfortunately, some of them felt too similar to others in the book.
That said, Cabinet of Curiosities would be the perfect gift for someone who enjoys being able to read a chapter or two, walk away and do something else, and come back to read some more. It's an appropriate book for all ages.
Many thanks to both #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Cabinet of Curiosities. This book has an expected publication date of November 12, 2024.
#ShortStories #UnbelievableAndBizarre #AaronMahnkePodcast
June 17, 2024
So, I was completely unfamiliar with the author’s podcast. If you’re like me, I do think you’re in for a treat.
These are bite sized morsels of oddities – just little odd stories about history and culture. Many are full of coincidence and, while some were not new to me, enough were that I was interested.
I did find that it wasn’t a read-straight-through kind of book. I found myself picking it up here and there, reading a bit, and them moving on.
I also found that I wanted…cites. I wanted something a bit more scholarly at times. I kept thinking it was more urban legend and less history, though still very entertaining.
I did like the book – I do think, though, it’s best in small doses.
• ARC via Publisher
These are bite sized morsels of oddities – just little odd stories about history and culture. Many are full of coincidence and, while some were not new to me, enough were that I was interested.
I did find that it wasn’t a read-straight-through kind of book. I found myself picking it up here and there, reading a bit, and them moving on.
I also found that I wanted…cites. I wanted something a bit more scholarly at times. I kept thinking it was more urban legend and less history, though still very entertaining.
I did like the book – I do think, though, it’s best in small doses.
• ARC via Publisher
October 10, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely ADORE Aaron Mahnke! I have been a huge fan of his podcast Lore for many moons now. Because of this, I am also very well versed in his other works. When I found out he was making a book version of Cabinet of Curiosities, I knew I had to jump at this IMMEDIATELY!
And I was not disappointed! The book is sectioned like one would see in an actual museum looking at different artifacts. Each story is a few pages long, grouped with "like" stories. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is the fact that each story was so short. I caught myself reading them while waiting for an email back, as the microwaved finished cooking a meal, or during commercials/ads for other material I was enjoying.
The book itself is incredibly written. Aaron Mahnke has a wonderful way of adding humor and wit to even the darkest of stories. I thoroughly enjoyed each story he chose, and it really made me feel like I was sneaking into his own private collection of artifacts! It probably helped that I could hear each of these stories in HIS voice, because I am such of fan of his podcasts!
If you are looking for something that has multiple tiny stories within one well-curated collections, this is your book! It would be a great addition to someone's coffee table or place where a guest could read one quickly while waiting for the host. I cannot recommend this book enough and in fact have already told quite a few people about it! One thing I know for sure, if Aaron Mahke is attached to a project, it is always BRILLIANT!
I absolutely ADORE Aaron Mahnke! I have been a huge fan of his podcast Lore for many moons now. Because of this, I am also very well versed in his other works. When I found out he was making a book version of Cabinet of Curiosities, I knew I had to jump at this IMMEDIATELY!
And I was not disappointed! The book is sectioned like one would see in an actual museum looking at different artifacts. Each story is a few pages long, grouped with "like" stories. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is the fact that each story was so short. I caught myself reading them while waiting for an email back, as the microwaved finished cooking a meal, or during commercials/ads for other material I was enjoying.
The book itself is incredibly written. Aaron Mahnke has a wonderful way of adding humor and wit to even the darkest of stories. I thoroughly enjoyed each story he chose, and it really made me feel like I was sneaking into his own private collection of artifacts! It probably helped that I could hear each of these stories in HIS voice, because I am such of fan of his podcasts!
If you are looking for something that has multiple tiny stories within one well-curated collections, this is your book! It would be a great addition to someone's coffee table or place where a guest could read one quickly while waiting for the host. I cannot recommend this book enough and in fact have already told quite a few people about it! One thing I know for sure, if Aaron Mahke is attached to a project, it is always BRILLIANT!
June 20, 2024
This book is the definition of the old saying 'truth is stranger than fiction.' Based on the long-running hit podcast, CABINET OF CURIOSITIES is a collection of bizarre tales, almost unbelievable coincidences, weird characters, and odd anecdotes about famous historic people. It's organized into sections and each tale is just a few pages long, very nice for just picking up and randomly reading one.
