Tag: World history
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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…
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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:…
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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.”…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Abandoned Towns by Chris McNab
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Abandoned Towns: Imagine going trick or treating here. Quick synopsis: A look at abandoned towns around the world. Fact for Non-History People: There are approximately 3,800 ghost towns in the U.S. alone. Fact for History Nerds: Arguably, the most famous ghost town is Pripyat, Ukraine where the Chernobyl Nuclear Station…
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The World in Books by Kenneth Davis
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The World in Books: Bet you can’t read just one! Quick synopsis: Kenneth Davis’s list of the best and most important 52 short non-fiction books of all time. Fact for Non-History People: The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest written story in history. Fact for History Nerds: Sun Tzu may…
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Reaping the Whirlwind by Dominic Etzold
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Reaping the Whirlwind: More reasons never to go in a submarine. Quick synopsis: A look at the submarine war in World War I off the coast of the U.S. Fact for Non-History People: Only 5 German subs made it across the Atlantic to the U.S. coast during World War I as…