Jumbo's Hide, Elvis's Ride, and the Tooth of Buddha: More Marvelous Tales of Historical Artifacts

by Harvey Rachlin

Book Overview

Following on his acclaimed Lucy's Bones, Sacred Stones & Einstein's Brain, the insatiably curious Harvey Rachlin tells the fascinating & often hilarious tales of forty more historical artifacts,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805056831
• ISBN13: 9780805056839
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 372 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Moldy and boring

The book itself was so moldy. I found the content sort of dull too. Overall pretty bummed.

Great History Book

Good book for those interested in history. Each article is short and to the point but engaging. I am not much for history but I read every chapter and liked the whole book.

Another argument against sequels

Rachlin has again compiled a wonderful hodgepodge of historical trivia and lost artifacts. Those of you who read his first book (Lucy's Bones. . . ) will find, however, that his approach to the collection has changed. In Jumbo's Hide, Rachlin has included much more side information and background on the objects instead of sticking to what is promised: what happened to the artifcats, who possesed them, and where are they now. This book reads more like a historical textbook than the collection of mysteries that it is. In fact, Rachlin sometimes adds the actual ownership history of the artifact as a footnote to the story. If you are just an amateur historian, this collection is interesting. However, if you already know your world history, you will find this book much more tedious to read than his first.

Fun History

I couldn't put this book down. If you are a history buff like me this is like brain candy. Nothing too in depth but a fun read.

history can be fun

Ever wonder what happened to the gun Mark David Chapman used to kill John Lennon? Or the maltese falcon prop from the movie? What about the original Magna Carta? Well, all your questions are answered in this wonderful follow-up to "Lucy's Bones & Sacred Stones." This book like the previous one has me wanting to visit the worlds museums to get a glimse of these amazing artifacts from our history. What about the chair George Washington sat in at the Constitutional Convention? Or slices of Tom Thumb's wedding cake? Highly recommended for a fun and easy read.