Category: Books/Museum Reviews

  • Icebound by Andrea Pitzer

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Icebound: You should probably take warm clothes with you to the Arctic. Quick synopsis: The voyages of Dutch Explorer William Barents in attempts to find the Northeast Passage. No, not the Northwest Passage, the Northeast Passage. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: People used to believe geese were magical creatures because…

  • The Unknowns by Patrick K. O’Donnell

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Unknowns: You have to give it to Americans. We may not do it better, but we always do it bigger. Quick synopsis: An overview of American involvement in World War I through the lens of the body bearers of the Unknown Soldier. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Germans were…

  • Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Empire of Pain: The Sacklers suck. Quick synopsis: The history of the Sackler family, who projected themselves as philanthropists to the world while their painkillers were sending thousands on the road to death. Reminder: they suck. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Medical schools (even the fancy ones) previously limited the…

  • The Greatest Beer Run Ever by Chick Donohue

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Greatest Beer Run Ever: I can’t improve on the title, so I won’t even try. Quick synopsis: Chick Donohue went to bring his friends beer….in Vietnam…during the Vietnam War. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Yes, the synopsis is true. All of it. Fun Fact for History Nerds: If you…

  • Ballad of the Whiskey Robber by Julian Rubinstein

    Book cover of Ballad of the Whiskey Robber

  • A Shot in the Moonlight by Ben Montgomery

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Shot in the Moonlight: It’s amazing how racism and stupidity always go together. Quick synopsis: The story of George Dinning, who survived being shot in the head to ultimately sue his mob. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Bennet H. Young, who helped Dinning sue the mob, once took part…

  • Sea of Glory by Nathaniel Philbrick

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Sea of Glory: You’d think exploring around the world would get you remembered but apparently not. Quick synopsis: A narrative of the U.S Exploring Expedition of 1838 – 1842. Yeah, I hadn’t heard of it before either. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: This expedition explored 280 islands, mapped 800 miles…

  • God’s Traitors by Jessie Childs

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for God’s Traitors: (Looks toward England. Raises middle finger.) Quick synopsis: Another story about how England is the devil. This time, it focuses on the Catholic Vaux family in Elizabethan England. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: There were places built into homes to hide clergy during the time of Catholic persecution.…

  • Blood Royal by Eric Jager

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Blood Royal: I wonder how many less murders we would have if people kept it in their pants? Quick synopsis: The murder of the Duke of Orleans, Louis I, in 1407. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: This murder wasn’t very straightforward because a lot of people wanted to kill Louis.…