There are tales of heroic animals, people beset by strange repeated accidents, feats of memory or trickery. I enjoyed learning the true history behind the invention of the croissant, strange misfortunes of Hemingway, Edgar Alan Poe's struggles, scientific advances far pre-dating their supposed invention in the western world, and so many unsolved mysteries.
This book is written simply and would make a great gift for either a young person or the dad/grandpa in your life, also fun for reading out loud.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC!
There are tales of heroic animals, people beset by strange repeated accidents, feats of memory or trickery. I enjoyed learning the true history behind the invention of the croissant, strange misfortunes of Hemingway, Edgar Alan Poe's struggles, scientific advances far pre-dating their supposed invention in the western world, and so many unsolved mysteries.
This book is written simply and would make a great gift for either a young person or the dad/grandpa in your life, also fun for reading out loud.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC!
January 12, 2025
3.5 stars
You need to know what you're getting into before starting this book else you won't enjoy it. It's a series of "fun facts" I'd say told in an anecdote format no longer than two pages each. I honestly don't know how trust worthy the sources are since I didn't check. Some stories were more interesting than others too.
I listened to the audiobook which was a plus since Mahnke narrates himself and he makes a good storyteller. However, some writing tropes grew repetitive, especially when it came to the final reveal. Some were unnecessary too and if anything, they would've grabbed my attention more if I knew who am I listening about. The cons is that sometimes my mind wandered and I couldn't stay focused all the time on the audiobook since the story isn't continuous and might have missed some chapters. I don't think all of the stories should've made it to the "cabinet". Others left my memory as soon as the chapter ended. At the same time, I do realise that many stories were about Americans and some stories about people I've never heard of, so of course, it would resonate differently which person depending on their age/national history.
I'm rating it 4 stars because I don't usually listen to podcasts but I do love learning random facts so this book worked quite well for me. Hence, read a bit about this one before starting it because it's not a book that can be read just any time if you usually read fiction, like I do.
You need to know what you're getting into before starting this book else you won't enjoy it. It's a series of "fun facts" I'd say told in an anecdote format no longer than two pages each. I honestly don't know how trust worthy the sources are since I didn't check. Some stories were more interesting than others too.
I listened to the audiobook which was a plus since Mahnke narrates himself and he makes a good storyteller. However, some writing tropes grew repetitive, especially when it came to the final reveal. Some were unnecessary too and if anything, they would've grabbed my attention more if I knew who am I listening about. The cons is that sometimes my mind wandered and I couldn't stay focused all the time on the audiobook since the story isn't continuous and might have missed some chapters. I don't think all of the stories should've made it to the "cabinet". Others left my memory as soon as the chapter ended. At the same time, I do realise that many stories were about Americans and some stories about people I've never heard of, so of course, it would resonate differently which person depending on their age/national history.
I'm rating it 4 stars because I don't usually listen to podcasts but I do love learning random facts so this book worked quite well for me. Hence, read a bit about this one before starting it because it's not a book that can be read just any time if you usually read fiction, like I do.
September 10, 2025
I am not a podcast person, so I had no idea this book came from one. The reason I picked it up was because of the cover and the title. I liked the gold on black, and I was “curious” about what the “cabinet” might contain.
Did you catch that little bit of wordplay?
If you did and you like crap like that, this is the book for you. Especially if you are interested in odd historical facts and random bits of knowledge.
If you did and you hate crap like that, run. Especially if you hate books that start out strong and end on a boring note.
If you didn’t and you aren’t even sure how you ended up here, you probably won’t notice or be bothered by much of anything so go ahead and give it a go. You can also do me a solid by liking this review. Who really cares, right?
Three stars to a book that made me feel called out after I read this:
“He tended to wear his clothes until they were literally falling off of him in tatters. He typically ate only three hardboiled eggs for dinner with a glass of water, and if someone came to his door who he didn’t care to entertain, he wouldn’t let them in.”
“He was known as a literary glutton, filling his work library with over forty thousand titles and more than ten thousand manuscripts. His home also held thousands of volumes, many of which lined stairways and extended outside the house to his porch.”
