Tag: American history
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Kings and Pawns by Howard Bryant
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Kings and Pawns: Everyone has got an angle. Quick synopsis: The story of the public collision between Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson. Fact for Non-History People: Jackie Robinson was court-martialed in the Army for refusing a segregated bus seat. Fact for History Nerds: The Hollywood Blacklist officially barred around 325 writers,…
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Tom Paine’s War by Jack Kelly
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Tom Paine’s War: Tommy P could really get people riled up with that quill. Quick synopsis: The story of Thomas Paine through his writings and the battle of New York during the revolution. Fact for Non-History People: Thomas Paine dropped out of school at age 12. Fact for History Nerds: Before…
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The Gods of New York by Jonathan Mahler
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Gods of New York: More like men with god complexes. Quick synopsis: The city and people of New York City in the late 1980s. Fact for Non-History People: NYC’s population declined by one million during the 1970s. Fact for History Nerds: During cold nights below 32 degrees, upwards of 8,000…
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Empire of Orgasm by Ellen Huet
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Empire of Orgasm: No comment so I don’t get banned. Quick synopsis: The story of the sex cult, OneTaste and its founder Nicole Daedone. Fact for Non-History People: OneTaste peaked with $10 million in revenue in 2017. At least, that’s what was reported. Fact for History Nerds: An annual membership with…
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Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Giuffre
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Nobody’s Girl: More brutal than you expect. And I expected a lot. Quick synopsis: The memoir of Virginia Giuffre, who was one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most known victims. Fact for Non-History People: Epstein’s net worth at this death was $600 million. Barf. Fact for History Nerds: Giuffre’s abuse at the hands…
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A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls by Adam Morgan
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls: These dangers are so quaint compared to today. Quick synopsis: The story of Margaret Anderson, a publisher who battled literary censorship in the early 1900s. Fact for Non-History People: The first book ban in the U.S. was Thomas Morton’s New English Canaan in…
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The American Revolution by Geoffrey Ward and Ken Burns
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The American Revolution: Now with pictures! Quick synopsis: An intimate history of the American Revolution. Fact for Non-History People: George Washington’s record in the revolution was about 6 wins, 7 losses, and 4 draws. Fact for History Nerds: George Washington is a major reason the French and Indian War kicked off.…
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Golden State by Michael Hiltzik
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Golden State: It wasn’t all golden. Quick synopsis: A history of California. Fact for Non-History People: California is the only state to have been ruled by three different countries: Spain, Mexico, and the U.S. Fact for History Nerds: The famous Hollywood Sign originally read “Hollywoodland” as a real estate advertisement. My…
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Joan Crawford by Scott Eyman
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Joan Crawford: Drama, but just not how you were expecting. Quick synopsis: A biography of legendary actress Joan Crawford. Fact for Non-History People: Crawford’s real name was Lucille Fay LeSueur. Fact for History Nerds: Walt Disney allegedly used her look to create Snow White’s Evil Queen. My Take on Joan Crawford:…