Now, a disclaimer is in order. I am a man and therefore, some of the things in this book were news to me. I have been informed by multiple women in myNow, a disclaimer is in order. I am a man and therefore, some of the things in this book were news to me. I have been informed by multiple women in my life, “It’s not that surprising to me. Men are terrible.” Fair enough!
When you hear something amazingly sexist, you tend to think it was in some archaic time far from where we are today. Sure, there are still many things we are trying to figure out between the sexes (understatement alert), but at least we aren’t expecting women to step on scales at work and then firing them if they are a pound over. We haven’t done something like that in like 100 years, right?
Nope! Welcome to the 1970s where stewardesses had such job perks as getting weighed at work in full view of coworkers, girdle checks by fellow employees, and when you turn 32 you are fired no matter what because you are old, and no one can possibly be a stewardess after 32. It’s just science.
Nell McShane Wulfhart uses this backdrop to tell the story of how multiple women came together to start making change happen in the airline industry. This book is a breeze to read even when talking about union politics which is no easy feat. Wulfhart mixes part biography, part workers rebellion and comes up with a great book. And before you start to think this is a book which bashes men, I would like to correct you. There is no male bashing in this book at all. Which makes sense since the men in this book make themselves look pretty bad without any help....more
This book brought me back to my childhood in the most ridiculous way possible. It made me vividly remember the most obnoxious commercials ever. "Mom, This book brought me back to my childhood in the most ridiculous way possible. It made me vividly remember the most obnoxious commercials ever. "Mom, why is that guy yelling?" Because it was a Crazy Eddie's commercial, that's why.
Retail Gangster tells the story of Eddie Antar, the aforementioned Crazy Eddie. It chronicles more than just his amazing fraud scheme, though. Author Gary Weiss digs into the family dynamics, the methods of the fraud (which there were many), and the personalities of the people involved. The sheer number of names in this book can be dizzying.
However, Weiss makes this a very easy and enjoyable read. He never gets bogged down in any one aspect of the story. He also tells you just enough about the financial chicanery without confusing financially illiterate readers (of which I am one). I am clearly at least partially biased by nostalgia, but I think a lot of people will love this book like I do.
And now I know for certain. His prices actually were, "insaaaaaaaaaaane."...more
I had never heard of Edward Rulloff before but he was one hell of a psychopath. All That is Wicked is about this nasty piece of work who in the late 1I had never heard of Edward Rulloff before but he was one hell of a psychopath. All That is Wicked is about this nasty piece of work who in the late 1800s just kept killing people left and right. He somehow was both terrible at crime because he kept getting caught, but also very good at crime because he usually found a way out. At least, he usually found a way out until he didn't rather definitely. While trying to escape the death penalty, various people come to talk to him because he is clearly intelligent so therefore he must not be evil. Yes, people used to think that.
The story is a good one but the best part of the book is actually Kate Winkler Dawson's writing style. The true crime genre usually falls into one of two camps. Either the author writes in a very detached, aloof style from the crimes or the author is so informal you feel like they probably didn't do their homework. Dawson is the best of both worlds because she clearly immersed herself deeply in this subject, but she presents it like someone sitting on the couch next to you. This was a really fun read.
(This book was presented as an advance copy from Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam.)...more
This book will absolutely ruin your day, but not because it isn’t well written. The story of a femicide in 1963 by a former preacher, The Castleton MaThis book will absolutely ruin your day, but not because it isn’t well written. The story of a femicide in 1963 by a former preacher, The Castleton Massacre is both a memoir and a heart wrenching true crime drama. In reading the description, I was prepared for more true crime than memoir but was pleasantly surprised to find it was the opposite.
Written by family members, this book looks at the lives of everyone involved, not just the killer. There is a long overdue push in true crime writing to focus more on victims than to glorify the killers and this work gets the balance perfectly. I was fascinated about how everyone came together from various walks of life before the massacre and found myself equally riveted about the lives of the survivors afterward.
