Tag: World history
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Sceptred Isle by Helen Carr
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Sceptred Isle: Just because they are your favorite doesn’t mean they are everyone else’s. Quick synopsis: A look at English royal upheaval in the 14th century. Fact for Non-History People: Richard II is credited with either inventing or popularizing the handkerchief. Fact for History Nerds: Right before the Black Death arrived,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…