Category: Books/Museum Reviews
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Founding Partisans by H.W. Brands
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Founding Partisans: Always Team Hamilton. Quick synopsis: A look at just how much partisan politics affected the early U.S. Fact for Non-History People: Hamilton crammed his legal studies into 6 months and then passed the NY bar. Fact for History Nerds: In the first election without Washington, Adams beat Jefferson by…
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Battle for the Island Kingdom by Don Hollway
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Battle for the Island Kingdom: It’s good to be king. Until you get killed, probably by a family member. Quick synopsis: A look at England and its rulers from 1000-1066. Fact for Non-History People: A mail hauberk (shirt made of metal links) could take a thousand-man hours to create. Fact for…
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The Last Outlaws by Tom Clavin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Last Outlaws: Crime doesn’t pay unless you count the free bullets you get shot with. Quick synopsis: The story of the Dalton Gang and the end of the Wild West. Fact for Non-History People: Emmett Dalton was shot 23 times and didn’t die. Fact for History Nerds: The Daltons were…
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Charlie Chaplin vs. America by Scott Eyman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Charlie Chaplin vs. America: The Tramp was given his walking papers. Quick synopsis: The story of when Charlie Chaplin got barred from returning to the U.S. after World War II. Fact for Non-History People: Chaplin learned sign language to better converse with an artist he hired for his studio. Fact for…
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The Burning of the World by Scott Berg
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Burning of the World: Politics may have done more damage than the fire. Quick synopsis: The story of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Fact for Non-History People: In today’s dollars, we can estimate the fire caused about $5-7 billion dollars in damage. Fact for History Nerds: Chicago was only…
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Screencrush’s Matt Singer joins the podcast to talk Siskel and Ebert!
Let’s give it two thumbs up! Screencrush’s Editor in Chief Matt Singer joins the podcast to discuss his new book Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever. Need I say more? Come listen! Buy Opposable ThumbsCheck out Matt on ScreenCrush
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Opposable Thumbs by Matt Singer
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Opposable Thumbs: Thumbs were never the same. Quick synopsis: The story of how Siskel and Ebert changed how we review movies. Fact for Non-History People: 1963’s Cleopatra cost about $31 million to make it. In today’s dollars, that would be $600 million or $200 million more than Avengers: Endgame. Fact for…
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The Sisterhood by Liza Mundy
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Sisterhood: This has nothing to do with traveling pants. Quick synopsis: A look at the women of the CIA from inception to now. Fact for Non-History People: In the CIA in the 90s, women filled 40% of positions but only 10% of the highest-level jobs. Fact for History Nerds: The…
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The Longest Minute by Matthew Davenport
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Longest Minute: Real estate prices aren’t the only reason not to move to San Fran. Quick synopsis: The story of the earthquake and fire which destroyed San Francisco in 1906. Fact for Non-History People: When it was all said and done, the earthquake and fire destroyed nearly 5 square miles.…