Well, except for the daily consumption of three hardboiled eggs. I do like them, but I don’t want to be the stinky girl.
Did you catch that little bit of wordplay?
If you did and you like crap like that, this is the book for you. Especially if you are interested in odd historical facts and random bits of knowledge.
If you did and you hate crap like that, run. Especially if you hate books that start out strong and end on a boring note.
If you didn’t and you aren’t even sure how you ended up here, you probably won’t notice or be bothered by much of anything so go ahead and give it a go. You can also do me a solid by liking this review. Who really cares, right?
Three stars to a book that made me feel called out after I read this:
“He tended to wear his clothes until they were literally falling off of him in tatters. He typically ate only three hardboiled eggs for dinner with a glass of water, and if someone came to his door who he didn’t care to entertain, he wouldn’t let them in.”
“He was known as a literary glutton, filling his work library with over forty thousand titles and more than ten thousand manuscripts. His home also held thousands of volumes, many of which lined stairways and extended outside the house to his porch.”
Well, except for the daily consumption of three hardboiled eggs. I do like them, but I don’t want to be the stinky girl.
November 20, 2024
Three reasons to listen:
- You want an audiobook that both you and the kids can listen to.
- You like your stories like your like tic tacs - short and sweet.
- You adore NPR level narration or you hope to be on Jeopardy one day.
Three reasons to pass:
- You want a listen that inspires deep conversation.
- You need to see your sources. (Though maybe you would see this in the physical book?)
- If the last sentence “reveal” tactic in storytelling drives you nuts.
Many thanks to #MacAudio2024 for this month’s pick- it was an amusing pick to interweave between my heavier reads.
3.75/5 Rounded Up because I think my jeopardy-loving friends would gobble this up.
- You want an audiobook that both you and the kids can listen to.
- You like your stories like your like tic tacs - short and sweet.
- You adore NPR level narration or you hope to be on Jeopardy one day.
Three reasons to pass:
- You want a listen that inspires deep conversation.
- You need to see your sources. (Though maybe you would see this in the physical book?)
- If the last sentence “reveal” tactic in storytelling drives you nuts.
Many thanks to #MacAudio2024 for this month’s pick- it was an amusing pick to interweave between my heavier reads.
3.75/5 Rounded Up because I think my jeopardy-loving friends would gobble this up.
October 23, 2024
This is the perfect novel for a waiting room, coffee table, dare I say guest bathroom? It is filled with odd, even bizarre stories from a coin flip that decided the fate of three people to wars won and lost all during a celestial event.
I had a good time with these tales and read a few each night before bedtime. It would make an excellent gift for someone who likes history and facts.
I had a good time with these tales and read a few each night before bedtime. It would make an excellent gift for someone who likes history and facts.
April 27, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and author Aaron Mahnke for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a long time listener of Aaron's other podcast, Lore , I was IMMENSELY excited and delighted to have a chance to read this book. No one tells a story quite like Aaron Mahnke; he weaves a tapestry with research, with, and humanity. Each story feels like a campfire tale, except these are real!! Weird history comes to life on the page, just waiting for you to uncover the strange but true stories of the past.
I am so happy to say that Aaron's iconic style of storytelling translates just fine to paper, and Cabinet of Curiosities would be a wonderful gift for history buffs and lovers of oddities.
As a long time listener of Aaron's other podcast, Lore , I was IMMENSELY excited and delighted to have a chance to read this book. No one tells a story quite like Aaron Mahnke; he weaves a tapestry with research, with, and humanity. Each story feels like a campfire tale, except these are real!! Weird history comes to life on the page, just waiting for you to uncover the strange but true stories of the past.
I am so happy to say that Aaron's iconic style of storytelling translates just fine to paper, and Cabinet of Curiosities would be a wonderful gift for history buffs and lovers of oddities.
November 21, 2024
"Now, when I call this space a “cabinet of curiosities,” I really do mean that literally..."
Despite sounding like it would be an exciting read, I did not enjoy Cabinet of Curiosities as much as I'd hoped.
According to his website, author Aaron Mahnke is: "One of the most successful podcast producers in the world, Aaron's stories impact millions of fans around the world every month."
