Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World
Ever wonder about the origins of karaoke machines, anime, the Walkman or Hello Kitty? Great popular culture review of several Japanese inventions, how they came about, and how they swept the world.
There Will Be Fire: Margaret Thatcher, the IRA, and Two Minutes That Changed History
A history of the IRA assassination attempt on Thatcher, when they blew up a big chunk of a hotel in Brighton and narrowly missed killing her. Famous quote: “You have to be lucky all the time. We only have to be lucky once.” Reads like a gripping spy thriller and gives a good background on the IRA.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
I picked this up because I loved his other book, Killers of the Flower Moon. Not quite as good, but an interesting story of famous shipwreck and mutiny that captivated Britain at the time.
Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon
A wide-ranging history of the pit bull and dogs in general, making the point that fears of pit bulls are totally unfounded; they are no more likely to bite than other breeds. They used to be considered fantastic family pets for most of the 20th century. Did you know the cute white dog with the black eye patch from the Little Rascals was a pit bull?
