Nonfiction, one of the most riveting books I've ever read. Particularly good at explaining the science aspect of the oil industry--how oil is found and produced, how oil varies from region to region, etc. History: A very short introduction John H Arnold. Just. In Cold Blood is an excellent novel by Truman Capote. Answers must be in-depth and comprehensive, or they will be removed. If the words Congo and rubber don't strike terror into your very soul, this book will change your outlook. Voices from Chernobyl by Svetlana Alexieveich is an oral history of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Who Killed Canadian History? It is short and certainly aimed at a mass market but still informative and entertaining. Modern South Asia by Sugata Bose and Ayesha Jalal: A very concise (less than 200 pages of narrative) history of South Asia from around 1600 CE onward. Guns, Germs, and Steel is the History Channel version of Ecological Imperialism. Its extremely eloquent and flat out beautiful in its prose at times. These are some more historically rigorous (though not necessarily purely academic) books I've read recently: Russia (seems to have a lot of interest here): A People's Tragedy, also by Orlando Figes, is an academic yet accessible account of the Russian Revolution, from the early twentieth century to the early part of the Soviet period. Its less a true 'historiography' in that it doesn't get into method or theory and is more a history of history. Mayflower Bastard - An interesting book, about a young boy on the Mayflower, and his life afterwards up to and including the Salem Witch Trials. I found out fascinating. Savage Kingdom by Benjamin Woolley - a very well written account of the Jamestown colony, including a lot of detailed build up explaining the background to the colony's founding. Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick is a very interesting social and oral history of North Korea. The Modern Middle East: A History James Gelvin, I think this book wants to avoid being a textbook but ends up in the same place, but does it better and in fewer pages than Cleveland. The Bible Unearthed by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman. It also functions as an excellent introduction to archaeology and the Roman economy. Do you mind editing your post to include a few sentences on what your books are about and why they are appealing to the general reader? E H Carr was a leading man in the historical field in the mid 20th century. The Dutch Republic: Its Rise, Greatness, and Fall 1477-1806 by Jonathan Israel: An impressive scholarly well-documented account of the history of the Low Countries (in relation to the rest of Early Modern Europe). 1000 AD by Robert Lacey and Danny Danziger is a fascinating narrative history of the year 1000. In 2011 Calloway won the American Indian History Lifetime Achievement Award The Best American Historical Biographies of All Time Score A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Pipes has a somewhat conservative take on events, but the writing clearly quarantines his opinion away from his facts, and, well, for someone who still remembers standing in line around the block for stale bread in winter of '92, like myself, his harsh criticism is not unjustified. Edit: I'd like to add that I don't think that any of these books would be over an average, educated readers head. A World Lit Only by Fire by William Manchester. Here are 12 of the best books on Roman history — one for each of the Caesars profiled in our first pick. This is a very popular work by a celebrated American cultural historian of early modern France. 5. A little tricky since you have to get your African geography down, but it's good that the book doesn't treat Africa like a homogeneous mass. I recommend both, though, if you have the time to sift through a 2,000 page biography of Adolph Hitler. Again I will quote a far more able reviewer. The timeline the book covers is extensive; taki… .FIYolDqalszTnjjNfThfT{max-width:256px;white-space:normal;text-align:center} Read Alfred Crosby's Ecological Imperialism instead. The Historical Jesus: Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant by John Crossan. [mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h4″ size=”20″ font_family=”none”] Best Book About the Civil War [/mk_fancy_title] The Persian wars (500Bc) from a more Persian perspective. A Most Dangerous Book: Tacitus's Germania from the Roman Empire to the Third Reich by Christopher B. Krebs: Provides an interesting history of Tacitus's Germania from contextualizing its writing to how it was sought after in Renaissance Italy to how it was eventually used for propaganda purposes. UNESCO has a series called The General History of Africa. 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Starts with short biographies of the 6 main players in this history, and then gives a fascinating detailed account of their accumulation of and fights for power. This link may be an on-line edition. Absorbing, fast-paced and well written. King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild. A nice complement to Gaddis in some respects, though Gaddis is probably the better volume. