Category: Books/Museum Reviews
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Africatown by Nick Tabor
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Africatown: Apparently, slavery wasn’t bad enough, so the discrimination just kept going. Quick synopsis: The story of the last slave ship to land in America and the fate of the people when slavery ended. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In 1850, cotton consumption worldwide was 1.5 billion pounds. By 1859,…
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The Strangers’ House by Alexander Poots
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Strangers’ House: Take a relaxing stroll through a sometimes-dangerous place. Quick synopsis: A look at some of the writers and poets of Northern Ireland. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: C.S. Lewis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett both went…
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Our Man in Tokyo by Steve Kemper
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Our Man in Tokyo: Ohhhhh, so that’s why Pearl Harbor happened. Quick synopsis: The story of how Japan ultimately chose to attack the U.S. from the perspective of the American ambassador, Joseph Grew. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Japanese emperor was seen as infallible, so he was never allowed…
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Putin’s Wars by Mark Galeotti
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Putin’s Wars: So, this is why Ukraine is whooping his a–. Quick synopsis: A look at the Russian military from the end of the Cold War to now. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Other than a short stint in a basic training program, Putin was never in the Russian military.…
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Wanderlust by Reid Mitenbuler
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Wanderlust: “Eccentric” explorer is putting it lightly. Quick synopsis: A biography of Peter Freuchen who had a life you need to read to believe. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Creatures happiest around ice are called “pagophiles.” Fun Fact for History Nerds: Male narwhal horns were believed to cure epilepsy, impotency,…
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Empress of the Nile by Lynne Olson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Empress of the Nile: It is way easier to acquire an ancient temple than I thought. Quick synopsis: The story of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, a trailblazing archaeologist and preserver of Egyptian treasures. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: More than 1.25 million people went to the Louvre to see King Tut’s treasures.…
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Walk Through Fire by Yasmine Ali
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Walk Through Fire: Don’t go look at train derailments! Quick synopsis: The story of the Waverly Train Disaster of 1978. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The explosion was so powerful that a tank pipe was thrown over 400 yards. Fun Fact for History Nerds: The medical examiner for the disaster…
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The Confidante by Christopher Gorham
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Confidante: I don’t know what she said in those meetings, but it worked. Quick synopsis: The story of Anna Marie Rosenberg who was known as the most important woman in the U.S. government during World War II and beyond. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: To keep up morale during…
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Vanished in Vermillion by Lou Raguse
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Vanished in Vermillion: Holy bad policing, Batman! Quick synopsis: The story of the 1971 disappearance of Pam Jackson and Sherri Miller in South Dakota. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: South Dakota has more shoreline than Florida. Fun Fact for History Nerds: South Dakota is home to less than 1 million…