Aaron Mahnke:
The book opens with an intro that was a bit slower than it should have been. the author drops the quote above, and it continues below:
Despite fielding some incredibly rich source material, the end product here just did not do it for me. I found most of the writing jumbled, and the book lacking cohesion. The book is really no more than a long collection of seemingly random anecdotes and other historical stories pieced together in a haphazard manner. Each "story" here only lasts a page or two; with a frustrating effect. I found my finicky attention wandering numerous times. The stories covered here are both too many and too short.
********************
I was close to putting this one down a few times. For whatever reason, the writing here just didn't resonate with me. I would not recommend it.
2.5 stars.
Despite sounding like it would be an exciting read, I did not enjoy Cabinet of Curiosities as much as I'd hoped.
According to his website, author Aaron Mahnke is: "One of the most successful podcast producers in the world, Aaron's stories impact millions of fans around the world every month."
Aaron Mahnke:
The book opens with an intro that was a bit slower than it should have been. the author drops the quote above, and it continues below:
"...The practice of building a personal collection of curious objects goes back centuries, although it wasn’t until the 1600s that they really started to take off in Europe. By the 1700s, the trend had spread even to England.
These “wonder rooms,” as they were sometimes called, usually served two purposes. They offered a fun hobby for bored aristocrats to show off their wealth and well-traveled light fingers. Think of them as the private souvenir drawers of various European colonizers, with all the complex baggage that comes with that language."
Despite fielding some incredibly rich source material, the end product here just did not do it for me. I found most of the writing jumbled, and the book lacking cohesion. The book is really no more than a long collection of seemingly random anecdotes and other historical stories pieced together in a haphazard manner. Each "story" here only lasts a page or two; with a frustrating effect. I found my finicky attention wandering numerous times. The stories covered here are both too many and too short.
********************
I was close to putting this one down a few times. For whatever reason, the writing here just didn't resonate with me. I would not recommend it.
2.5 stars.
September 4, 2024
Awesome book! I really loved learning all the different things that were in the book. I will say that it is more like short 2 page stories more than anything. I really enjoyed the different topics that were covered too. Definitely recommend
September 8, 2024
I am a "First Reads" winner. Thank you to the publisher and authors.
An overview:
Content = ****
Concept = **
Reading Satisfaction = **.5
Overall Rating = 2.5
My favorite "curiosity": "Cold-Blooded" (p. 49)
While the "curiosities" of 'Cabinet of Curiosities' were interesting, the translation from podcast to book somehow, for me, didn't quite fit the format that the creators were attempting to achieve. I found the quickness and pared-down antidotes to be less satisfying than a more "traditional" feel of a full-fledged, complete non-fiction book. Perhaps, for most, the quick-reads in each section will be enough, but I'm more a fan of a fully realized, immersive work.
An overview:
Content = ****
Concept = **
Reading Satisfaction = **.5
Overall Rating = 2.5
My favorite "curiosity": "Cold-Blooded" (p. 49)
While the "curiosities" of 'Cabinet of Curiosities' were interesting, the translation from podcast to book somehow, for me, didn't quite fit the format that the creators were attempting to achieve. I found the quickness and pared-down antidotes to be less satisfying than a more "traditional" feel of a full-fledged, complete non-fiction book. Perhaps, for most, the quick-reads in each section will be enough, but I'm more a fan of a fully realized, immersive work.
August 30, 2024
Very interesting stories. The stories are very short but they don't need to be longer. It's not the type of book I would buy due to its format. It is very well researched and I could see it being used as a reference in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
August 4, 2024
Mahnke takes readers through the dusty corners of Wikipedia in this collection of stories. Just like the Victorian Cabinets of Curiosities which inspired him, some of the items in Mahnke's collection are of questionable provenance and some are specifically designed to mislead the reader so they seem more interesting than they are. Many of the stories just aren't that interesting, and the format they are written in gets old quickly. Maybe if you read just one a day it would be easier to take, but I was very excited for this book and had to force myself to finish. I had never heard of his podcast before, but this book is written like the transcript of a podcast that is a poor imitation of Paul Harvey's old radio broadcasts ("and now you know....the rest of the story").