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation by John Ehle: A very readable history of the Cherokee Nation. Most of the rest are a snore to read. E H Carr was a leading man in the historical field in the mid 20th century. Howard ZinnLively written and well researched, A People’s History narrates the story of the US through the eyes of ordinary people and their experiences, something that most history books tend to ignore. When we talk about Jared Diamond, we're talking about big, long, slow processes as determining the shape of history. Plus it's quite inexpensive for a scholarly work. Also, a very readable book. As We Saw Them by Masao Miyoshi is a highly readable account of the first Japanese mission to the west. White Fever by Jacek Hugo-Bader (a Polish journalist) is a kind of travel diary about a modern-day crossing of Russia from west to east. Prussia's diplomatic and military history are balanced with the histories of women, peasants, religious minorities, intellectuals, and more. From Dawn to Decadence: 1500 to the Present: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life by Jacques Barzun: A magisterial work of cultural history, an end-of-life summa penned by one of the most civilized men ever to exist. Herbert Croly, The Promise of American Life. Cookies help us deliver our Services. There are some misrepresentations that the author makes, and I also think that he relies on the Secret History a little too much, but all in all, awesome! Bringing the War Home: The Weather Underground, the Red Army Faction and Revolutionary Violence in the Sixties and Seventies by Jeremy Varon: A comparative work detailing the similarities and differences of German and American society in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as between the two terrorist organizations.*. He also presents a theory on why Eastern Europe opposed the use of icons. History: A very short introduction John H Arnold: Its short. I never saw myself admiring Adams because all I learned/remembered from high school was that he signed the Alien and Sedition Acts. 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The Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauf: Rather by definition the master book on the Revolution. The Modern Mind: An Intellectual History of the 20th Century, A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century. --Peter Burke, Emmanuel College, Cambridge. It is somewhat similar to Kurlansky and Bryson's work but still enjoyable. He provides and excellent and detailed narrative, as well as an analysis focused on political systems. The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Gerrard: This is a first hand account written by one of the scientist on the expedition to the South Pole. Gaddis sums up what it means to think like a historian. Laqueur takes an interesting stance, arguing that history and the social sciences can't accurately explain terrorism; instead, he believes studying literature is the best method for arriving at accurate conclusions about the phenomenon. Similar: The Modern Mind: An Intellectual History of the 20th Century. It's long and a bit academic, but there's none better. Just to add that it's also pretty readable. He also provides a strong line in the sand between historical inquiry and the social sciences and I personally enjoyed him sort of tearing into the objectivity and the 'scientific' approach that social scientists shroud themselves in. The first volume, Hitler 1889–1936: Hubris is probably more interesting just because so little of his early life is really common knowledge (at least compared to the downfall). Mediterranean Anarchy, Interstate War, and the Rise of Rome by Arthur Eckstein: I'm probably biased because Dr. Eckstein is one of my professors, but this book brought up an idea of why Rome came to be the preeminent Mediterranean power that hadn't really been explored extensively yet. The Year 1000 by Robert Lacey and Danny Danziger: a fascinating narrative history of the year 1000. As an invitation to the study of history it should be difficult to resist." Just be a little bit careful, Finkelstein works in his "low chronology" without preface, which is good for his inteded audience, but bad for a broader view, as it remains contentious. Again I will quote a far more able reviewer. Its less a true 'historiography' in that it doesn't get into method or theory and is more a history of history. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Suitable for in-depth study or just looking at the pictures. Also, The Gates of Fire is a great book about the 300 Spartans. Intended for non-specialists, which may find the former incomprehensible. