
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
Humanity's Thundering Brainstorms Turned Blundering Brain Farts
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed

Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $14.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
The Authors and Others
About this listen
They are priceless, multifaceted jewels of misjudgment. Masterworks of the moronic. Steroid-juiced stupidity wearing a size 9XX dunce cap embroidered with one simple word: “Duh”.
They are the colossally, often laughably bad notions that have leapt from the short-circuiting synapses of some of the world’s brightest (and dimmest) brains, then faithfully chronicled here in 100 of the Worst Ideas in History.
On this rollicking romp through the bungles and stumbles of the distant and recent past, we’ll meet the US President who starts each day skinny-dipping in the Potomac. Drink in the dental hygiene product that actually rots your teeth. Get an earful of the hit singing group that can’t really sing. Meet the confused chauffeur who helped start a world war. Munch on the tasty new snack food that might just give you diarrhea. Review a dozen of the worst movies ever committed to celluloid. Plus so much more (of so much less).
Prescribing a double shot of Clorox to kill a viral infection? That’s a run-of-the-mill noggin-scratcher compared to these stupendously stinky ideas - ones that have started wars, sunk countries, wrecked companies, scuttled careers, lost millions, endangered the Earth and left the bad idea’s mommy or daddy as red-faced as, well, your mom or dad will be when they learn that you like to dress your pit bull as one of the Backstreet Boys.
It's all here for your listening pleasure: The magical, musical, audiobook 100 of the Worst Ideas in History. (Void if inhibited. Batteries not included. Action figures sold separately. Your mileage may vary. If excitement last more than four hours, please consult your psychiatrist).
©2014 Michael N. Smith and Eric Kasum (P)2021 Michael N. Smith and Eric KasumListeners also enjoyed...
-
Way of the Wolf
- Straight Line Selling: Master the Art of Persuasion, Influence, and Success
- By: Jordan Belfort
- Narrated by: Jordan Belfort
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For the first time ever, Jordan Belfort opens his playbook and gives listeners access to his exclusive step-by-step system - the same system he used to create massive wealth for himself, his clients, and his sales teams. Until now, this revolutionary program was available only through Jordan's $1,997 online training. Now, in Way of the Wolf, Belfort is ready to unleash the power of persuasion to a whole new generation of listeners, revealing how anyone can bounce back from devastating setbacks, master the art of persuasion, and build wealth.
-
-
I can’t believe he wrote this book
- By Brett Ritchison on 10-04-17
By: Jordan Belfort
-
The Great Book of 1980s Trivia
- Crazy Random Facts & 80s Trivia (Trivia Bill's Nostalgic Trivia Books, Volume 1)
- By: Bill O'Neill
- Narrated by: Mike Alger
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Take a fantastical journey through the 1980s as we uncover every riveting storyline that dominated the "decadent decade". Revisit, or explore for the first time, the big stories and the forgotten facts of 10 fast-paced years that would reshape the world and lay the foundation for the way we live today.
-
-
The King of trivia is back.
- By cosmitron on 07-06-18
By: Bill O'Neill
-
Dungeon Born
- Divine Dungeon Series, Book 1
- By: Dakota Krout
- Narrated by: Vikas Adam
- Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For eons, conquering dungeons has been the most efficient way to become a strong adventurer. Although not everything is as straightforward as it seems. Several questions have always plagued the minds of those who enter these mythical places of power: why are there so many monsters? Where do the amazing weaponry and heavy gold coins come from? Why does the very air fill with life-giving energies? Cal has all of the answers to these age-old questions, for a very simple reason. He is a Dungeon Heart.
-
-
A fun concept poorly executed
- By Lore on 11-01-17
By: Dakota Krout
-
H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Omnibus Collection, Volume I: 1917-1926
- By: H. P. Lovecraft, Finn J.D. John
- Narrated by: Finn J.D. John
- Length: 23 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is volume one of a two-volume omnibus set comprising the complete fictional works of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Every story written for publication under his own name is included in this set, from 1917 through 1935. (Poems, ghostwritten material, and stories written in collaboration with other writers are not included.)
