Tag: South American history
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Eden Undone by Abbott Kahler
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Eden Undone: Should’ve been renamed Cuckoo Island after they left. Quick synopsis: The true story of people trying to live in isolation on an island in the Galápagos. Insanity ensues. Fact for Non-History People: Tortoises on the Galápagos have been measured as weighing as much as 700 pounds. Fact for…
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Into the Amazon by Larry Rohter
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Into the Amazon: This dude did not like sleeping in his own bed. Quick synopsis: The biography of Cândido Rondon who was a Brazilian explorer and about 20 other things. Fact for Non-History People: Rondon took Teddy Roosevelt on an expedition through the Amazon where all of them almost died. Fact…
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The Good Assassin by Stephan Talty
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Good Assassin: Of course he’s a good assassin. He’s killing Nazis. Quick synopsis: The story of the hunt and killing of Herbert Cukurs, the Butcher of Latvia. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Ilha da Queimada Grande, an island off the coast of Brazil, has one snake for every 6…
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The Book Was Better: The Lost City of Z
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Lost City of Z: Who would have thought the Amazon could be so dangerous? Quick synopsis: The story of famed explorer Percy Fawcett and his disappearance looking for the Lost City of Z. I compare the book by David Grann and the movie of the same name. Fun Fact Non-History…
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The River of Doubt by Candice Millard
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The River of Doubt: I don’t recommend exploring uncharted tributaries of the Amazon. Quick synopsis: The story of when Teddy Roosevelt decided to take a vacation and explore a tributary of the Amazon. Didn’t go well. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Did you see the synopsis above? I am a…
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Hunting Eichmann by Neal Bascomb
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: Nothing better than hanging Nazis! Quick synopsis: Story of the hunt for Adolf Eichmann in Argentina after World War II. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: When General Patton (renowned tough guy) first walked into a concentration camp, he threw up. Also, there are people today who believe the Holocaust did not…