Category: Books/Museum Reviews
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Brothers of the Gun by Mark Lee Gardner
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Brothers of the Gun: This book is my huckleberry. Quick synopsis: The dual biography of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Fact for Non-History People: A map drawn by Wyatt Earp of the O.K. Corral gunfight sold for $115,000 in 2004. Fact for History Nerds: Doc was born with a cleft palate.…
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Gemini by Jeffrey Kluger
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Gemini: Gemini not Gemini. Quick synopsis: The history of NASA’s Gemini Space Program. Fact for Non-History People: Never forget that the USSR sent a dog named Laika to space knowing they couldn’t bring her back. Never. Forget. Fact for History Nerds: When space shuttles re-enter the atmosphere, they face temperatures five…
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Little Bosses Everywhere by Bridget Read
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Little Bosses Everywhere: Pyramid, meet scheme. Quick synopsis: The long history of multi-level marketing in America. Fact for Non-History People: Of the 6.7 million Americans in MLMs, 75% are women. Fact for History Nerds: Avon, one of the original direct sellers, made profits even during the Great Depression. My Take on…
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The Stolen Crown by Tracy Borman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Stolen Crown: Wily Lizzie and slippery Jimmy. Quick synopsis: The story of the Elizabethan Succession and how it didn’t go the way we thought it did. Fact for Non-History People: In 1500, the English monarchy’s annual income was about 19 times that of Scotland. Fact for History Nerds: 60% of…
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Running Deep by Tom Clavin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Running Deep: One too many dives. Quick synopsis: The story of the deadliest submarine in World War II, the USS Tang. Fact for Non-History People: When World War II began, Japan had at least 15 more subs than the U.S. with 64 ready for deployment. Fact for History Nerds: One out…
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To Rescue the American Spirit by Bret Baier
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for To Rescue the American Spirit: He certainly rescued himself from boredom. Quick synopsis: The life and times of Teddy Roosevelt. Fact for Non-History People: The teddy bear is actually a reference to Teddy Roosevelt. Fact for History Nerds: He was once shot in the chest and refused to go to the…
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Vagabond by Tim Curry
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Vagabond: He’ll always be Nigel St. Nigel to me. Quick synopsis: The life of Tim Curry in his own words. Fact for Non-History People: Curry grew up a military BRAT (which stands for British Regiment Attached Traveler, apparently). Fact for History Nerds: Curry actually knew Clue director Jonathan Lynn from his…
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Bone Valley by Gilbert King
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Bone Valley: When proving your innocence is the easy part. Quick synopsis: The story of Leo Schofield’s fight for exoneration in the murder of his wife. Fact for Non-History People: Since 1973, at least 200 death row inmates have been exonerated. Fact for History Nerds: On average, for every 8 people…
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1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for 1929: Everything is great! Then depression. Quick synopsis: The story of the beginning of the Great Depression. Fact for Non-History People: One of Calvin Coolidge’s sons died of sepsis from a blister he got playing tennis at the White House. Fact for History Nerds: A poll done after the 1932 election…