For something that claims to be factual, it really annoyed me that some "facts" that were presented are actually quite controversial, with no hint that the "facts" as presented are questioned or doubted within scientific circles. Some just straight up try to mislead the reader to make things seem eerie when they aren't. The Saqqara Bird story was a great example of this.
Many stories are very superficial and all lead-up such as the one on the 2000 year old computer. There is no additional information there about it, just Mahnke talking about computers to try to make his revelation that there was a "computer" 2000 years ago seem amazing.
Just about every story lists Wikipedia as its source, or "eerie mystery" websites, or other compilations of crazy historical coincidences. Well, just about every story that actually HAS a reference listed at all. Yup, some of them don't. So basically, the research for this book was browsing the web, seemingly without even a bit of fact checking.
Bottom line: super disappointing, but it might be fun if you read them one at a time. Maybe it will spark some interest in learning the REAL stories behind some of these.
For something that claims to be factual, it really annoyed me that some "facts" that were presented are actually quite controversial, with no hint that the "facts" as presented are questioned or doubted within scientific circles. Some just straight up try to mislead the reader to make things seem eerie when they aren't. The Saqqara Bird story was a great example of this.
Many stories are very superficial and all lead-up such as the one on the 2000 year old computer. There is no additional information there about it, just Mahnke talking about computers to try to make his revelation that there was a "computer" 2000 years ago seem amazing.
Just about every story lists Wikipedia as its source, or "eerie mystery" websites, or other compilations of crazy historical coincidences. Well, just about every story that actually HAS a reference listed at all. Yup, some of them don't. So basically, the research for this book was browsing the web, seemingly without even a bit of fact checking.
Bottom line: super disappointing, but it might be fun if you read them one at a time. Maybe it will spark some interest in learning the REAL stories behind some of these.
November 30, 2024
This book really didn't work for me [unfortunately] and I was [in all honesty] really glad when it was over. I found some of the stories schlocky [I know there was to be a certain element to some of them, but my issue was the over-the-top saccharine coated schlock that just kind of makes you gag a little while listening], some of them filled with questionable facts [that were easy enough to fact-check with a simple search, something one should NOT have to do whilst reading the book], and overall, I found this book to be about 10hrs too long; the format of endless little vignettes grew old very quickly [This format probably works amazingly well for his podcast, but absolutely does not work here, at least it didn't for me] and I was left wishing it had been a much shorter ook with much more in-depth stories of real curiosities.
Unfortunately, the audiobook also didn't work for me; while Mr. Mahnke has a very nice speaking voice, his delivery for the stories was exactly the same with every single story, no matter what was happening in the story [I wasn't sure if he liked the story, hated the story, was completely indifferent to the story...] and after just 5-6 stories, everything started sounding exactly the same, and to be honest, after THIRTEEN hours of this, I only remember ONE story [ONE! Crazy right?] and that is Frank Morgan's Coat, which was a great story. All of that just makes me really sad as this could have been a really fantastic book if there was more quality and less quantity.
I, in all honesty, cannot recommend this book to anyone; what a huge disappointment.
I was invited to read/review this by the Publisher [St. Martin's Press], and I thank them and Macmillan Audio for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, the audiobook also didn't work for me; while Mr. Mahnke has a very nice speaking voice, his delivery for the stories was exactly the same with every single story, no matter what was happening in the story [I wasn't sure if he liked the story, hated the story, was completely indifferent to the story...] and after just 5-6 stories, everything started sounding exactly the same, and to be honest, after THIRTEEN hours of this, I only remember ONE story [ONE! Crazy right?] and that is Frank Morgan's Coat, which was a great story. All of that just makes me really sad as this could have been a really fantastic book if there was more quality and less quantity.
I, in all honesty, cannot recommend this book to anyone; what a huge disappointment.