-
-
I really enjoyed this collection
- By J.J. on 09-26-16
By: H. P. Lovecraft, and others
-
What the F
- What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves
- By: Benjamin K. Bergen
- Narrated by: Benjamin K. Bergen
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nearly everyone swears - whether it's over a few too many drinks, in reaction to a stubbed toe, or in flagrante delicto. And yet we sit idly by as words are banned from television and censored in books. We insist that people excise profanity from their vocabularies, and we punish children for yelling the very same dirty words that we'll mutter in relief seconds after they fall asleep. Swearing, it seems, is an intimate part of us that we have decided to selectively deny.
-
-
Take A Deep Breath, Hold Your Nose, Dive Right In
- By Gillian on 04-12-17
-
WWW: Wake
- By: Robert J. Sawyer
- Narrated by: Jessica Almasy, Jennifer Van Dyck, A. C. Fellner, and others
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Caitlin Decter is young, pretty, feisty, a genius at math - and blind. Still, she can surf the net with the best of them, following its complex paths clearly in her mind. But Caitlin's brain long ago co-opted her primary visual cortex to help her navigate online. So when she receives an implant to restore her sight, instead of seeing reality, the landscape of the World Wide Web explodes into her consciousness, spreading out all around her in a riot of colors and shapes.
-
-
A Great, if Incomplete, Concept
- By Seth H. Wilson on 04-14-09
By: Robert J. Sawyer
-
Way of the Wolf
- Straight Line Selling: Master the Art of Persuasion, Influence, and Success
- By: Jordan Belfort
- Narrated by: Jordan Belfort
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For the first time ever, Jordan Belfort opens his playbook and gives listeners access to his exclusive step-by-step system - the same system he used to create massive wealth for himself, his clients, and his sales teams. Until now, this revolutionary program was available only through Jordan's $1,997 online training. Now, in Way of the Wolf, Belfort is ready to unleash the power of persuasion to a whole new generation of listeners, revealing how anyone can bounce back from devastating setbacks, master the art of persuasion, and build wealth.
-
-
I can’t believe he wrote this book
- By Brett Ritchison on 10-04-17
By: Jordan Belfort
-
The Great Book of 1980s Trivia
- Crazy Random Facts & 80s Trivia (Trivia Bill's Nostalgic Trivia Books, Volume 1)
- By: Bill O'Neill
- Narrated by: Mike Alger
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Take a fantastical journey through the 1980s as we uncover every riveting storyline that dominated the "decadent decade". Revisit, or explore for the first time, the big stories and the forgotten facts of 10 fast-paced years that would reshape the world and lay the foundation for the way we live today.
-
-
The King of trivia is back.
- By cosmitron on 07-06-18
By: Bill O'Neill
-
Dungeon Born
- Divine Dungeon Series, Book 1
- By: Dakota Krout
- Narrated by: Vikas Adam
- Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For eons, conquering dungeons has been the most efficient way to become a strong adventurer. Although not everything is as straightforward as it seems. Several questions have always plagued the minds of those who enter these mythical places of power: why are there so many monsters? Where do the amazing weaponry and heavy gold coins come from? Why does the very air fill with life-giving energies? Cal has all of the answers to these age-old questions, for a very simple reason. He is a Dungeon Heart.
-
-
A fun concept poorly executed
- By Lore on 11-01-17
By: Dakota Krout
-
H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Omnibus Collection, Volume I: 1917-1926
- By: H. P. Lovecraft, Finn J.D. John
- Narrated by: Finn J.D. John
- Length: 23 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is volume one of a two-volume omnibus set comprising the complete fictional works of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Every story written for publication under his own name is included in this set, from 1917 through 1935. (Poems, ghostwritten material, and stories written in collaboration with other writers are not included.)
-
-
I really enjoyed this collection
- By J.J. on 09-26-16
By: H. P. Lovecraft, and others
-
What the F
- What Swearing Reveals About Our Language, Our Brains, and Ourselves
- By: Benjamin K. Bergen
- Narrated by: Benjamin K. Bergen
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nearly everyone swears - whether it's over a few too many drinks, in reaction to a stubbed toe, or in flagrante delicto. And yet we sit idly by as words are banned from television and censored in books. We insist that people excise profanity from their vocabularies, and we punish children for yelling the very same dirty words that we'll mutter in relief seconds after they fall asleep. Swearing, it seems, is an intimate part of us that we have decided to selectively deny.
