During Medieval times, medical practice included bloodletting, leeching, and sometimes sawing off a hand or foot. Those must have been awful jobs! But the poor physicians didn't have it as bad as dung farmers or smelly fullers. Readers will discover the many terrible tasks that needed to be done, all while learning the social and political structure of Medieval Europe. Sidebars and historical images add even more detail for readers to enjoy--horrible though it may be!
During the Renaissance, people were pinned into their clothing, even elaborate gowns. Children often had to work as pin makers, a job that paid only about $1 for each 20,000 pins made! Clear—but gross—descriptions of other horrible jobs of the Renaissance will draw readers into the castles of lords and the dung heaps tended by peasants. The historical content supports the social studies curriculum, while sidebars and colorful images augment some of the strangest, nastiest tasks that needed doing during that time.
An in-depth guide to life in medieval England, including class, housing, spirituality, fashion, grooming, food, commerce, jobs, health, law, war, and more. Imagine you were transported back in time to Medieval England and had to start a new life there. Without mobile phones, ipads, internet, and social media networks, when transport means walking or, if you’re fortunate, horseback, how will you know where you are or what to do? Where will you live? What is there to eat? What shall you wear? How can you communicate when nobody speaks as you do and what about money? Who can you go to if you fall ill or are mugged in the street? However can you fit into and thrive in this strange environment full of odd people who seem so different from you? All these questions and many more are answered in this new guidebook for time-travelers: How to Survive in Medieval England. A handy self-help guide with tips and suggestions to make your visit to the Middle Ages much more fun, this lively and engaging book will help the reader deal with the new experiences they may encounter and the problems that might occur. Know the laws so you don’t get into trouble or show your ignorance in an embarrassing faux pas. Enjoy interviews with the celebrities of the day, from a businesswoman and a condemned felon, to a royal cook and King Richard III himself. Have a go at preparing medieval dishes and learn some new words to set the mood for your time-travelling adventure. Have an exciting visit but be sure to keep this book at hand. “Fun and creative. . . . If you want a handy guide to take on your journeys to the past or you just want a book to better understand the past, I highly suggest you read this book, “How to Survive in Medieval England” by Toni Mount.” —Adventures of a Tudor Nerd
Whether it's swilling out the crotch of a knight's soiled armor after the battle of Agincourt, risking his neck in the rigging of HMS Victory, or as "Groom of the Stool" going to places where none of Henry VIII's six wives would venture, Tony endures the worst jobs imaginable to get to the bottom (sometimes literally) of the story. From the Roman invasion to the reign of Queen Victoria, Tony has met the challenge of seeking out the worst jobs of each era. The Gunpowder Plot drew Tony to the role of the Saltpetre Man who collected human waste because its nitrate content could be turned into gunpowder. In the same vein, he has revealed some of the worst jobs behind the building of the great medieval cathedrals. With Tony we discover the dire conditions of Nelson's Victory, where the most common form of retirement was being sewn into a hammock with a couple of cannon balls and dropped over the side. Then there's the impact of the Industrial Revolution, a source of wealth and power for the few, but a cornucopia of lousy jobs for the many. Packed with disgusting yet fascinating professions, this book really gets into the grime of how life was for ordinary people, and provides a vivid alternative (and fairly disgusting) history of Britain.
From David Graeber, the bestselling author of The Dawn of Everything and Debt—“a master of opening up thought and stimulating debate” (Slate)—a powerful argument against the rise of meaningless, unfulfilling jobs…and their consequences. Does your job make a meaningful contribution to the world? In the spring of 2013, David Graeber asked this question in a playful, provocative essay titled “On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs.” It went viral. After one million online views in seventeen different languages, people all over the world are still debating the answer. There are hordes of people—HR consultants, communication coordinators, telemarketing researchers, corporate lawyers—whose jobs are useless, and, tragically, they know it. These people are caught in bullshit jobs. Graeber explores one of society’s most vexing and deeply felt concerns, indicting among other villains a particular strain of finance capitalism that betrays ideals shared by thinkers ranging from Keynes to Lincoln. “Clever and charismatic” (The New Yorker), Bullshit Jobs gives individuals, corporations, and societies permission to undergo a shift in values, placing creative and caring work at the center of our culture. This book is for everyone who wants to turn their vocation back into an avocation and “a thought-provoking examination of our working lives” (Financial Times).
Readers can discover all the foul facts about the MEASLY MIDDLE AGES, including why chickens had their bottoms shaved, a genuine jester's joke and what ten-year-old treacle was used for. With a bold, accessible new look, these bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.
This history of medieval village life is told through the experiences of Cecilia Penifader, a peasant woman who lived on one English manor in the early fourteenth century. This truly unique book offers a wealth of insight into medieval peasant society, bringing many of the characteristics of a time and a people to life. Short and readable, it is an ideal text for undergraduate teaching, suitable for courses in Western civilization, medieval history, women's history, and English history.
You hate the title! I knew it. Of course you don't really hate your job. You are just not too pleased with certain individuals you have to work with and you would change a few things if you were in charge. But you aren't in charge, and perhaps that is what you despise the most. Money we earn under someone else's rule--while relinquishing our own individuality--pays for a little bit of freedom later ... and for benefits. Increasing seniority and benefits are the leash and collar that keep us from straying. Unpleasant job environments are realities of life and always will be. You, however, are responsible for your happiness--all of it. Looking forward to retirement means your life sucks, today. So? Change it! Employed or self-employed, whether you hate your work or not, you can claim a larger piece of freedom and individuality. Burn down your boredom, shock yourself out of silent suffering, and tear up the unwritten rules of subjugation. Discover new options so you can experience freedom and happiness.
John Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words. History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits! All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Middle Ages. (*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
