Bad Days in History

A couple of weeks ago, while browsing through the book selection at my local Barnes & Noble (yes, they still exist!), I ran across a type of daily reading that I’ve never considered before: Bad Days in History: A Gleefully Grim Chronicle of Misfortune, Mayhem, and Misery for Every Day of the Year. My normal choice for daily reading is generally either a devotional, or some kind of thought-provoking or inspirational reading, so I picked the book up with the intent of a quick glance… but definitely not a purchase.

However, by the very fact that I’m writing a blog post about it, you can probably guess what happened next. I flipped to the reading of the day, and found it amusing enough that I kept skimming. A few minutes later, the book was on my pile to purchase, and ever since it’s been part of my daily reading regimen.

But why is it so interesting, and why would I recommend it to others? It boils down to the combination of history and (grim) humor. I’ve always been someone who enjoys history and interesting facts, and so far this book is scratching that itch well. Plus, it adds a bit of randomness to my day right at the start!