I was invited to read/review this by the Publisher [St. Martin's Press], and I thank them and Macmillan Audio for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2024
Cabinet of curiosity‘s, a historical tour of the unbelievable, unsettling and bizarre by Aaron ManhkeWith a contribution by Harry Marks. I have been a big fan of Aaron Mankey ever since his lore podcast and so when I saw this book I knew I wanted to read it I started it and didn’t stop until I was done. These stories are so good from incredible coincidences like a taxi man hitting two brothers year apart with the same passenger in his backseat riding the same scooter to a mummy that has been dead for thousands of years and it looks like she is just sleeping too many and much more Stranger stories. They have stories about how the Marks brothers got their nickname Groucho Harpo Chico to Zeppo they are told and Paul Harvey fashion with a mike drop endings or I thank God that wasn’t me type ending and it all makes for one interesting read. This is quite a long book but because the stories are so interesting the time passes by quickly and I must say on one day I was even late making dinner. But once you start reading about the first wind turbine that was made thousands of years ago to how England gain possession of a popular monument and tourist attraction it is hard to put the book down. This is for anyone who loves useless but all day it interesting information to not only impress your friends but entertain yourself. It is written by a great storyteller in Aaron Mankey and is a book I definitely recommend. I want to thank Saint Martin’s press for my free art copy via NetGalley. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
March 7, 2025
I was originally drawn to Cabinet of Curiosities because I'm always a sucker for knowledge, in any dose. Stories of strange or interesting coincidences are always a great inspiration for a new story or a trip down a research rabbit hole that will lead to fun conversations with friends or family.
The book opens with stories of coincidence and things that make you go hmmmm. I found that although a handful I had heard before, most of the introductory tales were relatively unknown and as someone who is an avid reader, I found this refreshing. However, as the book progressed, some of the tales took on more of a skeptical or supernatural take. A few were even easily debunked as being blatantly false which soured me a bit on the remaining stories. I am of a very scientific mind, so although I can appreciate weird coincidences, I have a difficult time with supernatural or supernatural leaning events being reported as fact without any other alternative explanation. Items that have been discovered in antiquity that claim to be of advanced tech when in reality the knowledge and advancement of most ancient civilizations was quite vast and so much of that knowledge had been lost or destroyed due to conquests, natural disasters, and the like. To automatically suggest time traveling, aliens, or other unearthly explanations removes credibility in my eyes.
Overall, this was a fun "bathroom read" as my generation used to call it before the advent of smart phones. It is something easy to pick up and read a few stories while in a waiting room or at night before bed. Although interesting and thought provoking, I would take some of the more speculative stories with a grain of salt and categorize them more as legends than actual fact as stories, whether oral or written accounts can always be exaggerated.
Recommended for fans of history and weird, but true (ish) tales.
Thank you to NetGalley, Aaron Mahnke, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book opens with stories of coincidence and things that make you go hmmmm. I found that although a handful I had heard before, most of the introductory tales were relatively unknown and as someone who is an avid reader, I found this refreshing. However, as the book progressed, some of the tales took on more of a skeptical or supernatural take. A few were even easily debunked as being blatantly false which soured me a bit on the remaining stories. I am of a very scientific mind, so although I can appreciate weird coincidences, I have a difficult time with supernatural or supernatural leaning events being reported as fact without any other alternative explanation. Items that have been discovered in antiquity that claim to be of advanced tech when in reality the knowledge and advancement of most ancient civilizations was quite vast and so much of that knowledge had been lost or destroyed due to conquests, natural disasters, and the like. To automatically suggest time traveling, aliens, or other unearthly explanations removes credibility in my eyes.
Overall, this was a fun "bathroom read" as my generation used to call it before the advent of smart phones. It is something easy to pick up and read a few stories while in a waiting room or at night before bed. Although interesting and thought provoking, I would take some of the more speculative stories with a grain of salt and categorize them more as legends than actual fact as stories, whether oral or written accounts can always be exaggerated.
Recommended for fans of history and weird, but true (ish) tales.
Thank you to NetGalley, Aaron Mahnke, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
December 10, 2024If you’re searching for the perfect gift for the history nerd in your life, look no further! Cabinet of Curiosities, based on the hit podcast with the same name, offers a series of short but intriguing stories about eccentric people, strange events, and unusual places throughout history. It’s a great book to grab when you have just a few minutes to spare, and with its weird and wacky content, it would make an entertaining coffee table book. Thanks to St Martins and Macmillan Audio for gifting me a copy (that’s currently gracing my coffee table!)
