There's something so fascinating about looking into the history and stories behind the everyday, mundane, and ordinary. Emily's book will perfectly scratch the itch of curiosity you have for thing you see everyday!
―Patrick Foote, Author of The Origin of Names, Words and Everything in Between

Emily Prokop’s The Story Behind takes a holistic look at American and world culture through the everyday items we take for granted. It is in this perspective that we’ll grow to wonder about the other items that surround us on a daily basis, and what fantastic and controversial stories are hidden within them. The Story Behind is a spark of curiosity that will burn long after you’ve turned the final page.
―Josh Hallmark, Host & Producer of Our Americana podcast

Packed full of information you didn't know you wanted to know, Emily's book will make you look at the ordinary objects that surround you in a completely different way.
―Mark Des Cotes, Host of the Resourceful Designer podcast

Emily magically weaves a vibrant history of simple everyday objects we often take for granted. The Story Behind will surprise and delight, encouraging you to give everything a second look.
―Deana Marie, Creator & Host of the Twisted Philly podcast

★No. 1 Best Seller in Trivia & Fun Facts, Art History, Design History & Criticism, Reference, Decorative Arts & Design, and History of Technology!
★Originally published in 2018. The book was adapted from the history podcast "The Story Behind" hosted by the author Emily Prokop, which was nominated for the Webby Award, and quickly became a bestseller once publication.
★Sold for Italian and Persian language rights.

Discover the Surprising History of Ordinary Things.

Learn the fascinating history and trivia you never knew about things we use daily, from the host of The Story Behind podcast.
Everyday objects and major events in history. Every single thing that surrounds us has a story behind it. Many of us learn the history of humans and the major inventions that shaped our world. But what you may not have learned is the history of objects we surround ourselves with every day. You might not even know how the major events in history (World Wars, ancient civilizations, revolutions, etc.) influenced the inventions of things we use today.
The history and science behind the ordinary. From the creator of The Story Behind podcast comes one of the coolest coffee table books ever written. The Story Behind provides insight into everyday objects we don’t think much about as we use them. Topics covered in Emily’s podcast are examined in more detail along with new fascinating topics. Learn how lollipops got started in Ancient Egypt, how podcasts were invented, and why Comic Sans was created. Learn the torture device origins of certain exercise equipment and the espionage beginnings of certain musical instruments. Ordinary things from science to art, food to sports, customs to fashion, and more are explored.

Inside:
●Learn obscure history and fun facts and change the way you see the world
●Discover how major historic events still affect us today
●Become a formidable trivia master

If you have enjoyed books such as Now I Know, What If?, Ever Wonder Why?, The Greatest Stories Never Told, or Atlas Obscura; you will be entertained by The Story Behind.

Emily Peck Prokop
Emily Peck Prokop is a podcast producer, editor, speaker, writer and journalist. She has been a podcast host and producer since 2015. And of course, she’s been a podcast listener for a longer time.
Her short history podcast 'The Story Behind'was nominated for the Webby Award in 2019. The renowned Webby Award, known as 'the Oscars of the Internet', is hosted and judged by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences to honor the most representative outstanding works in the fields of websites, digital and social media throughout the year. Later, her podcast was adapted into a book and published, which became a highly popular bestseller.
In 2017, she transformed her passion for podcasts into a full-time job by founding E Podcast Productions, which produces podcasts for clients in the health, personal finance and non-profit sectors.
When she discovered podcasting as a hobby, she finally found an outlet for the random information she collected that she loved to randomly bring up in conversations. While she never considered herself a history buff, she found it was easier to remember when put into the context of fascinating stories related to things that came about in today’s world. She’s been featured in numerous podcasts and enjoys getting behind the mic whenever she can.