Tag: American history
-
Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young by Zayd Ayers Dohrn
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young: Mother knows best. I mean bombs. Quick synopsis: A memoir about the author growing up on the run with his fugitive parents who were the leaders of the Weather Underground. Fact for Non-History People: Between 1970 and 1975, the WUO carried out roughly 25 bombings targeting…
-
The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: Crafts be thy name. Quick synopsis: A look at the Green Family who created Hobby Lobby and used the proceeds in very specific ways. Fact for Non-History People: Hobby Lobby was founded in 1970 with a $600 loan. Fact for History Nerds: Hobby Lobby generates…
-
Imperfect Union by Lawrence Goldstone
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Imperfect Union: And we’ve been arguing ever since. Quick synopsis: A look at the U.S. Constitutional Convention and how the compromises reverberate today. Fact for Non-History People: Rhode Island was the only state to boycott the convention entirely. Fact for History Nerds: The youngest delegate was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton of New…
-
Fires in the Night by Matthew Wolfe
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Fires in the Night: Let’s save the Earth by lighting stuff on fire! Makes sense to me. Quick synopsis: The story of a cell within the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Fact for Non-History People: It is estimated the group performed hundreds of criminal acts in the late 1990s and 2000s. Fact…
-
The Summer of Death by Geoff Williams
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Summer of Death: This is why I get the AC serviced regularly. Quick synopsis: A look at the deadly heat wave summer of 1936. Fact for Non-History People: It is estimated that 5,000 people died from the summer heat. Fact for History Nerds: 13 state heat records were set that…
-
American Men by Jordan Ritter Conn
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for American Men: If I can be one, anybody could pull it off. Quick synopsis: A look at four people wrestling with what masculinity is to them. Fact for Non-History People: Men make up 49% to 49.5% of the U.S. population. We’re outnumbered! Fact for History Nerds: More boys than girls are…
-
All the President’s Money by Megan Gorman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for All the President’s Money: Just the legally obtained kind. Quick synopsis: A look at how the U.S. presidents did (or did not) make and grow their money. Fact for Non-History People: Harry Truman was probably the poorest president when he took office. Fact for History Nerds: Donald Trump is the richest…
-
Two Ships by David Reynolds
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Two Ships: Two ships but plenty of arguments. Quick synopsis: A look at American history from the view of two ships, the Mayflower and the White Lion. Fact for Non-History People: While the White Lion is credited as being the first ship to bring slavery to the American colonies, the enslaved…
-
The Lost Cities of El Norte by Peter Stark
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Lost Cities of El Norte: “Lost” being a very relative term in this case. Quick synopsis: The expedition of Coronado into the future American West. Fact for Non-History People: Around 1500, the Pueblo population in the Southwest was estimated to be between 40,000 and 80,000. Fact for History Nerds: Coronado’s…