Tag: Asian history
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Twenty Years by Sune Engel Rasmussen
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Twenty Years: Plenty of rage to go around. Quick synopsis: A look at the war in Afghanistan through the eyes of various Afghans. Fact for Non-History People: In the 1980s, Afghans in Iran and Pakistan made up nearly half of the world’s population of refugees. Fact for History Nerds: The U.S.…
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The Mission (NATGEO)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Mission: Should have listened the first two times. Quick synopsis: The story of missionary John Chau who died attempting to evangelize to the people of North Sentinel Island. Fact for Non-History People: We know so little about the North Sentinelese that we don’t even know how many of them there…
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The Last Island by Adam Goodheart
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Last Island: Leave them alone. Quick synopsis: The story of North Sentinel Island and the isolated tribe that calls it home. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Andaman Island chain contains nearly 600 islands and thousands of species that don’t exist anywhere else in the world. Fun Fact for…
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On Desperate Ground by Hampton Sides
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for On Desperate Ground: Fine, fine. Marines are good at stuff. I’ll admit it for once. Quick synopsis: The battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Mao Zedong believed orgasms directly halted the aging process. He’s dead now so I guess not. Fun Fact for…
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Vagabond Princess by Ruby Lal
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Vagabond Princess: Her Instagram account would have been awesome. Quick synopsis: The biography of Mughal Princess and writer Gulbadan Begum from the 1500s. Fact for Non-History People: Royal couriers were super-fast back in the day. A good rider with a solid horse could cover around 350 miles on a great…
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Empires of the Steppes by Kenneth Harl
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Empires of the Steppes: It wasn’t just Genghis. Quick synopsis: A look at the leaders of the Eurasian steppes. Fact for Non-History People: Attila the Hun died during a celebration of his wedding from probably a burst blood vessel. Fact for History Nerds: The man who coined the term “Silk Road”…
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Narcotopia by Patrick Winn
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Narcotopia: Apparently, you can’t trust a spy agency. Quick synopsis: The story of the narco-state in Burma. Fact for Non-History People: This narco-state has a larger military than Sweden or Kenya. Fact for History Nerds: The Southeast Asia drug trade generates $60 billion each year in meth alone. My Take on…
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The Sister by Sung-Yoon Lee
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Sister: Hell hath no fury like a dictator’s sister. Quick synopsis: A look at the sister of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, Kim Yo Jong. Fact for Non-History People: The official name of North Korea is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It is neither a democracy nor a…
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Valor by Dan Hampton
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Valor: The story of a man who refused to enjoy a beach vacation. Quick synopsis: The story of Bill Harris in World War II as he fights, gets captured, fights, fights some more and absolutely refuses to sit still. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Chicago’s mayor thought it was possible…