10 Mistakes That Changed History: The Reckless Rulers, Monumental Mishaps and Disastrous Decisions That...

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Paul Coulter

10 Mistakes That Changed History

The Reckless Rulers, Monumental Mishaps and Disastrous Decisions That Have Shaped Our World....

Paul Coulter

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English

Bantam
03 June 2025

History; General & world history; Classical history & classical civilisation

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A comic tour of history's greatest mistakes and how they have shaped our world, packed with reckless rulers, hare-brained plans, monumental mistakes and disastrous accidents.

We all make mistakes, but rarely do they change the course of human history. From break-ups that ended empires to naps that sank ships, 10 Mistakes That Changed History is the hilarious retelling of some of the greatest episodes in the story of humankind.

Looking at many of the biggest characters and events of the last two and a half thousand years, from Cleopatra to the sinking of the Titanic, historian and comedian Paul Coulter explores how, despite the glamour, entourages and deity-sized egos, historical turning points were often the result of very human errors.

Blending history, storytelling and comedy, 10 Mistakes That Changed History is history as you wish you had learned it back at school- a greatest-hits of bad leadership decisions, misguided acts of heroism and catastrophic lapses of judgement.

These are the stories that have shaped our world, all with monumental consequences. Because sometimes it's nice to know that, no matter how bad your day is, the greatest names in history stuffed up too.
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Praise for the hit live show- Top pick of the Edinburgh Fringe 2024, credited as one of the best shows by Scottish Herald, Mervyn Stutter and the Edinburgh Reporter.

'So engaging and entertaining that forgot I was there to review it.' Theatre Weekly

'Entertaining and informative.' Edinburgh Reporter

'The perfect balance between entertaining and educating.' Corr Blimey

'Coulter cleverly weaves the well-researched facts with modern day parallels; turning historical figures into relatable misfits.' Glam Adelaide

'Coulter's storytelling unmatched, and his references to current pop culture relevant and hilarious.' Edinburgh Fringe Review

'Infectiously charming.' LondonTheatre1

'A hilarious blend of storytelling, facts and comedy.' On the Record

By: Paul Coulter
Imprint: Bantam
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 388g
ISBN: 9780857507242
ISBN 10: 0857507249
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 03 June 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Paul Coulter is a British comedian and historian based in Sydney, Australia. Paul is the writer and performer behind the Edinburgh Festival Fringe smash-hit, sell-out historical storytelling comedy show 5 Mistakes That Changed History. The show was a huge hit on the comedy festival circuit, selling out two years in a row at both the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2023 and 2024. Popular with both history-loving audiences and critics alike, 5 Mistakes That Changed History received fantastic reviews and was named one of the 'Picks of the Fringe'. Originally from Dorset, Paul is a history fanatic and read history at University College London. In 2025, Paul will be bringing his unique blend of history, storytelling and comedy to major comedy and history festivals around the world.