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Fake Heroes
- Author
- Otto English
- Narrator
- Otto English
- Publisher
- Headline
- Publish Date
- 25 May 2023
- Run Time
- 17 hours 21 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Rating
- 4.0 (1 review)
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What to expect
'A brilliant book.' James O'Brien
Was Che Guevara really a revolutionary hero?
Should Mother Teresa be honoured as a saint?
Is Henry V actually England's greatest king?
And why does JFK's legend continue to grow?
Having exposed some of the greatest lies ever told in Fake History, journalist Otto English turns his attention to some of history's biggest (and most beloved) figures.
Whether it's virtuous leaders in just wars, martyrs sacrificing all for a cause, or innovators changing the world for the better, down the centuries supposedly great men and women have risen to become household names, saints and heroes. But just how deserving are they of their reputations?
Exploring everything from Captain Scott's reckless hunt for glory and Andy Warhol's flagrant thievery to Coco Chanel's murky Nazi past, Otto English dives into the hidden lives of some of history's most recognisable names. Scrutinising figures from the worlds of art, politics, business, religion and royalty, he brings to light the murkier truths they would rather have kept buried away, at the same time as celebrating the unsung heroes lost to time.
Fake Heroes exposes the truth of the past and helps us understand why that matters today.
User Reviews
Book 4.0
Narration 5.0
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4.0 5.0
Very engagingly written and gives a solid overview on the history of different 'heroes'; and how there are structures in society that define what heroism is. For instance how political machines, ideologies, religion, corporations distort who we see as heroes.
I appreciated that each chapter gives an example of what true heroism looks like by comparison.
It's very readable! Some easily accessible language that flows pretty seemlessly.
Perhaps I would have got more out of it were I not a Behind the Bastards listener and was already aware with a number of the stories.
I think too there's a few too many generalisations and not enough detail or variety of sources about some subjects.
Worth picking up for a general reader though!jbarn 2026-08-10
Details
- Author
- Otto English
- Narrator
- Otto English
- Duration
- 17 hours 21 minutes
- Release Date
- 25 May 2023
- ISBN
- 9781802797107
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Headline
- Genre
- General and world history, Social and cultural history
- Rating
- 4.0(1 review)
- Narration
- 5.0(1 review)
Synopsis
From the author of Fake History, Otto English, comes a shocking yet hilarious look at ten of the greatest liars from our past, examining these previously unquestioned idols and exposing what they were trying to hide.'A brilliant book.' James O'BrienWas Che Guevara really a revolutionary hero?Should Mother Teresa be honoured as a saint?Is Henry V actually England's greatest king?And why does JFK's legend continue to grow?Having exposed some of the greatest lies ever told in Fake History, journalist Otto English turns his attention to some of history's biggest (and most beloved) figures.Whether it's virtuous leaders in just wars, martyrs sacrificing all for a cause, or innovators changing the world for the better, down the centuries supposedly great men and women have risen to become household names, saints and heroes. But just how deserving are they of their reputations?Exploring everything from Captain Scott's reckless hunt for glory and Andy Warhol's flagrant thievery to Coco Chanel's murky Nazi past, Otto English dives into the hidden lives of some of history's most recognisable names. Scrutinising figures from the worlds of art, politics, business, religion and royalty, he brings to light the murkier truths they would rather have kept buried away, at the same time as celebrating the unsung heroes lost to time.Fake Heroes exposes the truth of the past and helps us understand why that matters today.
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