Month: March 2019

  • Museum Review: Mount Vernon

    Museum Review: Mount Vernon

    Museum Focus: George’s Washington’s home in Virginia. Where is it: 3200 Mount Vernon Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA 22121. What does it cost: About $20 per adult, $12 per kid. How long should I plan to stay: Mount Vernon is 500 acres. You could probably take 2 or 3 days to see everything. However, a good…

  • Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

    Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Say Nothing: Came for the murder, stayed for the Troubles. Quick synopsis: A true crime story which starts as a case of kidnapping but then becomes a microcosm of the Troubles of Northern Ireland. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: When some serious IRA hard-cases came to America, they thought WE…

  • Random Musing: Picking Your Next Book

    Random Musing: Picking Your Next Book

    What’s this musing about: The eternal challenge of picking which book to read next. We all know that euphoric feeling when you finish your latest book. The feeling of accomplishment, the ego boost for sticking with it, and maybe even a little bit of lamentation when it was really good. Then comes the dreaded question.…

  • The Ice Balloon by Alec Wilkinson

    The Ice Balloon by Alec Wilkinson

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Ice Balloon: This is what happens when you ignore science Quick synopsis: A story of S.A. Andree’s attempt to reach the North Pole via a balloon. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: S.A. Andree thought he could reach the North Pole via balloon. It went as well as you think…

  • Battle of the Books – The Great Halifax Explosion

    Battle of the Books – The Great Halifax Explosion

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: These books are explosive! I am so sorry, I’ll do better next time. Quick synopsis: The story of the great Halifax explosion during WWI. A munitions ship collides with another ship and caused a massive explosion. Then it caused a tsunami. Then there was a snowstorm. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like:…

  • Hunting Eichmann by Neal Bascomb

    Hunting Eichmann by Neal Bascomb

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: Nothing better than hanging Nazis! Quick synopsis: Story of the hunt for Adolf Eichmann in Argentina after World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: When General Patton (renowned tough guy) first walked into a concentration camp, he threw up. Also, there are people today who believe the Holocaust did not…

  • Expedition Unknown

    Expedition Unknown

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: Lots of history with a little bit of showmanship and malarkey. Quick synopsis: Host Josh Gates and his team search for various historical items of real or dubious origins. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: During one episode (“Amelia Earhart”), Josh Gates searches under a home for remains. He finds them and…

  • The Cruelest Miles by Gay and Laney Salisbury

    The Cruelest Miles by Gay and Laney Salisbury

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Cruelest Miles: You won’t be able to argue the “man’s best friend” moniker after this book! Quick synopsis: Description of the 1935 Serum Run to Nome, Alaska which was the precursor to the Iditarod. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: One story about sled dogs entailed how a musher fell…

  • Random Musing: Is BookBuddy the greatest app ever?

    Random Musing: Is BookBuddy the greatest app ever?

    What’s this musing about: Is BookBuddy the greatest app ever? And yes, it is. Disclaimer: Kimico who created the BookBuddy app did not pay for my endorsement, but I wish they had because I’m going full fanboy. History nerds will be the first to tell anyone calling something the “greatest” is an exercise in futility.…