Užasi povijesti: Otkačeni Grci

The book shatters the myth of the idealized, "magnificent" ancient Greeks - philosophers, sculptors and democrats - by showing the "weird" side of their lives. Instead of just the Parthenon and Socrates, Deary brings nasty, funny and shocking details: why girls ran around naked like bears, how doctors tasted patients' earwax, what were the nasty habits in food and hygiene, brutal wars, strange customs, myths with perverted gods, theatrical masks and competitions, slavery, female subordination, sports torture (the Olympics without underwear) and everyday horrors such as animal sacrifice or war tactics.

The structure is playful: short texts, comics, mock advertisements, quizzes ("Groovy or grozny?"), funny dialogues, lists ("10 worst things about the Greeks"), recipes (disgusting), tests and illustrations full of black humor. Deary mocks romantic notions of antiquity, emphasizing that the Greeks were just as dirty, cruel, and eccentric as other peoples—they just packaged it better artistically.

In Croatian literature and education, the book has become a hit among children because it makes history fun and accessible, contrasting with the dry school curriculum. It is part of a series that revolutionized the popularization of history for young people—with an emphasis on humor, horror, and memorable facts. The series has been adapted into a TV show, theater plays, and games, and Crazy Greeks remains one of the most popular titles, celebrating the "terribly" fun side of ancient Greece.