Caleb J. Ross' booklikes

By use of contemporary pop references (The Brady Bunch, Happy Days, the short-lived sitcom, Thanks, among others), The Wordy Shipmates makes American history relatable. But more importantly, it delves into the oft glossed-over origins of many American traditions (Thanksgiving for example) in order to give readers a better understanding of what has so sadly been misunderstood (purposefully?) for so long.Vowell’s book would have benefited from a stricter linearity. We jump all over time, and with so many dates to remember, this gets confusing. But even considering that minor fault, The Wordy Shipmates satisfies the armchair historian. It is worth reading just for the Anne Hutchison exploration. I had no idea she had such an impact (I’d be lying if I said I even knew who she was before reading this book).