Tag: American history
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Liar Temptress Soldier Spy by Karen Abbott
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Liar Temptress Soldier Spy: Don’t judge a book by their cover. Or forget to suspect a woman as a spy. Quick synopsis: The story of four women during the Civil War and how they gave to their respective causes. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: As many as 400 women served…
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Black Flags, Blue Waters by Eric Jay Dolin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Black Flags, Blue Waters: The English are the reason we can’t have nice things like a Pirate Republic. Quick synopsis: An overview of piracy in the Americas. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Blackbeard was actually one of the least violent popular pirates. He used theatrics (like lighting fuses and sticking…
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Rebels at Sea by Eric Jay Dolin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Rebels at Sea: Whoop’em by land, whoop’em by sea. Quick synopsis: The story of American privateers in the American Revolution. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: One of the privateer boats was named Tyrannicide. Name a better boat name. I dare you. Fun Fact for History Nerds: At the time of…
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Leviathan by Eric Jay Dolin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Leviathan: Poor whales. What did they ever do to us? Quick synopsis: The history of whaling in America. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Yeah, there’s three pages on whale penis in here. You’re welcome. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Right whales couldn’t swallow humans even if they wanted to because…
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Bad Vegan (Netflix)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: She’s bad because of the crime, not the veganism. Allegedly. Quick synopsis: The story of how vegan restaurateur Sarma Melngailis became a fugitive. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Once again, I need to say this. If someone tells you they are a spy or in some sort of black ops, then…
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Who Killed Jane Stanford? by Richard White
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Who Killed Jane Stanford: Stanford was ridiculous when it was founded! Quick synopsis: The murder of Jane Stanford, one of the founders of Stanford University. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Stanford was founded due to the death of the Stanfords’ only child. Fun Fact for History Nerds: A line written…
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Benedict Arnold: Revolutionary Hero by James Kirby Martin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: He still sucks. Quick synopsis: A look at why Benedict Arnold became the traitor we still love to hate. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Arnold had two wives named Peggy. Not at the same time. That would be scandalous. Oh, wait… Fun Fact for History Nerds: Arnold is often thought of…
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Valor by Dan Hampton
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Valor: The story of a man who refused to enjoy a beach vacation. Quick synopsis: The story of Bill Harris in World War II as he fights, gets captured, fights, fights some more and absolutely refuses to sit still. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Chicago’s mayor thought it was possible…
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Judgment Ridge by Dick Lehr/Mitchell Zuckoff
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Judgment Ridge: Teenagers are the absolute worst. Quick synopsis: The story of the murder of Dartmouth professors Half and Susanne Zantop. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: One of the murders refused to kill a dog. Because, obviously, that would be too far. Fun Fact for History Nerds: High school worked…