Category: Books/Museum Reviews
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The World in Books by Kenneth Davis
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The World in Books: Bet you can’t read just one! Quick synopsis: Kenneth Davis’s list of the best and most important 52 short non-fiction books of all time. Fact for Non-History People: The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest written story in history. Fact for History Nerds: Sun Tzu may…
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Operation Biting by Max Hastings
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Operation Biting: Disclaimer: No actual biting occurs. Quick synopsis: The story of the British parachute assault to capture Nazi radar in 1942. Fact for Non-History People: British paratroopers did not have reserve shoots while U.S paratroopers did. Fact for History Nerds: General Eisenhower started World War II a colonel but…
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Henry V by Dan Jones
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Henry V: Shakespeare took a little dramatic license. Quick synopsis: A full biography of England’s greatest warrior king, Henry V. Fact for Non-History People: Henry V got shot in the face with an arrow as a teen and somehow didn’t die. Fact for History Nerds: Around the time of Henry’s…