Tag: American history

  • Catch the Devil by Pamela Colloff

    I don’t know, but maybe someone is already in jail we need to use a bit more discretion in how much we trust them. This is basically the crux of Pamela Colloff’s excellent Catch the Devil. Paul Skalnik is a fraud, thief, sexual predator, pedophile, and serial bigamist. He was also the favorite pet of…

  • They Stole a City: Wilmington’s White Supremacist Coup and the Families Who Live with Its Legacy by Lauren Collins

    There are only so many books that come along that leave you wondering, “How on Earth did I never hear about this event before?” The Stole a City by Lauren Collins is the story of the 1898 Wilmington, N.C. race massacre. You know, the one where a bunch of white supremacists killed a bunch of…

  • Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young by Zayd Ayers Dohrn

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young: Mother knows best. I mean bombs. Quick synopsis: A memoir about the author growing up on the run with his fugitive parents who were the leaders of the Weather Underground. Fact for Non-History People: Between 1970 and 1975, the WUO carried out roughly 25 bombings targeting…

  • The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby by Michael Blanding

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: Crafts be thy name. Quick synopsis: A look at the Green Family who created Hobby Lobby and used the proceeds in very specific ways. Fact for Non-History People: Hobby Lobby was founded in 1970 with a $600 loan. Fact for History Nerds: Hobby Lobby generates…

  • Imperfect Union by Lawrence Goldstone

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Imperfect Union: And we’ve been arguing ever since. Quick synopsis: A look at the U.S. Constitutional Convention and how the compromises reverberate today. Fact for Non-History People: Rhode Island was the only state to boycott the convention entirely. Fact for History Nerds: The youngest delegate was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton of New…

  • Fires in the Night by Matthew Wolfe

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Fires in the Night: Let’s save the Earth by lighting stuff on fire! Makes sense to me. Quick synopsis: The story of a cell within the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Fact for Non-History People: It is estimated the group performed hundreds of criminal acts in the late 1990s and 2000s. Fact…

  • The Summer of Death by Geoff Williams

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Summer of Death: This is why I get the AC serviced regularly. Quick synopsis: A look at the deadly heat wave summer of 1936. Fact for Non-History People: It is estimated that 5,000 people died from the summer heat. Fact for History Nerds: 13 state heat records were set that…

  • American Men by Jordan Ritter Conn

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for American Men: If I can be one, anybody could pull it off. Quick synopsis: A look at four people wrestling with what masculinity is to them. Fact for Non-History People: Men make up 49% to 49.5% of the U.S. population. We’re outnumbered! Fact for History Nerds: More boys than girls are…

  • All the President’s Money by Megan Gorman

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for All the President’s Money: Just the legally obtained kind. Quick synopsis: A look at how the U.S. presidents did (or did not) make and grow their money. Fact for Non-History People: Harry Truman was probably the poorest president when he took office. Fact for History Nerds: Donald Trump is the richest…