If you’re interested in checking it out for yourself, I highly recommend the audiobook. Narrated by the author (who also hosts the podcast), his comfort with the medium shines through as he brings each story to life. At the end of each section, there's a brief interlude where he shares insights into the creative process behind the book and the podcast—how he comes up with ideas, what happens when a story doesn't pan out, and other behind-the-scenes tidbits. I found these moments especially fascinating.
As someone who prefers audiobooks to podcasts, I found the entire concept of this book so intriguing that I’m tempted to join team podcast so I can get more from the Cabinet of Curiosities. Do you listen to podcasts? Let me know some of your favorites!
If you’re interested in checking it out for yourself, I highly recommend the audiobook. Narrated by the author (who also hosts the podcast), his comfort with the medium shines through as he brings each story to life. At the end of each section, there's a brief interlude where he shares insights into the creative process behind the book and the podcast—how he comes up with ideas, what happens when a story doesn't pan out, and other behind-the-scenes tidbits. I found these moments especially fascinating.
As someone who prefers audiobooks to podcasts, I found the entire concept of this book so intriguing that I’m tempted to join team podcast so I can get more from the Cabinet of Curiosities. Do you listen to podcasts? Let me know some of your favorites!
August 30, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book.
What I liked:
-The chapters are short - each one is a self-contained story, so it's easy to dip in and out of the book at leisure.
- Most of the stories are interesting in their own way.
What I didn't like:
- The puns. So. Many. Puns. That got old pretty quickly.
- The way many of the stories were set up with some backstory, then throwing in the phrase, "You see, ..." followed by the Twist! That would be great for a podcast or audiobook, but in print it doesn't really work.
Overall, this would be a good "bathroom reader" because of the short chapters, but not really something to sit down and read cover to cover.
What I liked:
-The chapters are short - each one is a self-contained story, so it's easy to dip in and out of the book at leisure.
- Most of the stories are interesting in their own way.
What I didn't like:
- The puns. So. Many. Puns. That got old pretty quickly.
- The way many of the stories were set up with some backstory, then throwing in the phrase, "You see, ..." followed by the Twist! That would be great for a podcast or audiobook, but in print it doesn't really work.
Overall, this would be a good "bathroom reader" because of the short chapters, but not really something to sit down and read cover to cover.
November 20, 2024
They say “truth is stranger than fiction.” Aaron Mahnke & his knack for storytelling proves that to be true!
Wild Coincidences, Bizarre Events, Eerie Mysteries & Baffling Origins are just a few of the fun sections full of facts you never knew you needed to know.
Each section is broken up into 3-5 min bite sized stories, making it easy to squeeze a few in while driving or doing chores.
If you have an affinity with anything historical, mysterious or unusual, both this book & his podcast of the same name need to be on your radar! I 100% recommend this one on audio, it was narrated by the author & so fun to listen too.
• read if you like :
-podcasts, especially Aaron Mahnke’s podcasts Lore & Cabinet of Curiosities!
-obscure history
-trivia & weird facts
-bite sized stories
-bizarre coincidences
-dad jokes
Thank you to @macmillan.audio #gifted audiobook!
Wild Coincidences, Bizarre Events, Eerie Mysteries & Baffling Origins are just a few of the fun sections full of facts you never knew you needed to know.
Each section is broken up into 3-5 min bite sized stories, making it easy to squeeze a few in while driving or doing chores.
If you have an affinity with anything historical, mysterious or unusual, both this book & his podcast of the same name need to be on your radar! I 100% recommend this one on audio, it was narrated by the author & so fun to listen too.
• read if you like :
-podcasts, especially Aaron Mahnke’s podcasts Lore & Cabinet of Curiosities!
-obscure history
-trivia & weird facts
-bite sized stories
-bizarre coincidences
-dad jokes
Thank you to @macmillan.audio #gifted audiobook!
July 18, 2025
3 stars (= good)
This is a collection of somewhat oddball true stories apparently culled from a “smash hit” podcast. At least that’s what the cover says. I’ve been reading these a few at a time since I got the book for Christmas. Many of the stories are interesting, some are slightly spooky, and most were new to me. Overall it’s pretty good fun in small doses. The presentation reminds me of Paul Harvey’s radio segments, where he would tell an odd story from history with a surprise twist at the end. Except here, instead of closing with “…and now you know the rest of the story,” Mahnke will drop in a groaner of a Dad joke.
