Tag: American history

  • The Fate of the Day by Rick Atkinson

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Fate of the Day: You loved the original so don’t miss the sequel. Quick synopsis: The American Revolution from Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780. Fact for Non-History People: The Marquis de Lafayette’s full name was Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette. Fact for History Nerds: Georgia is the only state…

  • Murderland by Caroline Fraser

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Murderland: So many ways to die. Quick synopsis: A look at the rise of serial killers in the 1970s and 1980s with a focus on the Pacific Northwest. Fact for Non-History People: Serial killers peaked in the U.S. with 300 known offenders in the 1970s. Fact for History Nerds: Washington state…

  • Nothing but Courage by James Donovan

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Nothing but Courage: One of the few reasons to jump out of a perfectly good plane. Quick synopsis: The 82nd Airborne’s mission on D-Day. Fact for Non-History People: The American airborne forces would comprise 13,000 paratroopers and 4,000 men delivered by gliders. Fact for History Nerds: Approximately 2,500 American paratroopers would…

  • Phantom Fleet by Alexander Rose

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Phantom Fleet: The Taking of U-505. Quick synopsis: The Battle of the Atlantic and the attempt to steal a German U-boat. Fact for Non-History People: The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest campaign of World War II. Fact for History Nerds: 3,500 Allied merchant ships were sunk during the Battle…

  • The Sailing of the Intrepid by Montel Williams and David Fisher

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Sailing of the Intrepid: Old habits die hard. Quick synopsis: The story of how in 1944 the crew of the USS Intrepid used old school methods to make it home. Fact for Non-History People: Yes, that Montel Williams is the author. He is an Annapolis grad (Go Army!) and is…

  • Taking Midway by Martin Dugard

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Taking Midway: When reading the mail was so important. Quick synopsis: The story of Midway Island and the battle which turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific. Fact for Non-History People: The Japanese lost 3,000 personnel in comparison to the U.S.’s about 300. Fact for History Nerds: Midway…

  • Mark Twain by Ron Chernow

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Mark Twain: Let him write. Don’t let him business. Quick synopsis: A biography of iconic writer and terrible businessman, Mark Twain. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Twain served on the Confederate side in the Civil War although rather briefly. Fun Fact for History Nerds: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is…

  • Strangers in the Land by Michael Luo

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Strangers in the Land: It didn’t get better once the railroads were finished. Quick synopsis: The story of Chinese immigrants who came to America. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: It took seven weeks for news of the death of President Zachary Taylor to reach California. Fun Fact for History Nerds:…

  • Taking Manhattan by Russell Shorto

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Taking Manhattan: Business decisions made at cannon-point. Quick synopsis: The story of how New Amsterdam became New York. Fact for Non-History People: In 1673, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War, New York became New Orange when the Dutch retook it, but it was given up again in the treaty ending the war.…