Tag: politics
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Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson
(Note: Just doing the review without the bells and whistles for this one since it wasn’t originally on my review schedule) There is no way to fully avoid politics when it comes to this book. I feel it is important I confess my own personal feelings while reviewing this book. The best way to do…
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Roosevelt to Roosevelt by Stan Haynes
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Roosevelt to Roosevelt: It’s like high school only political. Quick synopsis: A look at the nominating conventions between the time of Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt. Fact for Non-History People: Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt were fifth cousins. Fact for History Nerds: Multiple western states allowed women to vote well before 1920.…
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Crooked by Nathan Masters
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Crooked: Thank God politicians aren’t criminals like this anymore. Quick synopsis: The story of a corrupt Attorney General and the senator who tried to bring him. Fact for Non-History People: How about this for graft? During World War I, Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation overcharged the government by $2 million dollars. They never…
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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…
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Empire of Sin by Gary Krist
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Empire of Sin: Never had a title been so apt. Quick synopsis: The story of New Orleans in the early 1900s. Honestly, not that far off from NOLA today. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Guess which city had the first legal red-light district in the country? Yup, you got it.…
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A Shot in the Moonlight by Ben Montgomery
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Shot in the Moonlight: It’s amazing how racism and stupidity always go together. Quick synopsis: The story of George Dinning, who survived being shot in the head to ultimately sue his mob. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Bennet H. Young, who helped Dinning sue the mob, once took part…
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A Most Wicked Conspiracy by Paul Starobin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Most Wicked Conspiracy: I should have been a gold miner in the 1900s. Quick synopsis: The story of how a crooked politician tried to steal the gold right out from miners in Nome, Alaska around 1900. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Gold was literally just sitting around waiting to…
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The Zealot and the Emancipator by H.W. Brands
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Zealot and the Emancipator: The Civil War era was crazy. Glad politics got so much better since then. Quick synopsis: A dual biography of John Brown and Abraham Lincoln. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: John Brown was seriously deranged, and we all are pretty clear about that today. But…
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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…