Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline I’d read a children’s book years ago that referenced the Orphan Train, a real part of American history where orphaned children from the cities were shipped out to be given to whomever decided to take them. It’s a fascinating facet of our history, especially seen through the lens of …
Tag: history
Jul 01
Book Review: Waking Giant
Waking Giant: America in the Age of Jackson by David S. Reynolds If you want a general overview of life in the early 19th century in America, this is a good book for you. Comprehensive and informative, it covers a broad swath of subjects, from politics to religion to health and medicine. Reynolds also includes …
Dec 12
Book Review: The Swerve
The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt This book has been on my “to read” list for so long that I can’t remember how it was or who recommended it to me. I had some idea that it was like GUNS GERMS AND STEEL or another one of those “history of technology” …
Oct 31
Book Review: Consider the Fork
Consider the Fork: How Technology Transforms the Way We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson I do love books that delve into the history of a small subject, like the book on Salt, or Oranges, or red dye. I also like those that wander a bit, but still talk seriously about the mundane necessities we …
Jul 12
Book Review: And the Band Played On
And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic by Randy Shilts This book has just about everything I like in a non-fiction. It’s got science, medicine, high stakes, historical significance, and modern relevance. Trying to figure out why it wasn’t more compelling to me, I had to look no further than the …