The Story Behind
By Emily Prokop
The Extraordinary History of Ordinary Objects. Mango Publishing Group, 2018.
Summary of The Story Behind book by Emily Prokop
From the host of the popular podcast about the origins of everyday items comes a text version cluing you into the production of objects like buttons, Band-Aids, and traffic lights that you may use regularly without even thinking about how they came to be.
Chapters in The Story Behind book summary
What do you get from this book? Astounding accounts of the brilliant concepts that make our lives easier
Common work objects like correction fluid and paper clips have some pretty interesting origins
Fashion has always been a big part of human society, but just how did certain fashions come to be?
No one is firm on the exact origins of peanut butter and pretzels, but the history of sliced bread is well documented
If only we didn’t have to worry about cavities, life would be so much sweeter with more cookie and candy consumption
Some classic toys will likely never go away—most children would play all day if you let them
Entertainment is an essential part of life, whether it's found in the theater, in newspapers, or online
So many items around the house have extraordinary backstories that most of us don’t know or think about
Toothbrushes and treadmills have become so prevalent, it’s hard to imagine living without them
While gunpowder and Kevlar used in bulletproof vests were invented unintentionally, the revolver had a definite aim
Human ingenuity has made our lives not only easier, but also safer, so we should never stop innovating
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
Unlock all 14 chapters of The Story Behind — Get full access to this book summary and thousands more on Lobab.
The Story Behind — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read The Story Behind book
- The intensely curious
- trivia buffs
- anyone who has wondered how certain items were first made
- those wanting to continue the tradition of producing useful objects
About the author of The Story Behind
Emily Prokop
Emily Prokop started a podcast called The Story Behind in 2016 so that she could share historical tidbits and trivia with the world. She is a journalism graduate from Southern Connecticut State University and previously worked as a puzzle editor, while also contributing to newspapers and magazines.
Books similar to The Story Behind
Related books that explore themes found in The Story Behind
Oliver Roeder
A Human History. W.W. Norton & Company, 2022.
Stephen Cavalier
The World History of Animation. Quarto Publishing, 2011.
Rae Nudson
The Power and Pitfalls of Beauty Culture, from Cleopatra to Kim Kardashian. Beacon Press, 2021.
Pagan Kennedy
How We Dream Up Things That Change the World. Eamon Dolan Books, 2016.
Emma Kay
A Dark History of Chocolate. Pen and Sword History, 2021.
Rebecca Rupp
Curious (but True) Stories of Common Vegetables. Storey Publishing, 2011.
Kassia St. Clair
How Fabric Changed History. Liveright, 2019.
Topics related to The Story Behind book
Explore topics that share themes with The Story Behind across Lobab's library
Categories The Story Behind book belongs to
Discover other book summaries in the same categories as The Story Behind
If you liked The Story Behind, you might also enjoy
Books on different topics that Lobab readers often explore alongside The Story Behind
David A. Sinclair
Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To. Atria Books, 2019.
Kassia St. Clair
The Secret Lives of Color. Penguin Books, 2017.
Mark Miodownik
Exploring the Marvelous Materials that Shape Our Man-Made World. Mariner Books, 2015.
Greg Ip
Why Safety Can Be Dangerous and How Danger Makes Us Safe. Little, Brown and Company, 2015.
Blake Masters
Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future. Currency, 2014.
Laura Lee
How the Weather Has Changed History. HarperCollins, 2006.
Mark Pendergrast
The History of Coffee and How It Transformed the World. Basic Books, 2019.
David Goldblatt
A Global History of the Olympics. W.W. Norton & Company, 2016.
Nate Pedersen
A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything. Workman Publishing, 2017.
Oliver Roeder
A Human History. W.W. Norton & Company, 2022.
Can't decide where to start?
With thousands of book summaries across multiple categories and topics, there's always something new to discover. Browse the full library to find your next great read.
Your library
All-you-can-read
Categories
15 categories
Topics
120+ topics
Today's free book summary
Every day, one book summary is completely free to read. Subscribe to unlock the entire library — or just enjoy today's pick on us.
Rejection Proof
Jia Jiang
A fascinating look at rejection from every angle, from understanding and overcoming the fear of rejection to learning how to increase your chances of a yes while becoming perfectly okay with a no.
Library
All-you-can-read
Formats
Text & audio
Free daily
1 book / day
What Lobab readers are saying
Not sure if Lobab book summaries are for you? Here's what our community thinks.
“Lobab is a standout in the world of book summary apps, offering concise, insightful summaries of a wide range of books. Its user-friendly interface and well-crafted summaries allow users to quickly grasp the essence of complex works, making it an invaluable tool for those looking to learn more in less time. Whether for personal growth or professional development, Lobab is a game changer for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge efficiently. Highly recommended!”
Ramogh
Lobab Reader
“Top quality app with plenty of brilliant summaries!”
Benjamin Roche
Lobab Reader
“I found a really great book app that has made reading even more enjoyable ⭐️📚. It is super easy to use, has a lot of books to choose from, gives personalized recommendations, works well with e-readers, has an active community, and is accessible to everyone. I highly recommend it to all book enthusiasts!”
Nedal Ahmed
Lobab Reader