This is a collection of somewhat oddball true stories apparently culled from a “smash hit” podcast. At least that’s what the cover says. I’ve been reading these a few at a time since I got the book for Christmas. Many of the stories are interesting, some are slightly spooky, and most were new to me. Overall it’s pretty good fun in small doses. The presentation reminds me of Paul Harvey’s radio segments, where he would tell an odd story from history with a surprise twist at the end. Except here, instead of closing with “…and now you know the rest of the story,” Mahnke will drop in a groaner of a Dad joke.
November 15, 2024
I love the concept of this book. The title is very fitting.
Many, many of these curiosities were completely unknown to me- I learned a lot. Very interesting and very fun! I loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc 🤍
Many, many of these curiosities were completely unknown to me- I learned a lot. Very interesting and very fun! I loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc 🤍
January 22, 2025
I want to give this 4 stars out of being a general fan of Aaron Mahnke's work, but I consider this a lesser work than his Lore books. The stories are meant to be shorter and snappier than Lore, and they are, but in succession, even artfully arranged they can get repetitive in sections. The interview intermissions are also more distracting than interesting.
Yet, for all the stories that I knew, some fantastic new stories took me by surprise too, so overall I enjoyed this book, but not as much as his previous ones.
In truth, I wish he would do books based on the seasons of Unobscured; I loved those deep dives.
Yet, for all the stories that I knew, some fantastic new stories took me by surprise too, so overall I enjoyed this book, but not as much as his previous ones.
In truth, I wish he would do books based on the seasons of Unobscured; I loved those deep dives.
November 20, 2024
My son who is 13 found this book to be extremely interesting. His plan is to be a history teacher so this was right up his alley. For me it was just okay. I did like that the chapters were very short and easy to read. And it’s always nice to learn some new historical facts.
Overall not my particular cup of tea, but I’m sure it will appeal to many.
I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.
Overall not my particular cup of tea, but I’m sure it will appeal to many.
I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.
November 13, 2024
DNF @ 70%
It’s been a while since I last tried any, and I had forgotten that Aaron Mahnke’s books are unfortunately not for me.
Like the Lore books, this is essentially just little bite-sized snippets of history that only loosely meet the theme (Is there even a theme? Really in name only). If you have very little background in history or just like factoid/trivia content, you’ll likely enjoy this more than I did.
But if you have a lot of background in history or want more in-depth information, this is not the place to go. I see why this works as a podcast, but I don’t think it translates especially well to book form, and indeed the book feels a little like reading a podcast script.
Mahnke is a good researcher who does a good job choosing material. And there’s absolutely a place for more approachable nonfiction like this. But for readers like me, there’s just too much here that you’ve heard before, and not enough detail on the segments where you might want more.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
It’s been a while since I last tried any, and I had forgotten that Aaron Mahnke’s books are unfortunately not for me.
Like the Lore books, this is essentially just little bite-sized snippets of history that only loosely meet the theme (Is there even a theme? Really in name only). If you have very little background in history or just like factoid/trivia content, you’ll likely enjoy this more than I did.
But if you have a lot of background in history or want more in-depth information, this is not the place to go. I see why this works as a podcast, but I don’t think it translates especially well to book form, and indeed the book feels a little like reading a podcast script.
Mahnke is a good researcher who does a good job choosing material. And there’s absolutely a place for more approachable nonfiction like this. But for readers like me, there’s just too much here that you’ve heard before, and not enough detail on the segments where you might want more.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
February 23, 2025
I really enjoyed the audiobook of this. Now I need to check out the Noble Blood podcast too.
Read
May 7, 2025I've been a fan of Aaron's podcasts for years and began listening to Cabinet of Curiosities from the first episode. This book is based on that podcast, and if you enjoy his writing style, you will absolutely eat this up. If you are new to the author - get ready to have a new obsession. There is a little something for everyone here, from bizarre history to enthralling mysteries, and I enjoyed every minute.
Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC!
Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC!
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