Category: Books/Museum Reviews
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Grant by Ron Chernow
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Grant: When is Lin-Manuel Miranda going to make a musical out of this? Quick synopsis: A (very) in depth biography of Ulysses S. Grant. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Battle of Shiloh had more casualties than the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Mexican War combined. Gettysburg…
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Grant by William S. McFeely
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Grant: This book is one of the reasons to hate the 80s. Quick synopsis: A terrible biography of U.S. Grant. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: This terrible book won the Pulitzer Prize. It annoys me to no end. Fun Fact for History Nerds: This book is an example of an…
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Triangle by David Von Drehle
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Triangle: This is why we have fire safety requirements. Quick synopsis: The story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. It is one of the worst industrial disasters in the history of the US and one of the main reasons for a lot of major reforms. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like:…
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Last Stands by Michael Walsh
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Last Stands: This book should have been titled “Get Off My Lawn!” Quick synopsis: This is a philosophy book masquerading as a look at famous last stands in history. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: None of those in this book! Fun Fact for History Nerds: None of these, either! My…
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A Most Wicked Conspiracy by Paul Starobin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Most Wicked Conspiracy: I should have been a gold miner in the 1900s. Quick synopsis: The story of how a crooked politician tried to steal the gold right out from miners in Nome, Alaska around 1900. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Gold was literally just sitting around waiting to…
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Jungle of Stone by William Carlsen
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Jungle of Stone: I wouldn’t even do what they did in 1839 today. Forget that. Quick synopsis: Two guys went into the Jungle and discovered the Mayans were way more legit than anyone gave them credit for. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The archaeological site of Copan, in Honduras, was…
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Crucible of Hell by Saul David
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Crucible of Hell: Kind of puts The Karate Kid in a whole new light. Quick synopsis: Story of the battle of Okinawa in World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The movie Hacksaw Ridge is based on an actual action during the Battle of Okinawa. Fun Fact for History…
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The Good Nurse by Charles Graeber
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Good Nurse: Great, now I’m afraid of hospitals, too. Quick synopsis: The story of Charles Cullen who might be the most prolific serial killer ever. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Hospitals are very careful about their drugs… assuming they have street value. Otherwise, go right ahead, killer nurse! Fun…
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Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Five Days at Memorial: Doctors playing God and being arrogant about it. Shocking. Quick synopsis: A full investigation of Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The most heartwarming part of the story is when a bunch of hillbillies show up with their…