Tag: American history
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The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Woman They Could Not Silence: So, this is why no one wants to go to therapy. Quick synopsis: The story of Elizabeth Packard, who was forcibly committed by her husband for having an opinion. Yeah, really. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In the 1860s, the leading cause of insanity…
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The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn by Robert Watson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn: This book made me want to punch a British person. Quick synopsis: A look inside one of the notorious British prison ships used during the American Revolution, the HMS Jersey. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: “HMS” in front of a British ship’s name stands for…
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The Babysitter by Liza Rodman and Jennifer Jordan
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Babysitter: I actually dislike the mother more than the serial killer. Quick synopsis: The story of serial killer Tony Costa and the memories of Liza Rodman, who was babysat by Tony Costa on many occasions (and didn’t kill her, obviously). Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The murders took place…
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The Immortals by Steven Collis
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Immortals: A priest, two ministers, and a rabbi walk onto a boat…. Quick synopsis: The story of the SS Dorchester, a World War II troop ship sunk by a Nazi U-boat and the men who died saving others. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: All four chaplains would independently give…
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A Storm of Witchcraft by Emerson Baker
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Storm of Witchcraft: The same type of thinking which led us to anti-vaxxers! Quick synopsis: The Salem Witch Trials. Literally every American knows this one. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Still one of the most badass examples of what we now know as “pleading the fifth.” Giles Corey, who…
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Operation Odessa (TV)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Operation Odessa: I’m mad my parents didn’t buy me a helicopter when Soviet Russia fell. Quick synopsis for Operation Odessa: Three gangsters try to sell a nuclear submarine to a drug cartel. It’s so much more than that but honestly, it’s really hard to sum this up quickly. Fun Fact Non-History…
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Empire of Sin by Gary Krist
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Empire of Sin: Never had a title been so apt. Quick synopsis: The story of New Orleans in the early 1900s. Honestly, not that far off from NOLA today. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Guess which city had the first legal red-light district in the country? Yup, you got it.…
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The Lady and the Dale (HBO)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Lady and the Dale: A three-wheeled car looks no less ridiculous than those three-wheel motorcycles. Quick synopsis: The story of Elizabeth Carmichael and her three-wheeled car, the Dale. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Liz Carmichael was born Jerry Dean Michael in 1927 in Indiana. Well, allegedly as she had…
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Sasquatch (Hulu)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Sasquatch: It’s hard to remember what happened when you are super high. Quick synopsis: A guy remembers hearing about a story of three men being murdered by a Sasquatch on a pot farm. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Northern California has a lot of crazy people. I mean crazy in…