Category: Books/Museum Reviews
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A Well-Trained Wife by Tia Levings
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Well-Trained Wife: When you gotta go, you gotta go. Quick synopsis: The story of how Tia Levings left her abusive marriage. Fact for Non-History People: U.S. women couldn’t open their own bank accounts until 1960. Fact for History Nerds: They couldn’t get credit cards until 1974. My Take on A…
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McMillions by James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for McMillions: Happy Meal with a side of fraud. Quick synopsis: The story of how no one really won the Monopoly game at McDonald’s. Fact for Non-History People: McDonald’s executives are required to work at a restaurant for a week. Fact for History Nerds: The chances of winning one of the big…
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Red Dead’s History by Tore Olsson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Red Dead’s History: When video games and history collide. Quick synopsis: A look at how historically accurate the video game Red Dead Redemption II is. Fact for Non-History People: Red Dead Redemption II has sold over fifty million copies and is in the top ten of bestselling video games ever. Fact…
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The Wrong Stuff by John Strausbaugh
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Wrong Stuff: Better to be lucky than good. Quick synopsis: The story of the Soviet space program during the Space Race. Hilarity ensues. Fact for Non-History People: During World War II, upwards of 27 million Russian soldiers and civilians were killed in comparison to 420,000 American casualties. Fact for History…
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The Devil Behind the Badge by Rick Jervis
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Devil Behind the Badge: 100% accurate title. Quick synopsis: The story of Border Patrol agent and serial killer Juan David Ortiz and his victims. Fact for Non-History People: By 2009, 12% of all military veterans who served in combat zones were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or acute stress. (Additional note:…
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Alexander at the End of the World by Rachel Kousser
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Alexander at the End of the World: Bro did not know when to go home. Quick synopsis: The story of Alexander the Great’s final 7 years. Fact for Non-History People: Alexander was never defeated in battle. Fact for History Nerds: Alexander named over 70 cities after himself. Self-obsessed much? Am I…
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A Hunger to Kill by Kim Mager and Lisa Pulitzer
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Hunger to Kill: A one-way love story. Quick synopsis: The story of how Detective Kim Mager helped put away an Ohio serial killer. Fact for Non-History People: From 1992-2019, Ohio has had 505 victims of serial killers. Fact for History Nerds: In that same time period, California leads the U.S.…
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Lovers in Auschwitz by Keren Blankfeld
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Lovers in Auschwitz: They found love in a hopeless place. Quick synopsis: The story of the two people who fell in love and survived Auschwitz in World War II. Fact for Non-History People: In 1941, the Warsaw ghetto covered 2.4% of the city but housed 30% of the city population. Fact…
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The Rent Collectors by Jesse Katz
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Rent Collectors: Better pay up. Quick synopsis: The story of gang violence in L.A. and a botched murder. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Pray you never have to find out what it is to “keister” something. Fun Fact for History Nerds: When the lake at MacArthur Park was drained,…