Tag: American history
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A Billion Years by Mike Rinder
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Billion Years: Tom Cruise has some explaining to do. Quick synopsis: A memoir by Mike Rinder, who was a higher up in the Church of Scientology. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Scientology practices what’s called “bullbaiting” which is an exercise to eliminate reactions to people saying things to you.…
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The Lion and the Fox by Alexander Rose
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Lion and the Fox: Don’t mess with a pencil pusher. Quick synopsis: The story of a Union agent and a Confederate agent battling in England over the creation of a Confederate navy. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: At the beginning of the Civil War, the South only had ammunition…
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Guest Post! Ryan Woolf’s Review of Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution by Mike Duncan
Alternate Tagline for Hero of Two Worlds: I thought there would be more rap battles. Quick synopsis: The fascinating life story of The Marquis de Lafayette. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Marquis de Lafayette was childhood friends with King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette; he had a surrogate father/son relationship with George…
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I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for I’m Glad My Mom Died: Thank God my mom is not like her mom. Quick synopsis: A memoir by former child star, Jennette McCurdy. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Miranda Cosgrove seems like a good person and a good friend. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Ariana Grande seems like a…
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American Mother by Gregg Olsen
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for American Mother: Family dinners must be awkward. Quick synopsis: The story of a 1986 true crime case where people were killed by tainted medicine. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Cyanide smells like bitter almonds. Stick to peanuts. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Anything I’d say here is a spoiler. Just…
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The Last Hill by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Last Hill: Yeah, they always say one more hill. Then there’s always another hill. Quick synopsis: The story of “Rudder’s Rangers” in World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: When the U.S. first entered World War II 85% of war resources were allotted to Europe as opposed to…
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The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams: He’s more than just a beer! Quick synopsis: A biography of the overshadowed Adams, Samuel. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: He was never called “Sam.” Always Samuel. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Adams was gifted a slave from his mother-in-law. He immediately had her emancipated. Surrey…
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Death by Fire and Ice by Brian E. O’Connor
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Death by Fire and Ice: My vote is the fire part is worse. Quick synopsis: The story of the sinking of the steamboat Lexington in 1840 and how it all happened. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Cornelius Vanderbilt started out working on his father’s New York ferry. Fun Fact for…
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All That Is Wicked by Kate Winkler Dawson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for All That Is Wicked: There might be a correlation between amazing arrogance and sociopathy. Quick synopsis: The story of Edward Rulloff and his many murders in the 1800s. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Edward Rulloff thought language was universal. Basically, he thought language was math. Fun Fact for History Nerds:…