HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE – Firsts: Origins Of Everyday Things That Changed The World

| Tue 12-08-09

firsts origins of everyday things that changed the world cover

GIFT IDEA – FIRSTS: ORIGINS OF EVERYDAY THINGS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

I think this book sounds like an interesting light read, perfect for trivia and history buffs.

About Firsts: Origins of Everyday Things that Changed the World

ISBN: 9781592579242
Published October 2009, Alpha Books
Price $12.95

Ever wonder when the first cheese in a can was? Or the first person buried on the moon? Or even the first disposable diaper?

Firsts Origins of Everyday Things that Changed the World will trace you through the most unique milestones of human achievement to answer any question you may have about histories firsts.

Written by Wilson Casey, a trivia and FAQ expert, this book is an amazing collection of over 500 firsts on nearly every topic imaginable. From fashion to food, politics to science, entertainment to art, each first entry offers a full explanation of the topic, written in a humorous yet authoritative style.

History and culture buffs can read about firsts such as:

The first cellular phone call: On April 3, 1973, Martin Cooper, general manager of Motorola’s Communications Systems Division, placed the first call on a cellular phone. Who did he call? His rival, Joel Engel of AT&T’s Bell Labs.

The first Beer: Beer is the first alcoholic beverage known to civilization, with mentions dating to thousands of years ago. Nearly every culture developed its own version of beer, using various grains like millet, maize, cassava, rice, and barley.

The first Brassiere: Around 2500 b.c.e., warrior Minoan women on the Greek isle of Crete began wearing and using a garment resembling a bra. It shoved their bare breasts upward and exposed their breasts from their clothing.

The first Bubble Gum: In 1928, the first marketable bubble gum was invented by 23-year-old Walter E. Diemer, an accountant with the Fleer chewing gum company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Casey conducted research to compile the most historically correct firsts. This book is sincerely dedicated to the real first innovators who are not in history textbooks.

WIN IT!

FIVE winners will each receive a copy of the book Firsts: Origins Of Everyday Things That Changed The World.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you’d be interested to know the origin of.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 – Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 – Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 – Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 – Friend me on Facebook.
1 – Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 – Place my button on your blog.
1 – Place my holiday gift guide button on your blog.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Friday 12/18/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

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Category: Entertainment, Gift guide, Giveaways

Comments (58)

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  1. 50
    Dianad says:

    Would like to know the origin of post it notes.Thanks for the wonderful giveaway

  2. 49
    Cheryl Bradley says:

    faved you on technorati (id: cln1812)

  3. 48
    Cheryl Bradley says:

    follow you on twitter (id: cln1812)

  4. 47
    Cheryl Bradley says:

    subscribe to your RSS feed (cln1812@gmail.com)

  5. 46
    Cheryl Bradley says:

    I would like to know the origin of candy.

  6. 45
    Kimberly B. says:

    I friend requested you on Facebook.

  7. 44
    Kimberly B. says:

    Follow you on Twitter
    winsome6

  8. 43
    Kimberly B. says:

    I subscribe to your RSS Feed.

  9. 42
    Kimberly B. says:

    I’d like to know the origin of ice-cream.

  10. 41
    Wendy says:

    I’d like to know the origin of plastic.

  11. 40
  12. 39

    I’d love to know the origin of the ball point pen…

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

  13. 38
    Birdie S. says:

    frined of yours on FB Birdie Skolfield

  14. 37
    Steffany says:

    origin of shoe laces

  15. 36
    Kara says:

    I’d like to know the ORIGIN of Silly Putty !!!!!!!!!!!

  16. 35
    Jeccica Simpson says:

    I’d like to know the origin of String Cheese !!!!!

  17. 34
    Linda Kish says:

    The origin of crayons

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  18. 33
    karen pepin says:

    I’d like to know the origins of clothing styles…there’s been some weird ones!

  19. 32
  20. 31
    Deb Anderson says:

    I faved you on technorati
    tnshadylady

  21. 30
    Deb Anderson says:

    I’m following on twitter
    tnshadylady

  22. 29
    Deb Anderson says:

    I get your rss feed

  23. 28
    Deb Anderson says:

    Ink pens have always fascinated me. I’d love to know the origins!

  24. 27
    Raelena says:

    follow on twitter @throuthehaze

  25. 26
    Raelena says:

    subscriber

  26. 25
    Raelena says:

    I would love to know the origin of bikes.

  27. 24
    Daniel M says:

    who really invented the wheel? (yeah bet i could find something if i googled it)

  28. 23
    sandra says:

    i’d like to know the origin of trains

  29. 22
    cheryl c. says:

    email subscriber

    castings at mindspring dot com

  30. 21
    cheryl c. says:

    I would like to know the origins of the microwave oven because I can’t live without mine. ;-)

    castings at mindspring dot com

  31. 20
    Staci A says:

    And I faved you on Technorati-MommaStaciA. Thanks!

  32. 19
    Staci A says:

    I follow on Twitter @MommaStaciA

  33. 18
    Staci A says:

    I subscribe to your RSS.

  34. 17
    Staci A says:

    I’d love to know about the origins of Christmas ornaments…or different foods, like french fries or pizza!

  35. 16
    Maggie C. says:

    This is kind of gross, but I’d like to know the origins of the tampon. ;)
    weird chick online at gmail dot com

  36. 15
    Birdie S. says:

    Im a subscriber of YOURS !!!!!!

  37. 14
    Birdie S. says:

    I’d like to know the origin of Pick -Up-Stiks !!!!

  38. 13
    hollowsins says:

    Im a facebook friend
    hollowsins

  39. 12
    hollowsins says:

    I faved you on technorati
    hollowsins

  40. 11
    hollowsins says:

    Im a twitter follower
    hollowsins

  41. 10
    hollowsins says:

    I would be interested to know where jewelry came from..specifically ring wearing

  42. 9
    Michelle says:

    I would love to know the origin of ….. stop lights… coffee… the christmas star/angel/topper… lots of things!

  43. 8
    Eileen says:

    I subscribe by email. THANKS!!

    ejrichter60 at gmail dot com

  44. 7
    Eileen says:

    Ahhh. the first hair coloring solutions. And who the heck were the
    guinea pigs for those kinds of inventions. Wonder if anyone lost all their hair in the process of experimenting with the solutions? I am one who is glad it was invented, but hope they come up with even safer alternatives than those heavy caustic solution that make you stink for days and obviously aren’t good for you.

    ejrichter60@gmail.com

  45. 6
    NGS says:

    I subscribe to your RSS feed.

  46. 5
    NGS says:

    I’m always interested in hearing how people first realized you could eat things. How did someone realize that they could pop certain kinds of corn, mix flour and egg and sugar and create a cake, or even something more simple like eating chicken eggs?

  47. 4
    judy brittle says:

    Facebook friend
    Judy Brittle

  48. 3
    judy brittle says:

    I follow on Twitter
    kewpiedoll04

  49. 2
    judy brittle says:

    I would love to know the first board game. As kids we were given a Monopoly game from a neighbor that was dated 1935. This book would be great to have. Thank you!

  50. 1
    pat. says:

    I would have bet that wine came before beer.