-
-
Take A Deep Breath, Hold Your Nose, Dive Right In
- By Gillian on 04-12-17
-
WWW: Wake
- By: Robert J. Sawyer
- Narrated by: Jessica Almasy, Jennifer Van Dyck, A. C. Fellner, and others
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Caitlin Decter is young, pretty, feisty, a genius at math - and blind. Still, she can surf the net with the best of them, following its complex paths clearly in her mind. But Caitlin's brain long ago co-opted her primary visual cortex to help her navigate online. So when she receives an implant to restore her sight, instead of seeing reality, the landscape of the World Wide Web explodes into her consciousness, spreading out all around her in a riot of colors and shapes.
-
-
A Great, if Incomplete, Concept
- By Seth H. Wilson on 04-14-09
By: Robert J. Sawyer
-
The Hollow
- By: Christopher Zaleski
- Narrated by: Anna Grace Conover
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Teen prodigy Carol has always known she was different from the other kids, but when her talents turn supernatural; her life takes a disastrous turn. Despite her over achievements, Carol struggles with a neurosis she calls "The Hollow". Though she believes the hollow is her private cross to bear, there is a sneaking suspicion that she is being watched, studied from the shadows.
-
-
The Hollow
- By MEDY L on 12-19-17
-
The Breach
- By: Patrick Lee
- Narrated by: Jeff Gurner
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Thirty years ago, in a facility buried beneath a vast Wyoming emptiness, an experiment gone awry accidentally opened a door. It is the world’s best-kept secret—and its most terrifying. Trying to regain his life in the Alaskan wilds, ex-con/ex-cop Travis Chase stumbles upon an impossible scene: a crashed 747 passenger jet filled with the murdered dead, including the wife of the President of the United States.
-
-
Good but with problems
- By David on 05-10-11
By: Patrick Lee
-
The Guns of Navarone
- By: Alistair MacLean
- Narrated by: Jonathan Oliver
- Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Twelve hundred British soldiers isolated on the small island of Kheros off the Turkish coast, waiting to die. Twelve hundred lives in jeopardy, lives that could be saved if only the guns could be silenced. The guns of Navarone, vigilant, savage and catastrophically accurate. Navarone itself, grim bastion of narrow straits manned by a mixed garrison of Germans and Italians, an apparently impregnable iron fortress.
-
-
Better Than Movie
- By Jeff G on 01-28-19
By: Alistair MacLean
-
Mobituaries
- By: Mo Rocca
- Narrated by: Mo Rocca
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mo Rocca has always loved obituaries - reading about the remarkable lives of global leaders, Hollywood heavyweights, and innovators who changed the world. But not every notable life has gotten the send-off it deserves. His quest to right that wrong inspired Mobituaries, his number one hit podcast. Now with Mobituaries, the audiobook, he has gone much further, with all new essays on artists, entertainers, sports stars, political pioneers, founding fathers, and more. Even if you know the names, you’ve never understood why they matter...until now.
-
-
Very good, but.....
- By Christopher on 11-15-19
By: Mo Rocca
-
The Wars of the Roses
- The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors
- By: Dan Jones
- Narrated by: John Curless
- Length: 15 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 15th century saw the longest and bloodiest series of civil wars in British history. The crown of England changed hands five times as two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty fought to the death for the right to rule. Now, celebrated historian Dan Jones describes how the longest reigning British royal family tore itself apart until it was finally replaced by the Tudors. Some of the greatest heroes and villains in history were thrown together in these turbulent times.
-
-
No Need for a Score Card
- By Troy on 01-16-15
By: Dan Jones
-
Console Wars
- Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle That Defined a Generation
- By: Blake J. Harris
- Narrated by: Fred Berman
- Length: 20 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A mesmerizing, behind-the-scenes business thriller that chronicles how Sega, a small, scrappy gaming company led by an unlikely visionary and a team of rebels, took on the juggernaut Nintendo and revolutionized the video-game industry. In 1990, Nintendo had a virtual monopoly on the video-game industry. Sega, on the other hand, was just a faltering arcade company with big aspirations and even bigger personalities. But all that would change with the arrival of Tom Kalinske, a former Mattel executive who knew nothing about video games and everything about fighting uphill battles.
-
-
Was hoping for so much more...
- By Rob G. on 11-17-14
By: Blake J. Harris
-
Unwind
- Unwind Dystology, Book 1
- By: Neal Shusterman
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After America’s Second Civil War, the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life armies came to an agreement. According to their Bill of Life, human life may not be terminated from the moment of conception until the age of thirteen. But between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, the child may be gotten rid of by their parent through a process called “unwinding.”
