Category: Personal Blog

  • Book Review: American Civil Wars by Alan Taylor

    Alan Taylor’s “American Civil Wars” redefines 19th-century North American history, emphasizing interconnected conflicts across the continent that shaped republican governance and challenged traditional narratives.

  • Summer Reading Reflections: Leadership Lessons from Crisis

    This summer’s reading highlighted leadership lessons from historical figures and the importance of moral courage, adaptability, and vision, emphasizing that effective leadership emerges during crises.

  • An Open Letter to Kentucky Parents: It’s Time to Partner Up

    Dear Fellow Parents, If you’re a parent of a K-12 student in Kentucky right now, we need to talk. With HB 208’s cellphone restrictions taking effect, our children are about to experience a significant shift in their school day. But here’s the thing—this change doesn’t start and end at the school doors. It starts at…

  • Book Review: Bismarck’s War by Rachel Chrastil

    Perfect for the Advanced History Classroom For educators teaching AP European History, World History, or advanced undergraduate courses on nineteenth-century Europe, finding books that combine rigorous scholarship with accessible narrative can be challenging. Rachel Chrastil’s “Bismarck’s War: The Franco-Prussian War and the Making of Modern Europe” emerges as an ideal text that bridges this gap…

  • The Hypothetical 1937 American Civil War: From Gaming Scenario to Educational Tool

    A map I found online shows an intriguing “what if” scenario in American alternate history: a hypothetical Second American Civil War in 1937 during the Great Depression. While this never happened, it has captured the interest of historians, game designers, and educators examining the social and political tensions of that time. I am fascinated by…

  • Book Review A Comparison of Cowley’s “What If?” Trilogy vs. Ferguson’s “Virtual History”

    The reviewed collections, Cowley’s “What If?” trilogy and Ferguson’s “Virtual History,” offer distinct approaches to counterfactual history, enhancing critical thinking skills for advanced students in history education.