History | Self-Publishing Review

The Hub of Hell by Beverly Porter

Tales of murder, scandal and injustice from the rugged end of the 19^th century in America hold a perennial appeal, and The Hub of Hell from author Beverly Porter has all of these aspects in spades. The book is a shocking glimpse into law enforcement of the past, and an impressively complete account of the strange autumn and winter of 1887.

Inspired by a single newspaper article, this true story is a well-researched reconstruction of the dramatic events and players surrounding a trio of imprisoned brothers in Minneapolis more than 130 years ago. Pete, Tim and Henry Barrett sit […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-08-22T06:04:25+02:00August 21st, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: History|

Review: Silent Spring: Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War by Patrick Hogan

There are those non-fiction books and memoirs that transport readers back in time, and then there are books like Silent Spring Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War, which change one’s view of both the past and present in one fell swoop. Detailing the personal experience of the author, Patrick Hogan, a Staff Sergeant who served in Vietnam for three years, and the decades of his life that followed, this book is a shocking and eye-opening account of American military tactics and blatant disregard for human rights.

Most readers may already be aware of the stories of napalm and Agent […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T06:17:33+02:00June 19th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History, Memoir, Military|

Review: The DNA of Democracy by Richard C. Lyons

A comprehensive analysis of democracy and its ideals since inception doesn’t immediately sound like a riveting read, but The DNA of Democracy by Richard C. Lyons is like no other history, work of anthropology, or political science book you’ve read before. With an informal voice and the ability to never take the subject too seriously, Lyons presents an impressive and insightful look at the trials and tribulations of human societies as we’ve attempted to find purpose and make peace.

The scale and scope of this book are initially daunting, but Lyons lays out an intuitive framework and explains the angle […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-03T12:48:42+02:00June 2nd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History, Social Science|

Review: Kidnapping the Prince of Albany by James J. Dunn

To create an enthralling account of a significant crime, author James J. Dunn has embellished events that emphasize our legal history in the riveting Kidnapping the Prince of Albany: The Real Story of the 1933 Kidnapping of John “Butch” O’Connell, Jr.

When John “Butch” O’Connell was kidnapped in 1933, the United States was a more lawless place. Prohibition was coming to an end, meaning less money for bootleggers, but as much or more for legitimate manufacturers. Among those former bootleggers in Albany, New York now going legit was the powerful clan led by Dan O’Connell, notorious mobster and political mover […]

SPR2019-03-25T09:04:34+02:00February 28th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Biography, History|

Review: Silent Spring – Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War by Patrick Hogan

As one of the darkest periods in America history, the Vietnam War continues to fascinate new generations. In Silent Spring – Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War, author Patrick Hogan pulls back another curtain on that brutal conflict, and the battles that it is still causing today.

Many people are cursorily familiar with the devastating use of chemical weapons in Vietnam by the American military, including the widespread application of napalm and Agent Orange in defoliation campaigns. Savagely effective, but relatively untested, this attack strategy by America remains one of the dark marks on US history.

In this book, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T06:17:45+02:00February 23rd, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History, Memoir, Military|

Review: Israeli Settlements: Land Politics Beyond the Geneva Convention by Martin Blecher

In these times of intense attention focusing on the state of Israel from all portions of the political spectrum, a Swedish political scientist examines what seems to be the most contentious issue: the country’s settlements in Palestinian territory.

In Israeli Settlements: Land Politics Beyond the Geneva Convention, author Martin Blecher calls this issue “an infected question,” while taking on himself the challenge to examine it thoroughly. Most people, influenced by common sources, are convinced that the Palestinian settlements are illegal, but Blecher would rather refer to them as “imprudent,” beginning with the assertion that what are usually considered Palestinian […]

SPR2019-01-21T12:39:51+02:00December 17th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History, Non-Fiction, Politics|

Promises of Betrayals: The History that Shaped the Iranian Shia Clerics by Fazle Chowdhury

Promises of Betrayal: The History that Shaped the Iranian Shia Clerics by Fazle Chowdhury tells the story of the fall of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in 1979, which altered the course of the second half of the twentieth century up to the present day.

Partly due to internal factionalism, Chowdhury asserts, Iran and its oil reserves were traditionally an easy target for outside domination – Ottoman, British, Tsarist, Soviet, and American. After long centuries of oppression as a minority sect of Islam, the Shias finally rose to prominence after their successful 1979 rebellion. But Shia leaders now face major internal […]

SPR2018-12-05T10:49:05+02:00December 3rd, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: History, Non-Fiction|

Review: Serendipity by Thomas J. Thorson

The big picture that we’re taught in school is rarely the completely accurate picture, and curiosity can bring you down some fascinating and unforgettable rabbit holes. In Serendipity: Seemingly Random Events, Insignificant Decisions, and Accidental Discoveries that Altered History by Thomas J. Thorson, readers are welcomed into a long and disparate list of historical tales that exemplify the uncertainty of life, and the unbelievable ways that luck has influenced our common existence.

The book is a series of stories about well-known historical events and figures, but these are stories that few have ever heard before. Did you know that Handel, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-12-22T03:32:20+02:00December 18th, 2017|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History, Social Science, Thomas J. Thorson|