If you are someone who just wants the blood and guts of a true crime novel, then you may be put off by the portions of the book which chronicle the lives of the family. However, for someone who wants a full accounting of a tragedy, this book will meet and exceed your expectations....more
There is nothing like good historical true crime to send you into a rage. The Sewing Girl's Tale is a wonderfully written book which examines the rapeThere is nothing like good historical true crime to send you into a rage. The Sewing Girl's Tale is a wonderfully written book which examines the rape of a young woman in 1793 New York. Author John Wood Sweet tells a vividly detailed account of the entire saga from beginning to end. Sweet dives deep into the life of Lanah Sawyer and her rapist, Harry Bedlow. There is an amazing amount of documentation for the 1700s and it provides for a completely different view of post-Revolution New York City.
I would venture two caveats to my enthusiastic review. First, historical true crime requires the author to set the stage and explain the day to day life and times of the protagonists. Sweet is meticulous in explaining a tremendous amount of New York City and its people in the 1790s. For those looking for a short and fast narrative which sticks to the bare bones facts, you may be frustrated. I personally loved this aspect, but it is worth pointing out.
Second, John Wood Sweet clearly has a strong perspective on these people and events. While praising Lanah and demonizing Harry is straightforward, there are times where some readers could perceive a bias. If you are someone who will swear off a book because you don't agree with a certain viewpoint then this may prove a challenge for you. While I didn't necessarily agree with Sweet in all interpretations, it did not hinder my enjoyment of the book overall.
(This book was provided as an advance copy to me by Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company.)...more
It is not often I get to use this adjective for a true crime book but here we go. This book is a hell of a lot of fun.
Centering on the life of Eliot NIt is not often I get to use this adjective for a true crime book but here we go. This book is a hell of a lot of fun.
Centering on the life of Eliot Ness (post-Chicago heroics), American Demon is a true crime book and biography. I knew nothing of Eliot Ness beyond what I saw on The Untouchables, but Stashower gave me a lot of mull over. Ness is often held up as a hero or a fraud and Stashower shows both sides of his character as he unravels the mystery of Cleveland's Torso Murderer while Eliot Ness was the city's director of public safety.
The book is fun because it is about Eliot Ness and the chase for the murderer. There is a fair amount of politics but not so much that the story lags. If someone is looking for a deep dive into the murders and deep forensic insight, they will not find that here. Stashower is telling a different story and the murders are a vital aspect of it, but not the main point. It also helps that Stahower's prose is so easy to read that you never feel like any part of the book is a bore. I highly recommend it.
(This book was provided by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.)...more
American privateers are the subject of this book. It’s a can’t miss prospect.
Eric Jay Dolin is once again doing what he does best. He takes a very bigAmerican privateers are the subject of this book. It’s a can’t miss prospect.
Eric Jay Dolin is once again doing what he does best. He takes a very big idea and distills it down for anyone to access the amazing aspects of the subject. You want to hear about funny boat names? He’s got you covered. You want to hear about how the British were sadistic scum in handling American prisoners? Oh, plenty of that.
I don’t want to undersell how hard it is. The American Revolution and the people in it leave so much to go over. Very often, these types of books meander about and tell you stories only the author finds interesting. Dolin tells you the stories you need to hear, want to hear, and gets to the next point....more
The Pope at War is a very tough read but that has everything to do with me being a Catholic and not how well written the book is.
There is a lot of debThe Pope at War is a very tough read but that has everything to do with me being a Catholic and not how well written the book is.
There is a lot of debate about Pope Pius XII and his action (or inaction) during World War II particularly in regard to the Holocaust. While no one would read this book and consider Pius XII very brave, I don’t think this work is a hit job either. David Kertzer meticulously details all of the politics, considerations, and challenges of being the pope during World War II. Pius XII did not have a love of Hitler, but his coziness with Mussolini alone is enough to sullen his name. Ultimately, the argument is that Pius XII tried to be a politician when he needed to be a moral leader.