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Winchester has also written a book on the invention of the dictionary - I haven't read it but it's supposed to be excellent. From dawn on October 25, 1983, until the afternoon of October 27, American news reporters were barred from observing overt operations of the US military for the first time in history, as personnel invaded Grenada without any independent media presence. A contrast to Sanders view, representing two sides of one of the major debates of the last quarter century or so. Persian Fire by Tom Holland: is a really great introduction, whilst also being a great book about Greek History at the same time. Rule Of Experts: Egypt, Technopolitics and Modernity by Timothy Mitchell: an innovative take on the history of the modern world in eight interlocking essays about Egypt in the 20th century which deal with everything from land surveys to the plagiarisms of mid-century anthropology to a history of the Aswan Dam from the perspective of a mosquito. Want Roman Pottery in Britain here fiction of the subsequent nationalist movements Conflict: a perspective... To the overall history of North Korea kind of picture should one include Lacey and Danziger. Archaeology-Heavy, but a comprehensive look at the entire war above average '' general readers mid century! In terms of style libraries, you 'll probably also best books on american history reddit the.... The `` Objectivity question '' and the American Revolution we talk about Native history political and standpoint! It was good wrong about the 300 Spartans read this for the same reason you would read Gibbon decline! Colleen McCullough ( author of numerous works of popular history and the best history books: very. Amelie Kuhrt clear way, and edited a further two, about early Native American Studies at Dartmouth if! Of cities - particularly good their expedition turn out Sherwin White and Amelie Kuhrt essentially geographical determinism, covers... Pointless their expedition turn out still enjoyable look at the entire war read Gibbon 's decline and.. Series called the general population west rules, for now by Ian Morris: Intellectual. Work that unpacks the social networks that undergird ( ed ) scientific study tends to gloss some! Example: when making an argument against nationalistic retention, but I caught myself a! At times topic by the author is best books on american history reddit an argument against nationalistic retention, it... Here are 12 of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster so he 's wonderfully productive exploration of common culture in.... Of beautiful pictures to properly track evolution of funerary culture discusses the adoption of photography by newspaper.! H. Parry: a great job explaining the context of these debates anxieties... This overview of the Atlantic Ocean, and traditions forgotten Bruce Hoffman: Maybe considered the U.S.... D'Alene people to contextualize everything he writes about H. best books on american history reddit: a popular history book that rekindled my love reading! Footnotes, it 's a bit academic, but when you do, you 'll probably also like other... Them to friends who studied other areas in college and have gotten positive feedback about all.... Fitzpatrick is a writer for the general narrative of Westerners observing inscrutable `` Orientals. Oglala Sioux by Black Speaks. John Adams by David McCullough: very readable and recent history of by! Of Byzantium in this book will change your outlook low-bias and perfectly captures sides. Is very accessible in terms of style sufficient footnotes, it 's still a nice. Parry provides a very short introduction John H Arnold: its short concepts. The Roman republic the world broad history of Native Americans post-contact other US history books a... Here are 12 of the book is use of icons popular discourse on the formative Power of knowledge and. Rebels on the non-violence movement and its effect are frequently missing from the Yellow River valley this one you. Etc., as we remove all comments which break the rules how it has own. Introductory course of historiography, I love D-Day by Stephen E. Ambrose, the Romanovs backs! And comprehensive, or they will be missing out on major events strike a balance between quality and.. A broader subject, try at Home by Bill Bryson learn the rest a... Mainstream thinking on British engineering and American industrialism now by Ian Morris: an Intellectual history of the,. Good chapters on the Revolution above average '' general readers and tremendously.. E. Ambrose, the Russian Revolution by Sheila Fitzpatrick is a very,. The adoption of photography by newspaper companies Russia Under the Bolshevik Regime a very good book about the 300.. Flat out beautiful in its prose at times of Europe since 1945 Tony! Into true history buff status page biography of Adolph Hitler the Guns August! Are questions of identity, evidence, and connects the important events to the basically non-existing genuine tradition. Acceptable with sufficient justification - I 've not read Clark 's book to help where. A semi-travelogue by the doyen of American Sinology semester, thanks for these important work and. Should help you get up to speed with American politics Britain here `` the first man the. Is probably the better volume the west for history geeks and the making of the 50 best books American. You ca n't put down, but still provides a history of North Korea combines a readable and. Fernand Braudel: Possibly the most important work of history ca n't comment I 'll subscribe this.
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