Like the title declares, the book contains “a brief history of underpants”. (Nice play on the word “brief”!)

Beginning with the origins of underwear, the book steadily works down the timeline from about 20000 BCE to the modern age. The facts provided in the book are very interesting as you discover the various items and materials that were used for underwear throughout the ages. I was enjoying the book until I came to page on India and discovered that the book mentions Mahatma Gandhi’s dhoti. Until this page, every single representation was about countries or cultures. But this page talks only of Mahatma Gandhi and his dhoti under the heading “India: 1920 – 1948”. After this point, the book becomes general again. As an Indian, I would know that this is an example, but it presents a totally wrong picture about Indian clothing in that time period. Not every man wore a dhoti and one person should not represent a country’s clothing. Of course, you also have the factual problem that the dhoti isn’t exactly an undergarment. This page was a big turn-off for me.

One thing in the book that perplexed me a bit is that it mentions buttons were invented in Pakistan in 3000 BCE. There was no Pakistan in 3000 BCE! Shouldn’t it have said “modern-day Pakistan” or the Indian subcontinent? Maybe I am nit-picking but this is a book of facts, so I do feel that it must be accurate in every way.

Of course, these are the only two issues I had. The rest of the book has its share of positives. The chapter headings are really hilarious. I mean, “Cheeky Inventions” is such a sassy title! I am sure kids will howl in laughter at those headings. Most of the details are mentioned in a fun way, and some are pretty gross too, all the more attractive to kids. The illustrations are great as well.

So yes, you could look through the book to get a “brief” insight into underwear evolution. I did like the entire book except the page on India. I am sure the physical book will be even more entertaining to children with the “reveal wheel” that shows underwear evolving through the ages.

Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Honest opinion in exchange for a free review from NetGalley. This book is a bit juvenile, but my daughter laughed. Since kids are the intended audience, I call that a win.

Do you know what medieval knights wore under their armor? Or the importance of silk undergarments for the army of Genghis Khan? Well, you will after reading A Brief History of Underpants! This is a fun look at historical underpinnings around the world.

Little did I know the history of underpants would be so fascinating.
So many fun facts and even laundry techniques of the past ewww.
Did you know that Sumo wrestlers maawashis are as long as a school bus and as heavy as a large watermelon?