Tag: American history

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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:…

  • American Midnight by Adam Hochschild

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for American Midnight: All was not fine on the home front. Quick synopsis: A look at the American home front around the time of World War I. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: On June 5, 1917, all eligible men were required to register for the draft. Although there were concerns on…

  • Nothing but the Night by Greg King/Penny Wilson

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Nothing but the Night: Who’s more innocent? Well, they both suck. Quick synopsis: The story of the murder of Bobby Franks by Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb in Chicago. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Grandpa Walton from The Waltons on TV knew Richard Loeb and thought he was a smart…