Keith Johnston

Keith Johnston is a historian specializing in the 18th century. His research has appeared in both academic and general interest publications, and was once the subject of chatter on Slate’s Political Gabfest.

11 of the Strangest Plots Hatched by the CIA

Over the years, your tax dollars have gone toward Osama bin Laden action figures, reconnaissance pigeons, psychedelic drugs, and some homemade porn.... READ ON

25 Excellent 1990s Slang Terms

The '90s were da bomb—a decade of great music, spectacular TV, and artful language use. Just look at the following 25 bits of slang popular in the '90s that were all that (and a bag of chips).... READ ON

11 of History's Worst Pieces of Diet Advice

History has seen an assortment of colorful kooks, quacks, and snake oil salesmen who tried to convince the public they could smoke, chew, or drug themselves to a thinner physique.... READ ON

20 Latin Insults You Need to Know

Despite its reputation as a learned language of science, religion, and philosophy, ancient Latin was in fact a rough-and-ready language full of strikingly frank insults designed to cut to the bone.... READ ON

30 Delightful Puns From the Victorian Era

Here are 30 hilarious—or hilariously bad—Victorian era conundrum puns that might make you the best-guessed guest at your next bash.... READ ON

Shizo Kanakuri, the Olympian Who "Vanished" in Sweden for 54 Years

After Shizo Kanakuri pulled out of a race during the 1912 Olympics, he unintentionally became mythologized as the “Japanese who vanished.”... READ ON

8 Ways People Kept Cool Before Air Conditioning

People have come up with a range of ingenious, harebrained, and sometimes grim but often remarkable ways to stay cool during a summer scorcher.... READ ON

11 Pieces of Victorian Sex Advice

Victorians had many manuals and advice books that discuss sex with surprising frankness. Here are 11 bits of Victorian sex wisdom—good, bad, and otherwise—published between 1837 and 1901.... READ ON

11 Poems Inspired By Movies

Poems have helped to create some of the most poignant scenes in movies—think of W.H. Auden’s "Funeral Blues" in 'Four Weddings and a Funeral,' or Elizabeth Bishop’s "One Art" in 'In Her Shoes.' Movies, in turn, have inspired some spectacular poems.... READ ON

20 Latin Words for Gross Things

Sometimes the dreadful things we must suffer can seem a little less grim when they have the sweet ring, nay—the dulcet tones of euphonious polysyllabic Latin appellations.... READ ON

11 Dating Tips from the Regency Era

Long before Helen Gurley Brown, Oprah, or Dear Abby dished out a single bit of dating advice, Regency women had their own guidelines to follow.... READ ON

Weird Historical Ways to Ward Off a Plague

From fart jars to drinking urine, here are strange, gross, or downright dangerous historical methods people used to prevent catching a plague.... READ ON

Thomas Lambert, the Child Who Seemingly Died Before He Was Born

According to his tombstone, Thomas Lambert was born in in May 1683 and died in February of the same year. It wasn't a mistake, but instead a quirk in the calendar.... READ ON

Old Words for Lunch We Should Bring Back

In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were as many words for lunch as there were varieties of it. Below is a lexicon of some of these splendid words.... READ ON

People Killed by Musical Instruments

We’re used to taking it figuratively: One “slays” on guitar, is a “killer” pianist, or wants to “die” listening to a miraculous piece of music. History, though, is surprisingly rich with examples of people who met their ends thanks to a musical instrument.... READ ON

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