Fantastic New Jericho River Review
My book, The Jericho River, just got a fantastic new review from William Brown of Ancient History Encyclopedia. Here’s a sample:
I was thoroughly impressed by David Tollen’s The Jericho River, particularly because I primarily read non-fiction books. Even so, I was impressed by the fluid and smooth manner in which Tollen introduces the reader to a wide variety of cultures through time and space. Moreover, his ability to work comparisons of the respective cultures into the narrative is particularly valuable, as it illustrates both the uniqueness and similarities throughout cultures in world history. Undoubtedly, this book would be a great starting point for Social Studies educators looking to approach their curriculum in a way that does not begin with a textbook but instead with an engaging work of historical fiction. That is to say, I highly recommend The Jericho River by David Tollen for educators and students interested in an engaging presentation of history.
Click here to see the whole review!
And click here by buy an e-book or paperback copy. (The e-book is the dark cover above, while the paperback is the gold one.)
Fat Men’s Clubs
Did you know America used to have fat men’s clubs? They proliferated during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. And they played just the role you might guess: venues for very overweight men to socialize and network. One famous club in Vermont had a secret handshake and a minimum weight of 200 lbs. (The average 200-pound man carried more fat then than now, since body-building was rare, and we’re taller.) Read more…
Ancient History Encyclopedia Wins Lovie Awards!
I’m delighted to announce that Ancient History Encyclopedia won at the 2018 Lovie Awards! In fact, we won twice — both the People’s Choice Award and the Silver Medal for Schools & Education. Read more…
I wanted to offer something fun for teachers and students — and for anyone who loves history as much as I do. That’s why I created The Jericho River History Quiz.
It’s an interactive educational experience. Test your knowledge, learn revealing truths, and enjoy the colorful graphics, giving you a window into the past. Read more…
Ancient History Encyclopedia
There’s a great website out there, and if you don’t already know about it, you should. It’s Ancient History Encyclopedia: https://www.ancient.eu/. It’s a curated resource on history, with short, user-friendly articles on a vast array of topics. And it’s more reliable than most online encyclopedias, since the articles follow academic standards and are reviewed by a dedicated team of editors. Read more…
The History of the World in Nineteen Minutes
This is fun …
George Washington and the Dignity of the Presidency
George Washington infused the American presidency with his personal dignity and restraint. That may seem a hazy contribution, but it has shaped our nation. “President” was a new title for a head of state in 1789, and no well-known republic had ever created such a strong one-man executive. America’s presidency could easily have become a sleazy office known for naked power, with none of the royal charisma the Eighteenth Century expected of national leadership. Such a graceless office might have degenerated into a banana republic strongman’s post. Or America might have suffered the sort of “citizen leadership” that destroyed the French Revolution, with executives relentlessly accusing and slandering each other. But no. Our first president was another sort of man. Read more…
The History of Japan in Nine Minutes
This is fun …
A New Timeline — and an Old Brain — for Homo Sapiens
Anthropologists recently made a fascinating discovery: Homo sapiens fossils found in Morocco date back 300,000 years. Until about a week ago, we thought our species reaches back only 200,000 years. The extra hundred grand opens up all kinds of possibilities for how and where we evolved — possibilities anthropologists have hardly begun to digest. Read more…
Ancient History Encyclopedia has just published an article about me and about my book, The Jericho River. Please check it out! Read more…