-
-
Chilling, Scary, Difficult to Read
- By Joe on 11-11-20
By: Neal Shusterman
-
Gideon's Sword
- By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
- Narrated by: John Glover
- Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At 12, Gideon Crew witnessed his father, a world-class mathematician, accused of treason and gunned down. At 24, summoned to his dying mother's bedside, Gideon learned the truth: His father was framed and deliberately slaughtered. With her last breath, she begged her son to avenge him. Now, with a new purpose in his life, Gideon crafts a one-time mission of vengeance, aimed at the perpetrator of his father's destruction. His plan is meticulous, spectacular, and successful.But from the shadows, someone is watching. A very powerful someone, who is impressed by Gideon's special skills.
-
-
Pendergast fans beware
- By k. on 02-23-11
By: Douglas Preston, and others
-
299 Days
- The Preparation, Book 1
- By: Glen Tate
- Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
299 Days: The Preparation, the first audiobook in the 299 Days series, depicts the inner struggles Grant must face as he exists in a social system he recognizes as unsustainable and on the verge of collapse, but one in which he has built his life around. What begins as a return to his roots, self-sufficiency and independence, becomes a full blown move to prepare for what may come.
-
-
Planted Reviews - be careful with your purchase...
- By Blue on 10-30-14
By: Glen Tate
-
The Chapo Guide to Revolution
- A Manifesto Against Logic, Facts, and Reason
- By: Chapo Trap House
- Narrated by: Felix Biederman, Virgil Texas, Brendan James, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a manifesto that renders all previous attempts at political satire obsolete, The Chapo Guide to Revolution shows you that you don’t have to side with either the pear-shaped vampires of the right or the craven, lanyard-wearing wonks of contemporary liberalism. These self-described “assholes from the Internet” offer a fully ironic ideology for all who feel politically hopeless and prefer broadsides and tirades to reasoned debate.
-
-
my beautiful boy virgil has a voice like an angel.
- By Dale on 08-22-18
By: Chapo Trap House
-
Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan
- The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate
- By: Rick Bowers
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Journalist Rick Bowers has contributed to Time, The Washington Post, and USA Today, and his fascinating Spies of Mississippi—about the spy network that tried to take down the Civil Rights Movement—earned a starred review from Booklist. Here, Bowers examines how, in the late 1940s, The Adventures of Superman radio show struck a powerful blow to the Ku Klux Klan when Superman aired episodes pitting the hero against the Klan in an effort to teach young listeners to stand up to bigotry.
-
-
The willingness to visit the truth
- By David Alexander McDonald on 03-13-24
By: Rick Bowers
-
Dumpty
- The Age of Trump in Verse
- By: John Lithgow
- Narrated by: John Lithgow
- Length: 1 hr and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse is a satirical poetry collection from award-winning actor and best-selling author John Lithgow. Chronicling the last few raucous years in American politics, Lithgow takes listeners verse by verse through the history of Donald Trump's presidency.
-
-
Great listen
- By Patrick Rohwer on 10-23-19
By: John Lithgow
It is by far the best audio book I have ever listened to. It is truly a performance from the first word to the last. There is a loud bellowing voice like a circus master or a game show announcer, and sound effects, guest voices, it is truly so much more than someone just reading a book to you.
Each story followed the exact same format: the Bad Idea, The Genius Behind it, The Brainstorm Struck, Bring on the Blunder, From Bad to Worse, Dumb luck, and After thoughts. Which I think was really smart and told the stories in a really brilliant way. Some examples of stories and their diversity include historical events, battles in Rome, early American history, battlefield errors, recent pop culture events, president Clinton and Monica Lewinski, the balloon boy, fashion faux pas, and any and everything in between. I actually found myself liking the stories that were a little less current events. The pop stars and entertainment industry and octomom really were not my favorites.
I really think this story has something for everything and because of the sarcasm and wit you may not even realize you are learning. I highly recommend for everyone.
A performance from the first word to the last
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Informative, Humor and History!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
How about a few examples to whet your curiosity?
1. Did you know that President William Henry Harrison didn't wear a coat on a very cold Inauguration Day because he wanted to show how strong and in great shape he was? Did you also know that he got an infection and died 31 days later?
