Category: Books/Museum Reviews

  • Forged in War by Mark Galeotti

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Forged in War: No lies detected. Quick synopsis: A look at Russian wars throughout its history.   Fact for Non-History People: Galeotti posits that Oleg the Wise should get the credit for creating Russia rather than the usually named Ryurik. Fact for History Nerds: After the fall of the USSR, Pepsi…

  • The Eagle and the Hart by Helen Castor

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Eagle and the Hart: Richard II sucked. (The actual dude, not the play.) Quick synopsis: A look at what made Henry IV overthrow Richard II of England.   Fact for Non-History People: The bill for the candle wax alone to celebrate the birth of Richard’s older brother was 400 pounds…

  • Roosevelt to Roosevelt by Stan Haynes

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Roosevelt to Roosevelt: It’s like high school only political. Quick synopsis: A look at the nominating conventions between the time of Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt.   Fact for Non-History People: Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt were fifth cousins. Fact for History Nerds: Multiple western states allowed women to vote well before 1920.…

  • The United States of Cryptids by J.W. Ocker

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The United States of Cryptids: You don’t need to believe to have fun. Quick synopsis: An encyclopedia of some U.S based cryptid stories.   Fact for Non-History People: The term cryptid was first used in 1983. Fact for History Nerds: Cryptids are not monsters, but animals or creatures mentioned in folklore…

  • Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A rare instance where I love the movie and the book. Quick synopsis: A story about the denizens of Savannah, Georgia and a famous murder in their midst.   Fact for Non-History People: Savannah allows you to take your drinks in to-go cups…

  • Bandit Heaven by Tom Clavin

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Bandit Heaven: They went to heaven alright. Quick synopsis: Stories of various Wild West gangs and their hideouts in the 1880s and 1890s.   Fact for Non-History People: The Sundance Kid’s real name was Harry Longabaugh. Fact for History Nerds: The word “cowboy” wasn’t a Wild West creation. It was first…

  • The Greatest Nobodies of History by Adrian Bliss

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Greatest Nobodies of History: Find out what the ferret thinks. Quick synopsis: Stories told from the point of view of the people (and animals!) often overlooked in history.   Fact for Non-History People: Yes, there used to be a position called “groom of the stool” and yes, it is what…

  • Abandoned Towns by Chris McNab

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Abandoned Towns: Imagine going trick or treating here. Quick synopsis: A look at abandoned towns around the world.   Fact for Non-History People: There are approximately 3,800 ghost towns in the U.S. alone. Fact for History Nerds: Arguably, the most famous ghost town is Pripyat, Ukraine where the Chernobyl Nuclear Station…

  • What Stands in a Storm by Kim Cross

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for What Stands in a Storm: Got real dusty when I was reading this. Quick synopsis: The story of the three-day tornado superstorm outbreak in late April 2011.   Fact for Non-History People: There was already a deadly tornado outbreak in April 2011 less than two weeks before the events of this…