Tag: American history

  • Liar Temptress Soldier Spy by Karen Abbott

    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…

  • Black Flags, Blue Waters by Eric Jay Dolin

    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…

  • Rebels at Sea by Eric Jay Dolin

    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…

  • Leviathan by Eric Jay Dolin

    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…

  • Bad Vegan (Netflix)

    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…

  • Who Killed Jane Stanford? by Richard White

    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…

  • Benedict Arnold: Revolutionary Hero by James Kirby Martin

    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…

  • Valor by Dan Hampton

    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…

  • Judgment Ridge by Dick Lehr/Mitchell Zuckoff

    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…