2. Did you know that Nick Nolte turned down the lead role of Raiders of the Lost Ark? Did you also know that those 4 movies, with Harrison Ford, made $1.9B at the box office?
3. We all know that the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. But did you know the owner of the Red Sox needed the money to produce Broadway plays? I sure didn't.
4. Did you know that a soda jerk in 1886 accidentally added carbonated water to John Stith Pemberton's syrup, thereby creating Coke? Did you also know that Pemberton sold the rights to Asa Griggs Candler for very little up-front money and got no residuals?
5. Did you know that Mars said no to M&M's for the movie ET? Voila Reese's Pieces.
6. Do you want to know the 5 reasons the Titanic sank? They are...I will let you listen on your own. It's a real eye-opener.
I am a huge fan of print over ebooks and audiobooks. But I have to say that 100 should definitely be listened to. Kudos to the team who decided that the already-in-print book should be given an audio spin.
An Audiobook That You Definitely Want to Listen to
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
As for the content I will say this really scratched a “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?” itch I was having but in a historical way. While many of the events are laid out in a wonderfully clear and concise manner I will say usually there was more to the historical event, most of these I was familiar with however I did have a few I was not familiar with nor as indepthly knowledgeable of. As I said earlier there usually were more to the event than is listed in the format here but I will say it is a great jumping off point to study the event/learn a lesson from and I cannot see it being a better introduction to introducing children to the study of history. Perhaps not elementary but certainly early teens as there will certainly be questions about death, war, brutality, and I did consider language specifically in case about the song Louie Louie by the The Kingsmen but it was handled in a clinical way and was certainly not crass in the explanation but a certain level of maturity is needed always when studying history. Overall I have to say that 100 of the Worst Ideas in History Audiobook was incredibly entertaining.
100 of the Worst Ideas in History
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Upbeat and Entertaining
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Another great thing is that this list based book has a variety of what the author believes are 100 of the worst ideas in history including a mix of historical events, to battlefield blunders, to recent pop culture happenings and fashion faux pas. I liked how there is a little bit of everything in this book, which could lead to many conversations with diverse people and could even lead to friendly debates.
The voiceover of the book is very upbeat, again leading to the image of a late night talk show host. There’s heavy sarcasm and inflection which just lends to the already entertaining subject matter.
My one critique is that this commentary only exists through the benefit of hindsight. It’s easy to point out how something is a horrible idea after many years have passed and other solutions to problems have solved the issues easier or after other advancements have been made. I also do not think that someone suffering from drug addiction or mental illness should be featured in a book of bad ideas alongside publicity stunts and media hoaxes as it gives the impression that their actions stemming from addiction or mental illness are active choices that they made instead of being a symptom of their illness and disease. Labeling their behavior as one of the worst ideas in history leads to stigma within the mental health community and should be avoided and not taken so lightly.
Overall, this audio book is entertaining and easy to follow along. My issue with audio books tends to be that I zone out and often miss large chunks of the story. Since each idea covered takes less than two minutes to summarize, I didn’t find myself zoning out or missing much.
Sound effects for comedic relief were spot on
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Surprisingly FUNNY! You'll love it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Why IS the elephant wearing Lederhosen?!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This was my first time listening to an audiobook. I had no idea what to expect. I honestly thought I was going to hate it, but I did not. I really liked it. I feared that it would get boring after a couple of hours but it did not. My fear was that the voice of the reader was going to be monotone, but it was not. I really liked that there was more than one person reading. It wasn’t the same voice for hours which I thought was really good. There were at least three different readers. The alternating of readers was great. The readers seemed excited and upbeat. That kept the audiobook interesting.
The listing of the 100 Worst Ideas in History was interesting and entertaining. My favorite part was when they said BSC, before common sense. At times it was funny. I really liked that as well. Some of the ideas listed I had never heard of and I thought they were interesting.
The readers of the audiobook did a great job. I was really impressed. Listening to this audiobook was a great experience and I really enjoyed it.
very good
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
And although I’m sure the authors could have found one hundred idiot ideas by Americans, I appreciated the fact that they took a wider view and offered many tidbits in world history as well. And here’s the best part! There were things that even a know-it-all like me didn’t know. They offer a wide variety of stupid ideas in science, sports, advertising and politics as well. Yes, apparently bad ideas know no boundaries. I recommend this book, especially if you have some boring chore that could use the levity to get you through it.
So Much Fun
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.