Category: Books/Museum Reviews

  • The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn by Robert Watson

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn: This book made me want to punch a British person. Quick synopsis: A look inside one of the notorious British prison ships used during the American Revolution, the HMS Jersey. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: “HMS” in front of a British ship’s name stands for…

  • Faster by Neal Bascomb

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Faster: Apparently, Hitler would have loved the Fast and the Furious movies. Quick synopsis: The story of how a French race car driver and American heiress embarrassed the German racing team on the eve of World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Car racing in the 1920s and 30s…

  • Operation Thunderbolt by Saul David

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Operation Thunderbolt: Idi Amin was a real whackjob. Quick synopsis: The story of Operation Thunderbolt, an Israeli action to save hostages on a hijacked plane. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The flight crew was given the option to be released with non-Jewish passengers but refused. Fun Fact for History Nerds:…

  • The Good Assassin by Stephan Talty

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Good Assassin: Of course he’s a good assassin. He’s killing Nazis. Quick synopsis: The story of the hunt and killing of Herbert Cukurs, the Butcher of Latvia. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Ilha da Queimada Grande, an island off the coast of Brazil, has one snake for every 6…

  • The Confidence Men by Margalit Fox

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Confidence Men: Maybe I’ve had fortune tellers wrong this whole time. Quick synopsis: The story of how two British POWs in World War I make their escape… by using telepathy. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: This may be the only example in military history of a conviction on espionage…

  • The Babysitter by Liza Rodman and Jennifer Jordan

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Babysitter: I actually dislike the mother more than the serial killer. Quick synopsis: The story of serial killer Tony Costa and the memories of Liza Rodman, who was babysat by Tony Costa on many occasions (and didn’t kill her, obviously). Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The murders took place…

  • Enemy of All Mankind by Steven Johnson

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Enemy of all Mankind: Piracy, the original get rich quick scheme or die trying. Quick synopsis: The story of arch-pirate Henry Every. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Henry Every is the most successful pirate of all time. He was only a pirate for two years. He was also never caught.…

  • The Immortals by Steven Collis

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Immortals: A priest, two ministers, and a rabbi walk onto a boat…. Quick synopsis: The story of the SS Dorchester, a World War II troop ship sunk by a Nazi U-boat and the men who died saving others. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: All four chaplains would independently give…

  • Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Agent Zigzag: I believe the English term for a guy like this is “cheeky.” Quick synopsis: The story of Eddie Chapman, the most unexpected double agent of World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: One of the men in this book was known as “Passion Pants.” Fun Fact for…