7 Astonishing Fact-Filled Books that Will Make You the Toast of Your Next Party

The topic: The moon landing
The book: Breaking the Chains of Gravity: The Story of Spaceflight before NASA, by Amy Shira Teitel
No historic event in America’s history has been as discussed as the 1969 moon landing, with claims of its faking ranking among the biggest conspiracy theories of all time. Even more interesting is the history leading up to that incredible achievement, one laid out in fascinating detail by Teitel in her well-researched book.
Astonishing piece of party trivia: German engineers did most of the groundbreaking work on rocket technology in the 1920s because the Treaty of Versailles, which limited Germany’s military, did not specifically prohibit rockets—mainly because they had yet to exist.

The topic: St. Patrick’s Day
The book: 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Irish-American History, by Dr. Edward T. O’Donnell
In the current tense atmosphere of immigration and refugee crises, it’s easy to believe American society was once far more placid, but that’s far from true. There was a time in the 19th century when Irish immigrants were viewed in a surprisingly (and often violently) negative light in this country. O’Donnell’s excellent book is crammed full of things you did not know about the Irish in America.
Astonishing piece of party trivia: The term luck of the Irish was meant to be insulting, as it originally deprecated the Irish prospectors who became rich from gold strikes as simply lucky instead of determined, skilled miners.

The topic: Vices
The book: Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling, by Dr. David G. Schwartz
Gambling remains a touchy topic in the United States; despite the immense profits they can generate, legalizing gambling and building casinos remains controversial. In Schwartz’s book, the history of gambling is traced from the spa towns of Europe through the saloons of the Old West to the modern-day pleasure palaces of Las Vegas.
Astonishing piece of party trivia: The first casino in the modern sense was opened in 1638, in Venice, Italy.

The topic: Secret societies
The book: Freemasons for Dummies, by Christopher Hodapp
Second only to the moon landing, Freemasons are the subject of endless conspiracy speculation (not to mention novels and films concerned with secret plots to do all kinds of awful things). Most people are deplorably ignorant of what the Freemasons actually are and do, which makes Hodapp’s Dummies book one of the most useful in the series.
Astonishing piece of party trivia: The President of a Masonic Lodge is officially known as the “Worshipful Master.”

The topic: The Civil War
The book: The Civilian War: Confederate Women and Union Soldiers during Sherman’s March, by Dr. Lisa Tendrich Frank
The Civil War continues to fascinate both because it was the first modern war and because it remains the only time American citizens have fought each other on a mass scale. Sherman’s March to the Sea was one of the most fascinating moments in the war, a savage, brutal invasion designed to completely demoralize the South and prove Northern dominance—and it worked.
Astonishing piece of party trivia: In order to humiliate the population, Sherman ordered his men to violate the private, women-dominated areas of homes, such as bedrooms and parlors—places that had been considered off-limits.

The topic: D-Day and World War II
The book: The Americans on D-Day: A Photographic History of the Normandy Invasion, by Martin K.A. Morgan
In many people’s estimation, World War II continues to be the most significant historical event in American history, either as the last “just war” or as the beginnings of America’s hegemony around the globe. While most people think they have a pretty good grasp of the war’s timeline, causes, and implications, there’s much that people assume they know but aren’t getting quite right.
Astonishing piece of party trivia: D-Day wasn’t over and done in a single day—nearly a week later major battles were occurring, like the Battle of Graignes, which saw German troops execute a number of paratroopers as well as French Resistance members.

The topic: The Hatfields and McCoys
The book: The Feud: The Hatfields and McCoys: The True Story, by Dean H. King
The Hatfields and McCoys have become a cliché, a reference to feuding parties who have been at each other’s throats for so long they may have forgotten the cause of the dispute. The two Appalachian families were quite real, and their feud was quite vicious—ultimately twelve people were murdered as a result of the bad blood.
Astonishing piece of party trivia: The Hatfields and McCoys were actually pretty friendly neighbors before the Civil War—and it was the War Between the States that was the ultimate catalyst for their animosity.
 
 
 
Tune in to the School Yourself Marathon on September 5!