I have never listened to the podcast, but this was a fun read. I love stories about quirky and bizarre things, so this was an entertaining read!

I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but it was definitely not what was delivered. I think this one was perhaps just not for me. It overall felt like something that *might* work in an oral/conversational format, but just did not translate well on the page.

There were definitely some interesting facts mixed in, but overall the information seemed fairly mundane— definitely not bizarre, unsettling, and unbelievable (as promised by the title). I can see that this book would be fun as a coffee table book or short bedtime stories for kids (perhaps I am not the target audience). But even in those contexts, I felt the stories omitted detail in favor of cutesy prose. Some of the stories were also incredibly uninteresting to read and a slog to get through, largely due to the author choosing to wait to reveal the “surprise” (or whatever thing makes it interesting) until the end. The pig convicted of murder comes to mind as a particularly egregious example of both these things— the most interesting parts of the story were left out and we received no factual details.

As a source of information, and for the aforementioned reasons, I didn’t really trust the “facts” and I also wasn’t given enough information to go and verify the stories or obtain more detail on my own. I also felt concerned that Wikipedia was cited as a primary source for almost every story— no shade to wiki, but it is a starting point to guide further research.

This is the perfect novel for a waiting room, coffee table, dare I say guest bathroom? It is filled with odd, even bizarre stories from a coin flip that decided the fate of three people to wars won and lost all during a celestial event.

I had a good time with these tales and read a few each night before bedtime. It would make an excellent gift for someone who likes history and facts.

Cabinet of Curiosities, A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre, by Aaron Mahnke was received directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. I had never heard of this author or any of his works before, but the topic sounded interesting to me. As soon as I started reading it, it made me think of the of the old school Ripley's Believe It or Not "comics" from newspapers back in the day. The book is very interesting and each story is about the right length to keep the reader from getting bored. Actually, if I had children in the house, this book would be great to read a bedtime story each night, as they would learn new and wonderful and exciting things. If you, or someone you buy gifts for, want sot learn about new topics, certainly give this book a read.

5 Stars

Cabinet of Curiosities is a collection of 160 short stories, categorized into 14 different topics. Topics range from American History, Coincidences, Events, Inventions and many more. My favorites were Coincidences, Eerie Mysteries, and True Crime. The book is like the Ripley’s Believe It or Not of curious tales.

As a fan of trivia and astonishing stories, Cabinet of Curiosities was a delight to read. I can’t imagine the amount of research and work that went into collecting all of the data, compiling them into short stories, and then categorizing those stories into a book.

The writing style is easy going, fun, as well as informative. It read like a friend sharing tales around the campfire. Entertaining and full of fun facts, Cabinet of Curiosities is the perfect book for non fiction trivia fans. Five stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

None of the curiosities were long enough to really establish an interesting story and wikipedia was cited as the main source in a lot of the stories. This would have simply worked better in Mahnke's main format, podcast.

3 ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me an advanced reader copy of this book.

My family and I listened to the podcast in the car together. It was a great clean, family friendly option that also taught you something and that’s pretty rare in today’s age. So I was pretty excited when I saw the book last month. I love reading and I love facts. However, I am not a short story fan so I was worried this book may not be for me. I am not much for only a few pages of something very interesting and then moving on. So, that being said, this book was hard for me to get into for that reason. I just really enjoy long stories but because I love facts I did enjoy this. Some of them I found quite interesting and hope I can actually retain. lol Any fan of facts, history or quirky things will enjoy.

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre by Aaron Mahnke from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. This book should be available to the public after November 12, 2024.

I was very excited to receive a copy of Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre by Aaron Mahnke because I am a big fan of his podcasts on tales of the weird. If you've listened to his podcasts, the book is very similar. It is a collection of true stories of unusual happenings throughout history and the world. They are loosely grouped by theme. You don't need to read them in order. You could read it in small snippets or big chunks, however you like. Having listened to the podcasts so much, I could nearly hear Aaron reading the accounts to me. The writing is very similar to the way the stories are presented in the podcasts. Besides being interesting and entertaining, you can come away with some great pieces of trivial knowledge. You never know when that can come in handy!

This was a fun book. The vignettes reminded me of Ripley’s Believe it or Not. It is broken down by sections with true stories with a similar theme. For me, it was the perfect book to pick up after finishing another book or project. Each was a few pages long. Many I was able to guess who or what the subject

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Although I did not know of this author and of his podcasts, so happy to receive this from NetGalley. It was an enjoyable read that one can pick up and read anytime. The tales were fascinating and so good for trivia lovers and those of us who have heads full of useless but interesting information.

Way back when, there was a radio program where Paul Harvey told “the rest of the story”. He would set up a tale and then would come back, after commercial with the hook that took the story from interesting to fascinating. It was a great for people who like unusual facts and trivia. This book reminded me of those old broadcasts.

It sets up the background of the story, some with characters whom you will know and others people of whom you never heard and then at the end there is the “kiss” with history of how what could have been just an interesting tale into something that was fascinating. Each story is a quick read and while they are under general categories, it still felt like they were one-offs. It is the kind of book that you could sit down and read from cover to cover or just dip in and out at random. Either way it covers a lot of unusual occurrences. Four purrs and two paws up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of “Cabinet of Curiosities” by Aaron Mahnke. I’m a big fan of Aaron’s “LORE” podcast/universe and was excited to read this collection of short tales about the world’s greatest curiosities. It did not disappoint!! I loved the short form style; it was easy to spend a few moments with or sit down for a longer reading session. I liked how tales were divided into categories and how stories were told from all over the world. A very interesting read!!