This book is very readable even while being heavily sourced. Kertzer focuses on the things you need to know to understand the situation without bogging down the narrative....more
Pirates are historically difficult to pin down and unfortunately Rebecca Alexandra Simon’s Pirate Queens cannot overcome the massive holes in the livePirates are historically difficult to pin down and unfortunately Rebecca Alexandra Simon’s Pirate Queens cannot overcome the massive holes in the lives of her subjects.
Pirate Queens is a dual biography of the most famous women pirates of all time, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Simon meticulously recounts their lives from their childhoods to their piracy trials. Simon clearly knows pirates and brings her expertise to this book.
However, the things which make Bonny and Read so tantalizing as book subjects are also what makes them so difficult to write about. Large portions of their lives are written by other people of dubious viewpoints. They both rocked the boat (yes, pun intended) which made many (male) historians go out of their way to tarnish their reputations and make them cautionary tales. ...more
Nicholas Jubber’s The Fairy Tellers is a fantastic read and it all starts with the prologue. By pulling the reader in with some very well placed self-Nicholas Jubber’s The Fairy Tellers is a fantastic read and it all starts with the prologue. By pulling the reader in with some very well placed self-awareness, Jubber talks like a fairy teller himself who winks at his audience before he launches into his story.
The Fairy Tellers focuses on multiple historical writers like the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson and explains how they fit into the history of fairy tales. I thoroughly enjoyed how Jubber shows how very often these old stories were only being collected by the big names we associate with fairy tales. Jubber digs into their lives and illuminates their importance even though they may not have been the main authors of the stories we know so well.
Jubber does an amazing job because this easily could be a dry and boring read. However, Jubber injects the right amount of humor and recognition that a lot of these stories sound absolutely bonkers to us today. I mean they were really insane. It was a lot of fun to read....more
You know how sometimes when people are arguing about gender norms, and someone says that if women ruled there would be less war and violence? Well, BrYou know how sometimes when people are arguing about gender norms, and someone says that if women ruled there would be less war and violence? Well, Brunhild and Fredegund would like to have a word. Or maybe you would just be poisoned.
It’s the 6th century in Europe and things are a little all over the place. Men are mostly in charge, but people keep dying. Then, like a miniseries, two women emerge. One is the rich, well educated and from royal stock. The other is a former mistress who has gotten to her position by nefarious means. They do not like each other, and neither will go down without a fight.
I generally stay away from books which go too far back in time. Documentation gets spotty and authors are forced to make up large portions of the narrative. Luckily, Shelley Puhak is able to find way more documentation than I thought possible, and she is a great writer. Even when she does have to guess, she’s done enough of the research and presents it in a way that keeps you in the narrative without the need to make up scenes....more
It is an overused cliché to say something “reads like a novel.”
Anyway, this book reads like a novel! And it’s not!
Karen Abbott follows the lives of 4 It is an overused cliché to say something “reads like a novel.”
Anyway, this book reads like a novel! And it’s not!
Karen Abbott follows the lives of 4 women during the Civil War. Two are secretly helping the Union (including one in uniform as a man) and two are Confederates (and I hated them). I don’t want to give too much away as to their adventures or their fates, but I guarantee you will not guess what happens to any of them. Abbott found four amazing stories at the same time, and she wrote it in the best way possible.
Abbott jumps between each woman as they go about their espionage activities. This can often be kind of confusing when reading a book but each woman is so markedly different that it never becomes an issue. Their personalities are entertaining to say the least and the fact this is all true makes it even more amazing.
Another overused cliché. “I couldn’t put it down.”
Well….yeah, I couldn’t! It’s a cliche for a reason....more
Dan Hampton is no stranger to authoring military books and Valor is just another example of how good he is at it. Valor follows the life of Lt. Bill HDan Hampton is no stranger to authoring military books and Valor is just another example of how good he is at it. Valor follows the life of Lt. Bill Harris through his various sagas in the Pacific during World War II. Harris's story is nothing short of extraordinary and if someone wrote this in a fiction book they would be laughed out of the room for writing something so farfetched. Harris would go from fighting marine, to POW, to escapee all within a short time. He would travel all over the Pacific trying to get back into the fight while running into numerous characters along the way.
