Tag: war
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No Ordinary Assignment by Jane Ferguson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for No Ordinary Assignment: Safety? Sounds boring. Quick synopsis: The story of war journalist, Jane Ferguson. Fact for Non-History People: Sana’a, Yemen, is believed to be the one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Fact for History Nerds: The Somali language wasn’t formally written down until the 1970s. My…
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A Brutal Reckoning by Peter Cozzens
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Brutal Reckoning: Andrew Jackson needed serious therapy. Quick synopsis: The story of the Creek War in the southern United States from 1813-1814. Fun Fact for Non-History People: The descendants of the Creek live in Eastern Oklahoma as part of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and number 86,000 members. Fact for History…
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Putin’s Wars by Mark Galeotti
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Putin’s Wars: So, this is why Ukraine is whooping his a–. Quick synopsis: A look at the Russian military from the end of the Cold War to now. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Other than a short stint in a basic training program, Putin was never in the Russian military.…
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Revolutionary Roads by Bob Thompson
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Revolutionary Roads: American Revolution ROAD TRIP! Quick synopsis: A literal walk-through of major places during the American Revolution. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Every American knows Lexington and Concord, but the most deaths on the day the Revolution started was in Menotomy (now Arlington), Massachusetts. Fun Fact for History Nerds:…
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Dunkirchen 1940 by Robert Kershaw
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Dunkirchen 1940: Let’s see how the Germans messed this up. Quick synopsis: A look at the events leading up to the Battle of Dunkirk from the German point of view. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Never forget that Germany was still using horse drawn artillery at the beginning of World…
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The Greatest Knight by Thomas Asbridge
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: Oh look, an actual knight. Quick synopsis: A complete biography of William Marshal of England. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: William Marshal served five separate kings: Henry II, the “Young King” Henry, Richard I the Lionheart, John (yes, THAT King John), and Henry III. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Marshal…
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The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams: He’s more than just a beer! Quick synopsis: A biography of the overshadowed Adams, Samuel. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: He was never called “Sam.” Always Samuel. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Adams was gifted a slave from his mother-in-law. He immediately had her emancipated. Surrey…
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Black Snow by James M. Scott
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Black Snow: It wasn’t just two atomic bombs that were dropped. Quick synopsis: The story of how the U.S. bombing strategy evolved right before the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: More American airmen died in the skies over Europe than the Marine Corps…
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The Vortex by Scott Carney and Jason Miklian
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Vortex: The people ended up being the killer storm. Quick synopsis: The story of a killer storm and the creation of Bangladesh. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: “Pakistan” is actually an acronym of the largest provinces and groups making up the country. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Cyclones…