Tag: American history

  • Three Pianos by Andrew McMahon

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Three Pianos: Sex, drugs, rock and roll. A tale as old as time. Quick synopsis: A memoir of Andrew McMahon. He was the lead singer/songwriter of Something Corporate, Jack’s Mannequin, and Andrews McMahon in the Wilderness (duh). Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Andrew drinks a lot and does a lot…

  • Star Spangled Scandal by Chris DeRose

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Star Spangled Scandal: A famous dad does not make you bulletproof. Quick synopsis: The murder of Philip Baron Key by Daniel Sickles in 1859 right in front of the White House. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Philip Barton Key was the son of Francis Scott Key, the writer of the…

  • The Taking of Jemima Boone by Matthew Pearl

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Taking of Jemima Boone: Daniel Boone, the original American badass. Quick synopsis of The Taking of Jemima Boone: The story of the kidnapping of Daniel Boone’s daughter and essentially the founding of Kentucky. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Kentucky was almost called Transylvania. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Daniel…

  • Wework (Hulu)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Wework: Wework is the most insane basis for a cult ever. Quick synopsis: The story of Wework which was a real estate company and…cult? Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: This company reached a value of $47 billion at one point. For renting office space.   Fun Fact for History Nerds:…

  • History Nerds United Podcast S1:E4 – James M. Scott

    Pulitzer Prize finalist and author James M. Scott joins the podcast to talk about Rampage, his book on the World War II Battle of Manila. James explains his writing process, where he gets his ideas, the challenge in getting children to pay attention to history, and how to make the perfect gin and tonic. Hint:…

  • Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Black Klansman: Racists are so stupid. Here’s proof! Quick synopsis: Ron Stallworth, a black police detective, infiltrated the KKK. You read that right! Totally true story! Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Read the synopsis! This is awesome! Fun Fact for History Nerds: How did this all start? Detective Stallworth answered…

  • Hero of Two Worlds by Mike Duncan

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Hero of Two Worlds: Parisians definitely have made a habit of rioting. Quick synopsis: A biography of the Marquis de Lafayette. They keep writing them and I am going to keep reading them. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Good job, Hartford, Connecticut. When Lafayette and his family were trying to…

  • The Midnight Assassin by Skip Hollandsworth

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: The serial killer was mostly known as the Servant Girl Annihilator. Well then. Quick synopsis of The Midnight Assassin: The story of a serial killer in Austin, Texas between 1884 and 1885. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Servant Girl Annihilator preceded Jack the Ripper but was so close in timing…

  • Contest for Liberty by Seanegan Sculley

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Contest for Liberty: We should have lost. Quick synopsis: A look at the American Revolution through how the U.S. military matured from the beginning to end of the war. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Inflation of U.S. currency was so bad by the end of the war that many veterans…