“Have To” History: The Boring Parts: Stuff You Don’t Really Want to Know (But for Some Reason Have To) About the Most Boring Events, People, and Issues in American History

by Dallas Koehn

History is packed with fascinating characters, issues, and events – the Salem Witchcraft Trials, Andrew Jackson, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, the Reagan Revolution, and of course ALL THOSE WARS. You’d have to work at it to NOT be interested in them.

But what about all the other stuff – especially those names, events, and issues which seem to show up on every set of state standards or “must know” compilations – which isn’t as fascinating? The people and events we’re pretty sure we’ve learned about (probably several times) but still can’t quite recall? The XYZ Affair. The Bessemer Process. The Tariff of… something . (Hey, there are a LOT of tariffs on those lists!) Whatever decade came before the Sixties and whoever was president before Reagan. Oh, and the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Especially the Sherman Antitrust Act. Makes me tense and twitchy just typing it.

“Have To” The Boring Parts is your magical solution to all things forgettable in our collective past. Whether you’re a student trying to survive class or an adult who simply loves learning because you’re weird, we’ll break down and explore the most elusive, snooze-inducing topics in all of U.S. history. By the time we’re finished, you’ll not only remember them and why they matter (at least to the people who keep making those lists), you might actually find them slightly less boring than you thought.

230 pages, Hardcover

Published January 20, 2022

About the author

Dallas Koehn has taught for more than twenty years in a variety of settings, including “Pre-AP” and “On-Level” U.S. History, American Government, Oklahoma History, AP World History, AP U.S. History, and even a few English classes. He was a consultant for the College Board (with all the usual disclaimers) for over fifteen years and has led more teacher workshops in history, reading, and general teacher survival than seems reasonable in one lifetime. Dallas is also the voice of Blue Cereal Education, a history and education website with a modicum of renown among the chosen few. He currently resides with his wife and two rabbits in South Bend, Indiana, and is generally tolerable after enough coffee.

Reviews

[Amy Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appreciated the author’s tone and humor throughout the book. This kept things light and easy to read over content that can be confusing.

Liked how the book was structured into digestible eras and chunks within the era - brief synopsis, key points with details, things to consider, and thoughful questions you’ll likely be asked about or tested over for APUSH exams or finals.

Appropriate for anyone wanting to dust off the cobwebs, learn a bit more, or supplement class reading