Hampton is a master at writing these types of stories. He keeps the reader aware of the greater war going on outside the main narrative but doesn't get bogged down in the details. He also gives the reader a sense of who Bill Harris is without going into full hero worship (although one could be forgiven if he did). This is a great book for anyone who wants a personal story of perseverance in World War II.
(I was provided this book as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. The full review is posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com.)...more
Nearly every American child grew up hearing that Robert Fulton invented the steam engine. What is often left out of the conversation is that he createNearly every American child grew up hearing that Robert Fulton invented the steam engine. What is often left out of the conversation is that he created the first commercially successful steam engine. Also, the steam engine ended up killing a lot of people.
Brian E. O'Connor's Death by Fire and Ice focuses on one specific disaster, the sinking of the Lexington in Long Island Sound in 1840. Over 140 people would die with only 4 survivors when the ship caught fire and sunk in the icy January water.
Many books of the non-fiction disaster genre aim to be personal stories of the people on board and what happens as the disaster unfolds. O'Connor takes a much different tack. The narrative focuses mainly on the events both technological and legal surrounding the sinking. In fact, the actual sinking takes up a small portion of the book. This is not a bad thing as O'Connor adeptly walks the reader through the evolution of the steam engine and then the U.S. government's response as deaths piled up. Nautical nerds will find this to be a very enjoyable read. ...more
I have read about some sketchy murder convictions before but this one is up there in ridiculousness. Marion Gilchrist was beaten to death in her home I have read about some sketchy murder convictions before but this one is up there in ridiculousness. Marion Gilchrist was beaten to death in her home during a robbery in 1908 Glasgow. There were two eyewitnesses at the very least. The killer clearly had some sort of inside knowledge. There was a question of inheritances. Obviously, we know where this is going!
That’s right, blame a Jewish immigrant who had no real connection to any of this! Enter Oscar Slater who would somehow end up going to jail. Now, to be fair, Oscar Slater was not an outstanding member of society. However, his ability to commit the murder he was convicted of is dodgy at best.
Arthur Conan Doyle was a huge justice advocate and because he created Sherlock Holmes, people listened. Well, eventually. He doesn’t storm into a court room and win the case like on Law & Order, but he does get his man.
Margalit Fox tells a great story that I had never heard before. If you love historical true crime, then this one is a must....more
Chris Cook's The Moors Murderers is the rare case of a true crime book which relies too heavy on the facts and not enough on the heart. The result is Chris Cook's The Moors Murderers is the rare case of a true crime book which relies too heavy on the facts and not enough on the heart. The result is a meticulously researched and clearly written account of the horrific Moors Murders that is missing the vital component of the author's point of view and critical analysis.
Following the lives of murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley from their childhoods to their murder trial, Cook writes an extremely detailed story. I don't think there is anyone who could question Cook's ability to synthesize and write a coherent narrative. His research is in depth and I felt like I was learning all the facts I needed to know throughout the case. It is the strongest part of this book. However, there is the occasional stumble where Cook will introduce needless facts which never come back around to matter. For instance, Cook mentions how much the couple hated some Jamaican neighbors. This never becomes necessary to the story, and we are already well aware of their racism in their avowed love of Hitler.
Unfortunately, Cook's adept handling of the facts drowns out his own voice as an author. The text can often read like a police report which loses the nuance and feelings of those involved. Admittedly, such as when talking about the families of the victims, no editorial is needed. However, large portions of the book lack the analysis which would connect many dots. Brady and Hindley grew up in atrocious family environments. The links between these events and later actions is never made. Mental health science has come a long way since these murders and it is a missing ingredient in this story.
