Tag: American history
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Fierce Ambition by Jennet Conant
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Fierce Ambition: Journalists being hostile with each other? You don’t say. Quick synopsis: A biography of war correspondent Maggie Higgins. Fact for Non-History People: In the 1940s, American women did 80% of the nation’s buying. Fact for History Nerds: There were 325 accredited American war correspondents in World War II. 38…
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Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche (Netflix)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Buried: This is why I never leave the lodge. Quick synopsis: The story of the Lake Tahoe Alpine Meadows avalanche in 1982. Fact for Non-History People: Avalanches can reach 80 mph within about 5 seconds. Fact for History Nerds: Avalanches kill about 150 people worldwide each year. My Take on Buried:…
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Longstreet by Elizabeth Varon
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Longstreet: It’s never too late to stop being an idiot. I hope. Quick synopsis: The story of Confederate General James Longstreet and how he tried to atone for his mistakes. Fact for Non-History People: 30% of Virginia-born officers stayed loyal during the Civil War. Fact for History Nerds: In the 1880s,…
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Ghosts of Honolulu by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Ghosts of Honolulu: Yes, THAT Mark Harmon. Quick synopsis: The story of the spying in Hawaii before Pearl Harbor. Fact for Non-History People: In 1920, there were 109,000 Japanese immigrants in Hawaii which made up 43% of the total population. Fact for History Nerds: 2,403 Americans were killed at Pearl Harbor…
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The Black Angels by Maria Smilios
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Black Angels: If you need something done, find yourself a nurse. Quick synopsis: The story of the Black nurses who helped cure tuberculosis. Fact for Non-History People: Tuberculosis killed Doc Holliday at age 36. Fact for History Nerds: In the first half of the twentieth century, tuberculosis killed 5.6 million…
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Disneyland on the Mountain by Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Disneyland on the Mountain: Is there any place the mouse won’t set up shop? Quick synopsis: The story of Walt Disney’s attempt to build a ski resort. Fact for Non-History People: Bambi lost money at the box office. Fact for History Nerds: Walt Disney was so strapped for cash in 1938…
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The Last Ships from Hamburg by Steven Ujifusa
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Last Ships from Hamburg: 99 problems but a ship ain’t one. Quick synopsis: The story of the men instrumental in the Jewish exodus from Eastern Europe before World War I. Fact for Non-History People: Thomas Ismay purchased the White Star Line in 1867 for only one thousand pounds. Yes, the…
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60 Songs That Explain the 90s by Rob Harvilla
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for 60 Songs That Explain the 90s: Just put the nostalgia directly in my veins! Quick synopsis: Um, just look at the title. Fact for Non-History People: Green Day’s Dookie sold 20 million copies. Fact for History Nerds: Everyone in Metallica, including the drummer Lars Ulrich, concede that Lars is an overrated…
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Unwavering by Taylor Kiland and Judy Gray
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Unwavering: Hell hath no fury like a military spouse. Quick synopsis: The story of the POW/MIA movement during the Vietnam War. Fact for Non-History People: There were 591 American servicemen repatriated in 1973 from Vietnam. Fact for History Nerds: 643,000 tons of bombs were dropped on Vietnam over the three-and-a-half-year campaign…