Tag: exploration
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Empire of Ice and Stone by Buddy Levy
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Empire of Ice and Stone: The lesson, as always, is don’t go to the Arctic. Quick synopsis: The story of the Karluk, which was shipwrecked in the Arctic and the crew’s attempts to survive. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Friendly reminder that many of the events in the Arctic take…
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River of the Gods by Candice Millard
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for River of the Gods: Who knew adventurers could be so catty? Quick synopsis: The story of the men who tried to find the source of the Nile River. Well, the first Europeans anyway. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: When you wear a cardigan, you can thank the man it was…
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Endurance by Alfred Lansing
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: I would have just laid down and died. Quick synopsis: The story of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition of 1914–1917 led by Sir Ernest Shackleton. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: No one died from the Endurance. Read the book. They all should have. Fun Fact for History Nerds: When the expedition returned…
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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…
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Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Madhouse at the End of the Earth: Belgium tried to do what? Quick summary: The voyage of the Belgica, a ship from Belgium intent on Antarctic discovery in 1897. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Antarctic Giant Petrel’s defense mechanism is to puke on you. It smells really bad apparently.…
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Icebound by Andrea Pitzer
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Icebound: You should probably take warm clothes with you to the Arctic. Quick synopsis: The voyages of Dutch Explorer William Barents in attempts to find the Northeast Passage. No, not the Northwest Passage, the Northeast Passage. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: People used to believe geese were magical creatures because…
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Sea of Glory by Nathaniel Philbrick
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Sea of Glory: You’d think exploring around the world would get you remembered but apparently not. Quick synopsis: A narrative of the U.S Exploring Expedition of 1838 – 1842. Yeah, I hadn’t heard of it before either. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: This expedition explored 280 islands, mapped 800 miles…
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Jungle of Stone by William Carlsen
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Jungle of Stone: I wouldn’t even do what they did in 1839 today. Forget that. Quick synopsis: Two guys went into the Jungle and discovered the Mayans were way more legit than anyone gave them credit for. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The archaeological site of Copan, in Honduras, was…
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Antarctica by David Day
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Antarctica: I really want to go here. Someone want to make a donation? Quick synopsis: The story of Antarctica from the 1770s to today. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Antarctica is a desert. It hasn’t rained there in 2 million years. Go ahead, check my work. Fun Fact for History…