Richard Zacks Livres

s/t: The Unauthorized and Outrageous Supplement to Everything You Thought You Knew About Art, Sex, Business, Crime, Science, Medicine, and Other Fields of Human Knowledge Forget the history you were taught in school; Richard Zacks's version is crueler and funnier than anything you might have learned in seventh-grade civics--and much more of a gross-out, too. Described on the book jacket as an "autodidact extraordinaire," Zacks is also the author of History Laid Bare, making him something of an expert guide through history's back alleys and side streets. There's no fact too seamy or perverse for Zacks to drag out into the light of day, from matters scatological and sexual to some of history's most truly bizarre episodes. Curious about ancient nose-blowing etiquette? What about the sexual proclivities of Catherine the Great? Throughout chapters such as "The Evolution of Underwear" and "Dentistry Before Novocaine," Zacks proves a tireless debunker of popular myths as well as a muckraker par excellence.

This gripping true story chronicles the life of an unsung American hero who took on the notorious Barbary Pirates. It details his daring exploits and strategic maneuvers that ultimately led to their defeat, showcasing themes of bravery, resilience, and the fight for justice. Through vivid storytelling, the narrative highlights the historical context of piracy and its impact on American interests, revealing the challenges faced by this remarkable individual in a tumultuous era.

Everybody knows the legend of Captain Kidd, America's most ruthless buccanneer. Few people realize that the facts of his life make for a much better tale. Kidd was actually a tough New York sea captain hired to chase pirates, a married war hero whose secret mission took a spectacularly bad turn.This harrowing tale traces Kidd's voyages in the 1690s from his home near Wall Street to Whitehall Palace in London, from the ports of the Caribbean to a secret pirate paradise off Madagascar. Author Richard Zacks, during his research, also unearthed the story of a long forgotten rogue named Robert Culliford, who dogged Kidd and led Kidd's crew to mutiny not once but twice. The lives of Kidd and Culliford play out like an unscripted one man would hang in the harbor, the other would walk away with the treasure. Filled with superb writing and impeccable research, The Pirate Hunter is both a masterpiece of historical detective work and a ripping good yarn, and it delivers something an authentic pirate story for grown-ups.

In the 1890s, Mark Twain came back from the dead. The famous author's career was collapsing, his masterpieces were at risk of falling into oblivion, and he was even mistakenly reported dead. But Twain orchestrated an amazing late-in- life comeback from bankruptcy, bad reviews, and family disaster by setting out on an unprecedented international comedy tour to restore his fortunes. Richard Zacks's Chasing the Last Laugh captures some of Twain's cleverest and funniest moments-many newly discovered in unpublished notebooks and letters-as he rode elephants in India, sorted diamonds in South Africa, and talked his way out of hell ninety minutes at a time. This untold chapter in the author's life began with ridiculously bad choices and ended in hard-won triumph.

Set in the 1890s, the story follows Theodore Roosevelt as he becomes the police commissioner of a corrupt New York City filled with vice and crime. Driven by a reformer's passion, he battles Tammany Hall, conducts late-night inspections of police officers, and enforces laws against Sunday drinking. Roosevelt's mission is to transform the city by promoting wholesome family entertainment, showcasing his determination to combat corruption and reshape societal norms in a vibrant, chaotic urban landscape.