Tag: American history
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1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for 1929: Everything is great! Then depression. Quick synopsis: The story of the beginning of the Great Depression. Fact for Non-History People: One of Calvin Coolidge’s sons died of sepsis from a blister he got playing tennis at the White House. Fact for History Nerds: A poll done after the 1932 election…
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Race Against Terror by Jake Tapper
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Race Against Terror: Got the criminal — not sure about the court. Quick synopsis: The trial of Al-Qaeda terrorist, Spin Ghul, years after his murder of American soldiers in Afghanistan. Fact for Non-History People: At its height right before September 11th, 2001, Al-Qaeda had about 3,000 core members, but because of…
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The Gales of November by John Bacon
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Gales of November: If it’s November, don’t go on the Great Lakes. Quick synopsis: The story of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Fact for Non-History People: The Great Lakes hold 80% of North America’s freshwater and 20% of the entire world’s. Fact for History Nerds: Between 1875 and 1975,…
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Deadwood by Peter Cozzens
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Deadwood: Yup, better than the show (and I love the show). Quick synopsis: The story of the rise and fall of Deadwood. Fact for Non-History People: Within 5 months of the first gold strike in Deadwood, more than 200 buildings had been put up. Fact for History Nerds: The fabled “Dead…
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The Last Adieu by Ryan Cole
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Last Adieu: It was one hell of an adieu. Quick synopsis: The story of when the Marquis Lafayette returned to America decades after the revolution. Fact for Non-History People: Lafayette was commissioned a major general at the age of 19. Fact for History Nerds: Lafayette drafted the influential Declaration of…
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When You Come at the King by Elie Honig
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for When You Come at the King: You best not miss. Quick synopsis: A look at the U.S. Special Counsel cases from Nixon to today. Fact for Non-History People: In the first 18 years after the adoption of the Special Counsel, there was only one. Fact for History Nerds: However, starting in…
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1999 by Ross Benes
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for 1999: Unhappy? Blame a 90s kid. Quick synopsis: A look at how the culture of 1999 reverberates today. Fact for Non-History People: Donald Trump is in the WWE Hall of Fame. Fact for History Nerds: In some markets, Jerry Springer was actually beating Oprah in the ratings. My Take on…
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The Great American Retro Road Trip by Rolando Pujol
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Great American Retro Road Trip: Too many of these things were during my lifetime. I feel so old. Quick synopsis: A look at all the best retro places and things around the United States. Fact for Non-History People: “Retro” is derived from the Latin word for “backward.” That checks. Fact…
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Freedom Ship by Marcus Rediker
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Freedom Ship: If you can’t run, sail. Quick synopsis: A look at the Underground Railroad but from a maritime perspective. Fact for Non-History People: If you broke the original Fugitive Slave Law, you might get a fine of around $15,000 in today’s dollars. Later, the penalties increased a lot. Fact for…