Tag: World history

  • Shadow Before the Flame by Catherine Grace Katz

    There are two types of disaster books in my mind. The first, and much less interesting, is laser-focused on the event. The narrative revolves around the event itself and the carnage and drama around the tragedy. It is about setting things up only as far as necessary to get to the calamity. The second, and…

  • The Defector by Richard Kerbaj

    I think there are times where we glorify defectors too much. Often we get to see the person who realizes they are on the wrong side of history (or a certain Iron Curtain). But what if their reasons are less ideological? In fact…what if they just suck as people both before and after defection? Say…

  • Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn

    I think most people have wondered if their family is harboring a deep, dark secret. Rarely, though, does it ever include Nazi spies. For Christine Kuehn, it actually did mean Nazi spies. And a bunch of them at that! She recounts the story in her book, Family of Spies, which is quite literally correct as…

  • The Jackal by Joby Warrick

    When you think of Carlos the Jackal, you probably picture a suave, cold-blooded hitman roaming the capitals of the world. He has every action planned to the most minute detail. He can think on his feet. He is James Bond without a moral core. That’s a cool visual and all, but the real Carlos the…

  • Checkmate by Ben Mezrich

    If only there was a way in chess for everyone to lose. No, a draw doesn’t count. However, you could make the argument that Checkmate by Ben Mezrich ends in a draw and that’s what everyone deserves. The story is about chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen and a young (and supremely obnoxious) Hans Niemann. You may…

  • The Great Shadow by Susan Wise Bauer

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Great Shadow: This book does not cover the man-cold, unfortunately. Quick synopsis: A look at illness throughout history. Fact for Non-History People: Smallpox is the only disease eradicated by man. Fact for History Nerds: Technically, rinderpest has also been eradicated, but that’s for livestock. My Take on The Great Shadow:…

  • Stolen Revolution by Yeganeh Torbati and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Stolen Revolution: Seems rather timely under the current circumstances. Quick synopsis: A look at Iran after the revolution of 1979. Fact for Non-History People: Female literacy rates skyrocketed from under 30% to over 80% post-revolution. Fact for History Nerds: However, over 60% of Iranians are under 30 and want reform. My…

  • 1873 by Liaquat Ahamed

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for 1873: The depression before the depression. Quick synopsis: The story of the worldwide crash and depression of 1873. Fact for Non-History People: The crash bankrupted 89 out of 364 U.S. railroads. Fact for History Nerds: The crash was initially called the Great Depression but when 1929 surpassed it, it was then…

  • Self-Help from the Middle Ages by Peter Jones

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Self-Help from the Middle Ages: Poor people couldn’t turn to Instagram to fix their lives. Quick synopsis: A look at psychological thought in a time period you wouldn’t expect. Fact for Non-History People: The Seven Deadly Sins were used as an early diagnostic tool. Fact for History Nerds: Catholic confession could…