Category: Books/Museum Reviews

  • Batavia’s Graveyard by Mike Dash

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Batavia’s Graveyard: Well, this escalates quickly. Quick synopsis: The story of the Dutch ship, the Batavia in 1628. Oh, that doesn’t sound interesting? How about the subsequent mutiny, murder, and final battle on the beach for the lives of all who still lived? Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Do I…

  • The Man Who Caught the Storm- Brantley Hargrove

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Man Who Caught the Storm: Don’t go into a tornado. It’s a bad idea. Quick synopsis: The story of Tim Samaras who was a famous tornado hunter and inventor. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Frequency of a tornado coming through your living room? Once every 4,000 years. This number…

  • Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Ghost Soldiers: You’ll cancel your hibachi reservation after reading this. Quick synopsis: The story of the jailbreak for the survivors of the Bataan Death March. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: What did the U.S. Army do when their soldiers got tired in World War II? Amphetamines! (Club music begins) Fun…

  • Code Name: Lise by Larry Loftis

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Code Name: Lise: Want to be a spy? Not after reading this! Quick synopsis: Story of the Odette Sansom, the most decorated spy of WWII. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Sansom was caught and tortured by the Gestapo repeatedly. She didn’t give them a thing. Thank God she was a…

  • American Predator by Maureen Callahan

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for American Predator: Want to get away with murder? Don’t use the ATM card. Quick synopsis: The capture of (and botched interviews of) Israel Keyes. He was a very successful serial killer. And creepy as all hell. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Well not a fun fact but informative. Keyes got…

  • Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Destiny of the Republic: Sometimes you should just leave the bullet alone. Quick synopsis: The story of how President James Garfield came to power and then was assassinated. Also, how a bunch of doctors screwed up a lot. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Thomas Edison makes an appearance. Yeah, the…

  • Elizabeth Seton by Catherine O’Donnell

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Elizabeth Seton: I have no idea why this woman is a saint. Quick synopsis: A biography of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American born saint. For some reason. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Seton was a terrible babysitter! She was constantly trying to convert kids against their parents wishes! Even…

  • Museum Review: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

    Museum Focus: This is the annex of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Where is it: 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA 20151. Just outside of Washington D.C. to the west. What does it cost: Free! Well, sort of. It’s $15 for parking although every time I go there is no one at…

  • Murder Aboard by C. Michael Hiam

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Murder Aboard: Of course, they blamed the minority and not the previously incarcerated crazy dude. Quick synopsis: A true crime story about murders aboard a ship in 1896. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Canadians used to call New England the “Boston States.” I feel like everywhere but Boston would find…