Tag: American history

  • The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Republic of Pirates: The English are the reason we can’t have nice things like a Pirate Republic. Quick synopsis: The story of how pirates tried to create their own society and the man who destroyed it. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Golden Age of Piracy was relatively short…

  • This is a Robbery (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for This is a Robbery: Editor wanted. Quick synopsis: The story of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft in 1990. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: This is the largest art heist in history. Fun Fact for History Nerds: The thieves stole wisely when they poached a few Rembrandts, Degas, and a…

  • Crazy Not Insane (HBO)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Crazy Not Insane: Irony: Naming your documentary how it makes the viewer feel. Quick synopsis: A documentary about psychiatrist Dorothy Otnow Lewis. Or her theories. Or her thoughts on the death penalty. Honestly, I’m not sure what it was going for. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Dissociative identity disorder (DID),…

  • The Book Was Better: Catch and Kill

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Catch and Kill: Movie producers are perverts? Who knew? Except literally everyone. Quick synopsis: The story of how Ronan Farrow took down Harvey Weinstein. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Ronan Farrow is also a lawyer and clearly an overachiever. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Weinstein actually reached out to Woody…

  • Grant and Sherman by Charles Bracelen Flood

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Grant and Sherman: The ultimate Civil War bromance. Quick synopsis: A look at the friendship between Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman and how it shaped the Civil War. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: One of the best quotes of all time: “Grant stood by me when I was…

  • Lucky 666 by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Lucky 666: Sure, why not just build your own plane during World War II. Quick synopsis: The story of the Old 666, a B-17 bomber put together with scraps in Papua New Guinea in World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The main event of the book is the…

  • Val (Amazon)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Val: The Iceman shows his softer side. Quick synopsis: A video autobiography of actor Val Kilmer. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Val Kilmer went to Julliard and is the youngest person ever accepted into their drama school. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Kilmer didn’t want to be in Top Gun…

  • The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Woman They Could Not Silence: So, this is why no one wants to go to therapy. Quick synopsis: The story of Elizabeth Packard, who was forcibly committed by her husband for having an opinion. Yeah, really. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In the 1860s, the leading cause of insanity…

  • The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn by Robert Watson

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn: This book made me want to punch a British person. Quick synopsis: A look inside one of the notorious British prison ships used during the American Revolution, the HMS Jersey. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: “HMS” in front of a British ship’s name stands for…