Much like the podcast for which it's named, Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities is a series of bite-sized stories that tell of oddities, coincidences, and macabre outcomes. The stories are organized into several different topics, with each topic containing a handful of interesting stories. Lots of fun trivia, and it's easy to read in bits and pieces as each story is so short. It's been a while since I've listened to the podcast, so I'm not sure how much overlap there is, but new readers will certainly find this an interesting read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Aaron Mahnke, the mastermind behind the popular podcast “Lore,” brings his storytelling prowess to the written word in Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre. This book is a treasure trove of peculiar tales that span the spectrum of human history, each more fascinating than the last.

This book is divided into thematic sections, each exploring different facets of the strange and the mysterious. From eerie creatures and unsolved mysteries to bizarre historical events and true crime stories, Mahnke’s narrative is engaging and meticulously researched. The structure allows readers to dip in and out of the book, making it perfect for those who enjoy short, captivating reads.

Mahnke’s writing is as compelling as his podcast narration. He has a knack for weaving historical facts with a touch of the supernatural, creating an atmosphere that is informative and spine-tingling. His ability to maintain a balance between the eerie and the educational is commendable, making the book accessible to a wide audience.

Cabinet of Curiosities certainly is surprising. Just when you think you’ve read the most bizarre story, Mahnke presents another tale that is even more astonishing. The book’s unpredictability keeps readers hooked, eager to discover what oddity lies on the next page.

Mahnke’s guides readers through the labyrinth of history’s oddities with a tone that is respectful and curious. This approach educates and entertains, making the reading experience enjoyable and enlightening.

Cabinet of Curiosities is a must-read for fans of the strange and unusual. Mahnke’s ability to uncover and narrate the world’s oddities makes this book a delightful journey into the unknown. Whether you’re a history buff, a fan of the supernatural, or simply someone who enjoys a good story, this book has something for everyone.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely ADORE Aaron Mahnke! I have been a huge fan of his podcast Lore for many moons now. Because of this, I am also very well versed in his other works. When I found out he was making a book version of Cabinet of Curiosities, I knew I had to jump at this IMMEDIATELY!

And I was not disappointed! The book is sectioned like one would see in an actual museum looking at different artifacts. Each story is a few pages long, grouped with "like" stories. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is the fact that each story was so short. I caught myself reading them while waiting for an email back, as the microwaved finished cooking a meal, or during commercials/ads for other material I was enjoying.

The book itself is incredibly written. Aaron Mahnke has a wonderful way of adding humor and wit to even the darkest of stories. I thoroughly enjoyed each story he chose, and it really made me feel like I was sneaking into his own private collection of artifacts! It probably helped that I could hear each of these stories in HIS voice, because I am such of fan of his podcasts!

If you are looking for something that has multiple tiny stories within one well-curated collections, this is your book! It would be a great addition to someone's coffee table or place where a guest could read one quickly while waiting for the host. I cannot recommend this book enough and in fact have already told quite a few people about it! One thing I know for sure, if Aaron Mahke is attached to a project, it is always BRILLIANT!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Nov. 12, 2024
Aaron Mahnke’s book, “Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling and the Bizarre” is, for all intents and purposes, a non-fiction story. It is a collection of unique stories that actually did happen to average people around the world, who quickly became not so average. “Cabinet” is based on Mahnke’s podcast, and is a quick and easy-to-devour novel.
The stories in “Cabinet” are only a few pages long, each, and they are divided into sections such as “People”, “War”, “Places” and “Things”, where relevant stories are grouped by category. “Cabinet” features tales of the upside-down postage stamp that almost seemed to predict the future, the dog who fought in a war and was actually captured by the opposing side and tales of ghostly apparitions appearing to people just in time to save someone they love. Some of the stories I had heard before but most were brand new to me and, although some were historical, there were some tales that were more modern, but all of them had one thing in common- they were utterly bizarre and almost always unexplainable.
I am not familiar with Mahnke’s podcast (or his previous books related to his previous podcasts) and the only “Cabinet of Curiosities” I have heard of before is the Guillermo del Toro Netflix show (this book is in no way related and the two are very, very different) but the subject matter of this story called to me. I am a fan of all things weird, unexpected, paranormal or spooky, so this was going to be a book that I did not want to miss out on.
As mentioned, the tiny tales in this collection make this book easy-to-read and their grouping by category helps the story develop a cohesive flow. Mahnke writes just as I imagine he would talk, with a lot of humor, and I enjoyed hearing about all the odds and ends that influenced the world.
Books with podcasts at their centre (or based on podcasts, or podcasters) is developing into its own genre so quickly, it’s hard to know where to start. But if you are a fan of Mahnke, or want a clever read with light humor and eccentric subject matter, “Cabinet of Curiosities” is as good a place as any.

Quick, fun read.
Unique and I enjoyed the varying stories.
I wasn’t sure I was going to complete as I watched some of the show on Netflix, but overall a good read.

I received an electronic ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.
An interesting read best broken into small segments of reading time. Mahnke has taken stories from the podcast and recorded them in one volume. Some are better written than others but all of them have an unusual twist. The author broke the book into chapters that included retellings wrapped around certain themes. Well worth reading for those who are interested in learning about the odd happenings throughout history. The documentation at the end is also worth the time to read.

I’ve loved this podcast since it started so to have in print stories that have some history and some creepy is great!

As a fan of the podcast, I really wanted to check this book out. If you've never listened to the podcast, then this is a great book full of short but very interesting stories that you can read all at once or take a little at a time to make it last. If you are a fan of the podcast then you probably don't need to read the book at all as the stories included, or at least a lot of them, are ones you've already heard before. It wasn't bad to revisit them, do don't avoid it if you've already listened to the podcast but I wouldn't come expecting something new. (I'll note that my memory isn't great so it could be that there are new stories mixed in but I recognized too many of them.) I also expect this will be fixed for the final product but in my advance version, the story 'Wild Coincidences' was a blank page... there was no story.