Tag: World history

  • Submersed by Matthew Gavin Frank

    Submersed by Matthew Gavin Frank

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Submersed: Weirder than you can possibly expect. Quick synopsis: A look at amateur submarine culture and the murder of journalist Kim Wall. Fact for Non-History People: It is impossible to go 20,000 leagues under the sea because that’s twice the circumference of Earth. Fact for History Nerds: Kim Wall spoke 8…

  • Taking Midway by Martin Dugard

    Taking Midway by Martin Dugard

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Taking Midway: When reading the mail was so important. Quick synopsis: The story of Midway Island and the battle which turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific. Fact for Non-History People: The Japanese lost 3,000 personnel in comparison to the U.S.’s about 300. Fact for History Nerds: Midway…

  • The Mesopotamian Riddle by Joshua Hammer

    The Mesopotamian Riddle by Joshua Hammer

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Mesopotamian Riddle: Nerdiest race ever. Quick synopsis: The story of the race to decipher one of the world’s oldest dead languages. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Cuneiform means “wedge-shaped” which makes a lot of sense when you look at it. Fun Fact for History Nerds: Cuneiform is one of…

  • A Greek Tragedy by Jeanne Carstensen

    A Greek Tragedy by Jeanne Carstensen

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Greek Tragedy: This was not a relaxing Mediterranean cruise. Quick synopsis: The story of the 2015 refugee shipwreck off the Greek island of Lesvos. Fact for Non-History People: There have been approximately 25,000 deaths and disappearances in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014. Fact for History Nerds: The UNHCR recorded 3,160…

  • Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

    Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Everything is Tuberculosis: A cure made complicated. Quick synopsis: A look at the current state of the curable (but not eradicated) tuberculosis. Fact for Non-History People: Over a million people died of tuberculosis in 2023. Fact for History Nerds: Tuberculosis is also known as phthisis. My Take on Everything is Tuberculosis:…

  • The House of War by Simon Mayall

    The House of War by Simon Mayall

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The House of War: (Afraid to say anything that might get me cancelled.) Quick synopsis: A look at some of the major battles of Christians and Muslims from history. Fact for Non-History People: Muslims back in the day referred to places where Islam did not dominate as the “House of War.”…

  • Ghosts of Panama by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr.

    Ghosts of Panama by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr.

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Ghosts of Panama: Turns out you shouldn’t trust drug dealers. Quick synopsis: The story of the U.S. invasion of Panama.   Fact for Non-History People: Manuel Noriega was into the occult and had a “witch” on staff. Fact for History Nerds: During the 1970s, 63% of the School of the Americas…

  • The Forgers by Roger Moorhouse

    The Forgers by Roger Moorhouse

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Forgers: Sometimes, crime is good. Quick synopsis: The story of Polish diplomats and their passport forgery operation in World War II.   Fact for Non-History People: It’s estimated the Germans carried out more than 600 separate massacres against Polish POWs and civilians. Fact for History Nerds: One of the early…

  • The Greatest Nobodies of History by Adrian Bliss

    The Greatest Nobodies of History by Adrian Bliss

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Greatest Nobodies of History: Find out what the ferret thinks. Quick synopsis: Stories told from the point of view of the people (and animals!) often overlooked in history.   Fact for Non-History People: Yes, there used to be a position called “groom of the stool” and yes, it is what…