Who Ate the First Oyster?

The Extraordinary People Behind the Greatest Firsts in History

By: Cody Cassidy

Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris

Who wore the first pants? Who painted the first masterpiece? Who first rode the horse? Who invented soap? This madcap adventure across ancient history uses everything from modern genetics to archaeology to uncover the geniuses behind these and other world-changing innovations.

Who invented the wheel? Who told the first joke? Who drank the first beer? Who was the murderer in the first murder mystery, who was the first surgeon, who sparked the first fire--and most critically, who was the first to brave the slimy, pale oyster?

In this book, writer Cody Cassidy digs deep into the latest research to uncover the untold stories of some of these incredible innovators (or participants in lucky accidents). With a sharp sense of humor and boundless enthusiasm for the wonders of our ancient ancestors, Who Ate the First Oyster? profiles the perpetrators of the greatest firsts and catastrophes of prehistory, using the lives of individuals to provide a glimpse into ancient cultures, show how and why these critical developments occurred, and educate us on a period of time that until recently we've known almost nothing about.

Critic reviews

Praise for Who Ate the First Oyster?

“[Cassidy] takes readers on a rapid-fire pop-science tour of historic discoveries and inventions . . . Making history fun is often a challenge, and here Cassidy succeeds. I read this book in one quick sip and imagine it to be a perfect gift book for young and old adults. . . . This casual but thoughtful tour through time is a great way to travel, particularly now, when we’re all stuck at home.”
—San Francisco Chronicle

“Cassidy tells the stories of individuals over the past thousands and even millions of years whose names will never be known, but whose innovations benefit us to this day.”
—New York Post

“A fun and enlightening quick trip through all the clever, stupid, dangerous, and gross human firsts that we've all wondered about.”
—Zach and Kelly Weinersmith, New York Times bestselling authors of Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That'll Improve and/or Ruin Everything

“In this fascinating and entertaining book, Cody Cassidy has done what might seem impossible: illustrating the identity, life, and death of some of the most momentous—and entirely anonymous—figures in human (and prehuman) history.”
—Ryan North, author of How To Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler

“Illuminating and entertaining . . . Cassidy humanizes prehistory with wit and a firm grasp of the science behind these anthropological case studies. Enthralled readers will develop a new appreciation for the ancient past.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Cassidy embarks on a wide-ranging, far-flung journey of curiosity that easily engages the reader. Chapters are brimming with history that may surprise readers as well as compel them to further investigate.”
—Booklist

“A breezy read through millennia of human development.”
—Kirkus Reviews

listened to the whole thing in one day

I love science, and I loved history, this book scratched that itch quite nicely. it was great paced and kept this ADD brain's attention (which is hard to do I might add).

Things you probably never thought of

A small few of us ever take the time to understand how civilizations before advanced and the perils they faced to lay foundation for who we are today. This book takes you on that journey. It is a bit wonky in the beginning of the read as the author sets the structure for marking historical time by relating it to time on a clock, but don't let that stop you as it is a good ploy. This book is thought provoking and will make you wiser for sure.

Interesting material and an excellent reading performance

I found the book’s premise intriguing, identify the first people to do, discover, or invent something. The author goes in depth to give us the best possible answer and while diving into material that can be at times somewhat dull does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged and interested. The audible performance of the book was excellent and I really enjoyed the performers deep steady voice and pace.

Absolutely Intriguing

once you start this adventure you won't want to stop, every chapter is an interesting moment in our bumbling yet extraordinary evolution. I came away from this book in awe of all that it took to get us to where we are today and the brave souls that took this first steps to get us here. Great read, great narration, I'll probably give it a second read for good measure, the story on Utsi the "1st murder" was incredibly interesting...

Excellent!

I’m not even done with the book and I already want more!!! Each chapter is well-written, interesting & gives an easy-to-understand perspective!