Tag: American history

  • Life Sentence by Mark Bowden

    Life Sentence by Mark Bowden

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Life Sentence: “The Wire” is more realistic than we want to admit. Quick synopsis: The life and crimes of Montana “Tana” Barronette in Baltimore. Fact for Non-History People: In 2015 Sandtown, Baltimore, there were 64 murders and only 18 people ended up being charged. Yes, that’s a very bad rate. Fact…

  • The Dirty Tricks Department by John Lisle

    The Dirty Tricks Department by John Lisle

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Dirty Tricks Department: “Dirty” is entirely subjective. Quick synopsis: The story of the precursor to the CIA and the insane weapons they developed during World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: There used to be a Brooklyn Dodgers football team. It has nothing to do with the overall…

  • Follow Me to Hell by Tom Clavin

    Follow Me to Hell by Tom Clavin

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Follow Me to Hell: They never end up going to hell. Just Texas and Mexico. Quick synopsis: The story of legendary Texas Ranger Leander McNelly. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Texas Rangers were created in 1823 but wouldn’t actually be called the “Texas Rangers” for two years. Fun Fact…

  • Koresh by Stephan Talty

    Koresh by Stephan Talty

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Koresh: He was way more awful than you remember. Quick synopsis: The story of David Koresh and how his life led to the tragedy at Waco. Fun Fact for Non-History People: David Koresh’s real name was Vernon Wayne Howell. Fun Fact for History Nerds: The Branch Davidians didn’t exist because of…

  • The Lionkeeper of Algiers by Des Ekin

    The Lionkeeper of Algiers by Des Ekin

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Lionkeeper of Algiers: At least you could own a bar. Quick synopsis: The story of James Leander Cathcart, who was kidnapped at sea and held for ransom in Algiers. Fun Fact for Non-History People: Cathcart was only 8 years old when we became a seaman. Fun Fact for History Nerds:…

  • Gangbuster by Alan Prendergast

    Gangbuster by Alan Prendergast

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Gangbuster: Denver needs to rename a few landmarks. Quick synopsis: A true crime story about Denver District Attorney Philip Van Cise. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In 1876, there were two working telephone lines in the world. By 1922, there were over 15 million phones in the U.S. alone. Fun…

  • Crooked by Nathan Masters

    Crooked by Nathan Masters

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Crooked: Thank God politicians aren’t criminals like this anymore. Quick synopsis: The story of a corrupt Attorney General and the senator who tried to bring him. Fact for Non-History People: How about this for graft? During World War I, Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation overcharged the government by $2 million dollars. They never…

  • Ghosts of the Orphanage by Christine Kenneally

    Ghosts of the Orphanage by Christine Kenneally

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Ghosts of the Orphanage: “Orphanage” is a super misleading term. Quick synopsis: The history of abuse at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Vermont. Fact for Non-History People: Most children in orphanages WERE NOT ORPHANS. Usually, one, if NOT BOTH, parents were still alive. Fact for History Nerds: Efforts by the Catholic Church…

  • Africatown by Nick Tabor

    Africatown by Nick Tabor

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Africatown: Apparently, slavery wasn’t bad enough, so the discrimination just kept going. Quick synopsis: The story of the last slave ship to land in America and the fate of the people when slavery ended. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In 1850, cotton consumption worldwide was 1.5 billion pounds. By 1859,…