Badass: Ultimate Deathmatch: Skull-Crushing True Stories of the Most Hardcore Duels, Showdowns, Fistfights, Last Stands, Suicide Charges, and Military Engagements of All Time (Badass Series)

This book (as well as the others by Ben Thompson) are that amazing combination of history, excitement, swearing, and general awesomeness that makes my 6th grader UNABLE to put the book down. Talk about getting a kid to LOVE reading... holy smokes. Our copies of Ben's earlier books are all ratty (and one has lost its cover) because my son has read them so many times. This book arrived TODAY and he's already nearly finished it. This is a page turner and super fun to read. Plus it's packed with real history - the short stories about real battles get my kid interested and then he's off doing more research on the same topics. What a way to encourage reading!There is a bit of swearing in the book (and some rude jokes - mostly involving crushed testicles, etc), but nothing super offensive. I think it's perfect for middle schoolers and up. (And also for adults - my husband and I both love these books!) Ben has done a nice job of having a mixture of people in history, so there are badass females too. I appreciate him giving equal badass opportunities!All in all, this is a super fun book to read. This is the perfect book for "reluctant readers" who may find most books dull. THIS BOOK IS NOT BORING!! :) Our whole family loves it. Lots of excitement, lots of humor, lots of history.

The reader will find it difficult to put this book down! Being both humorous and serious regarding the topic, you will discover that there has always been and always will be heroic Harasses around to save OUR asses!

Thompson can simultaneously crack you up and enlighten you . And because his writing is both entertaining and substantive, you'll find that it's also memorable and educative as well.The language could be termed 'vulgar' or 'offensive' by some, but I find it far too good-natured, inventive, and vividly descriptive to be disturbing. I wouldn't want every book to be written like this (although some textbooks I've slogged through could use a lot more of the passion and wit) but it's terrific in this context.Finally, if you're considering purchasing this: This is one of those books you can pick up and enjoy at random, so it will repay your investment for years to come.

Interesting reading, but a little "over the top" in describing the actions of the people in history the author considers to be "badasses." I suspect the author stretched the truth a bit to glorify the subjects of his book. Nonetheless, a worthwhile read. Parents should think twice about letting their children under the age of about 14 read this book, due to its frequent references to the male anatomy and its graphic descriptions of battlefield deaths.

Thompson has a gift of combining humor and history until even in the most horrible of slaughters in history you can still laugh at the phrasing. I think it resonates with a generation that has had the internet for a large portion of their lives the best. I am sure that anyone will be both entertained and educated, but some of the phrasing and language might not sit well some older generations and the very name "Badass" probably is a clue that for younger children you might want some parental decision on reading.

I think this is what they call a hat trick. Three books, and each of them out of this world. Truth be told, the original Badass book is still my favorite of the three, but the amount of detail Ben puts into describing the time periods and history of these particular battles puts this book in a different group than the others, I think. The entries are longer and more detailed (as expected to be) and full of his trademark hyperbole and badassness.It's a fantastic read so far, and I recommend it to anyone who likes history, humor, or not being a schmuck.

I've bought every book in this series for my boyfriend so far, and he absolutely loves them. As a history/political science major, he knows his stuff, and this book is highly entertaining, but also accurate in its information. The style of writing is hilarious (although often vulgar, so watch out for that). If you're purchasing as a gift, I recommend it as a gift for a mature reader. Great read. Highly recommended. If you'd like a sample of the writing, I suggest going to the book's website and reading some of the articles. Enjoy!

I teach a World History class and I truly wish I could give some of my less than mature freshmen this book to read to go along with my lectures. This book does a great job of being juvenile and funny but still teaching the content. I learned about badasses that I did not know much about just by reading this book; it also doesn't hurt that it is laugh out loud funny as well. I applaud Thompson for making history fun because so many authors fail to do that on a regular basis.

Brilliant book. Loved it so much I bought the authors other two books. Really well written and bigger books than you think. Definitely recommend

very good, worth a read if you like the subject.

Some interesting stuff, but terminology is somewhat teenage