Ultimately, anyone who wants a detailed account of the Moors murders will not be disappointed. There was a missed opportunity for this to be much more.
(This book was provided as an advance copy from Netgalley and Pen & Sword. The full review is posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com.)...more
There was sexism in the early days of the CIA? I am shocked as you are.
Nathalia Holt tells the story of multiple trailblazing women in the early days There was sexism in the early days of the CIA? I am shocked as you are.
Nathalia Holt tells the story of multiple trailblazing women in the early days of the CIA and how they tried to dispel the notion that only men could be good agents. What I really appreciate about Holt's approach to this book is that they actual fight for equal pay and access takes up very little of the narrative. Holt highlights the absurdity of the CIAs unspoken (and sometimes spoken) policies by telling short vignettes on each of the women throughout their career. This is not a treatise on equal rights. Instead, Holt lets the women's actions speak for themselves.
This book flies by. Holt does not spend a tremendous amount of time on any one woman or episode. For someone who wants a deep dive into the CIA in a particular time-frame, they will be left wanting much more. For someone like myself, who did not know much about the internal workings of the CIA, this book was a great read.
(This book was provided as an advance copy from Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam.)...more
Deborah Cadbury’s, The School that Escaped the Nazis is a powerful work which does not unfold the way you think it would. Within the first couple of cDeborah Cadbury’s, The School that Escaped the Nazis is a powerful work which does not unfold the way you think it would. Within the first couple of chapters, Anna Essinger, the head of the school, has already escaped with numerous pupils before the Nazis enact most of their terrible plans. The exodus from Nazi Germany to is not a large portion of the book. It turns out, it was just the first of many daring feats of administrative genius by Anna Essinger.
The rest of the book follows the life of the school, some of its pupils, and some children still trapped on the European continent. Admittedly, the chapters which focus on the children who stay on the continent can seem almost like a diversion from the main story of the school. However, I began to realize how it all came together and how vital every story was to understand the full scope of Anna Essinger’s school. I won’t write too much to avoid spoiling anything, but rest assured it is all connected.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book even though any work tackling the Holocaust will inevitably make you feel more than just sad....more
Are you ready to talk military bombing strategy? It’s towards the end of World War II and the U.S is preparing for the final push to the home JapaneseAre you ready to talk military bombing strategy? It’s towards the end of World War II and the U.S is preparing for the final push to the home Japanese islands. The question becomes, how badly can the U.S. bomb population centers without seeming like villains at the end? One general would lose his job trying to be as precise as possible. The other would bomb all of Japan into oblivion.
Before you say, “military strategy bombing is boring,” let me assure you that it absolutely can be. This book, however, is not. James Scott knows how to write about the Pacific Theater of World War II. There is philosophy, there are character studies, and there are harrowing tales of bombing runs from both on the ground and in the air. There is no slow part to this book because Scott keeps the story moving forward while revealing facts you never knew before. His ability to also describe what life was like in Tokyo around this time is especially moving. You won’t be disappointed. ...more
Buddy Levy has gone and done it again. He took a story I already knew and wrote a book I couldn't put down.
Empire of Ice and Stone is another great eBuddy Levy has gone and done it again. He took a story I already knew and wrote a book I couldn't put down.
Empire of Ice and Stone is another great entry into the genre of Arctic exploration and adventure. The story revolves around the crew of the Karluk which is one of multiple ships put together for exploration by Vilhjalmur Stefansson. You will quickly learn not to like him. However, the captain of the Karluk, Bob Bartlett, will quickly become one of your favorite people. As with most Arctic exploration, things go horribly wrong. I won't spoil it any further.
This book is another example of what makes Buddy Levy such a great author. The book is thorough, but tightly focused on the men (and women!) of the expedition. Levy's eye for what you need to know keeps all of the extraneous information out. What's left is an adventure that focuses on people which make it so engaging.
And then what happens is you stay up too late on a weeknight because you don't want to stop reading. At least that is still better than being marooned on a giant ice floe.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 12/6/2022.)...more
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