Cigar Curious

Cigar Curious: 101 Amusing Facts Rolled into One invites readers on a lively, smoke-filled journey through the strange, fascinating, and often hilarious world of cigars. From ancient rituals to modern obsessions, this collection of bite-sized historical anecdotes and cultural trivia unpacks the unexpected stories behind one of humanity's most enduring indulgences. Organized into 101 fast-paced entries, this book reveals how cigars shaped wars, inspired writers, soothed statesmen, and defined eras. Readers will discover why Ulysses S. Grant received 10,000 cigars after a major Civil War victory, how Sigmund Freud's daily cigar habit clashed with his own psychoanalytic theories, and why Winston Churchill's name became a standard cigar size. You'll learn what links Mark Twain, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Fidel Castro-beyond their faces on vintage cigar ads-and explore the roles cigars played in everything from battlefield diplomacy to Cold War intrigue. Written by certified cigar sommelier and spirits expert J.R. Johnson, Cigar Curious balances wit with scholarship. Drawing on archival materials, historical biographies, trade documents, and personal diaries, Johnson brings a fresh eye and a light touch to the cigar's complicated legacy. Whether tracking the rise of Tampa's Ybor City as "Cigar Capital of the U.S." or untangling the myths behind JFK's secret Cuban stash, Johnson pairs cultural insight with smoky storytelling. Perfect for aficionados, history buffs, or lovers of strange-but-true facts, this is a book you don't need to read cover to cover-but probably will. It's ideal for coffee tables, cigar lounges, and curious minds alike. Featuring original research, Chicago-style citations, and a modern sensibility, Cigar Curious honors the serious craft behind a not-so-serious pastime. For anyone who's ever wondered why cigars are more than just tobacco wrapped in leaf, this book offers a warm, witty answer-101 times over.