Tag: American history
-
Trial by Ambush by Marcia Clark
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Trial by Ambush: Oh look, a miscarriage of justice. Quick synopsis: The trial of Barbara “Bloody Babs” Graham in the 1950s. Fact for Non-History People: Clark was dubbed “Giggles Clark” during the OJ Trial because a camera caught her smiling and chuckling at times. She found the name funny, actually. Fact…
-
Reagan by Max Boot
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Reagan: Wow, that whole “Gipper” thing was total BS. Quick synopsis: The life of U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Reagan’s post-presidency office was used as a set in Die Hard. Fun Fact for History Nerds: By 2022, Reagan had an approval rating of 73% only bested…
-
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: Grade school failed us all. Quick synopsis: The founding of New England. Come on, everyone knows this one. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: It should never be forgotten that the Pilgrims were actually aiming for Virginia. Oops. Fun Fact for History Nerds: By the end of the first year, only 50…
-
Gangster Hunters by John Oller
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Gangster Hunters: Whole lotta crime in a short amount of time. Quick synopsis: The story of the FBI taking down the most famous gangsters in American history. Fact for Non-History People: During a particularly laborious search, the FBI considered asking the Boy Scouts for help. Cooler heads prevailed. Fact for…
-
The Swamp Fox by John Oller
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Swamp Fox: Leave my history alone, Mel Gibson. Quick synopsis: A biography of Francis Marion, American Revolutionary officer and guerilla warfare proponent. Fact for Non-History People: Francis Marion is (loosely) the inspiration for Mel Gibson’s character in The Patriot. Banastre Tarleton is the historical inspiration for the bad guy in…
-
Ghosts of Panama by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr.
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Ghosts of Panama: Turns out you shouldn’t trust drug dealers. Quick synopsis: The story of the U.S. invasion of Panama. Fact for Non-History People: Manuel Noriega was into the occult and had a “witch” on staff. Fact for History Nerds: During the 1970s, 63% of the School of the Americas…
-
Roosevelt to Roosevelt by Stan Haynes
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Roosevelt to Roosevelt: It’s like high school only political. Quick synopsis: A look at the nominating conventions between the time of Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt. Fact for Non-History People: Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt were fifth cousins. Fact for History Nerds: Multiple western states allowed women to vote well before 1920.…
-
The United States of Cryptids by J.W. Ocker
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The United States of Cryptids: You don’t need to believe to have fun. Quick synopsis: An encyclopedia of some U.S based cryptid stories. Fact for Non-History People: The term cryptid was first used in 1983. Fact for History Nerds: Cryptids are not monsters, but animals or creatures mentioned in folklore…
-
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A rare instance where I love the movie and the book. Quick synopsis: A story about the denizens of Savannah, Georgia and a famous murder in their midst. Fact for Non-History People: Savannah allows you to take your drinks in to-go cups…