After doing some traveling recently ...

[Hazzard]

... I realized my knowledge of history and foreign culture is, uh, something far short of vast. So I'm going to try to read a few historical non-fictions this year.

What do you recommend?

I'm thinking I'll read one or two broad survey books first to give myself some perspective, then dig into some more specific areas after that. Right now I'm thinking I want to read about ancient Egypt, the Roman empire, the Crusades, WWI and WWII, and maybe some stuff about ancient Greece. But I'm open to suggestions.

[wuapinmon]

... I realized my knowledge of history and foreign culture is, uh, something far short of vast. So I'm going to try to read a few historical non-fictions this year.

What do you recommend?

I'm thinking I'll read one or two broad survey books first to give myself some perspective, then dig into some more specific areas after that. Right now I'm thinking I want to read about ancient Egypt, the Roman empire, the Crusades, WWI and WWII, and maybe some stuff about ancient Greece. But I'm open to suggestions.

Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
The History of the English-Speaking People by Winston Churchill
The United States in World War II by Robert James Maddox
A Short History of Myth, Karen Armstrong
1776, David McCullough
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn (I'm not quoting Good Will Hunting)
The Histories, Herodotus

Most anything by Barbara Tuchman or Erik Larsen is good, almost poetic.

[Hazzard]

Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
The History of the English-Speaking People by Winston Churchill
The United States in World War II by Robert James Maddox
A Short History of Myth, Karen Armstrong
1776, David McCullough
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn (I'm not quoting Good Will Hunting)
The Histories, Herodotus

Most anything by Barbara Tuchman or Erik Larsen is good, almost poetic.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I looked up all of your suggestions; Guns, Germs, and Steel looks cool. So does Zinn's book. And I'm definitely going to read The Histories -- that was already on my list.

From what I've read, it sounds like Tuchman has some stuff on WWI that could be great. I've already read a few things on the founders and the revolution; should I bother with 1776 (and yes, I've heard it's amazing)?

[wuapinmon]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I looked up all of your suggestions; Guns, Germs, and Steel looks cool. So does Zinn's book. And I'm definitely going to read The Histories -- that was already on my list.

From what I've read, it sounds like Tuchman has some stuff on WWI that could be great. I've already read a few things on the founders and the revolution; should I bother with 1776 (and yes, I've heard it's amazing)?

Tuchman's Zimmerman Telegraph is very strong, though I don't love her treatment of Pancho Villa. Well, I just think that 1776 is so rich in details that it's worth the read. I read it in one day, but I have that luxury.

Once you get beyond your first list, I recommend some Simon Winchester. The man knows how to write history.....and this book, John M. Barry's Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America. ISBN 0-684-84002-2, is a tour de force of how a history book should be written, but I'd wait until you have a solid grasp of Depression-era politics, history, and culture before wading in to the mighty Mississip. Tulane gave him an honorary doctorate because of this book.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I looked up all of your suggestions; Guns, Germs, and Steel looks cool. So does Zinn's book. And I'm definitely going to read The Histories -- that was already on my list.

Guns, Germs, and Steel is excellent. You won't be disappointed.

From what I've read, it sounds like Tuchman has some stuff on WWI that could be great. I've already read a few things on the founders and the revolution; should I bother with 1776 (and yes, I've heard it's amazing)?

While 1776 is very good, it is quite brief and only covers the first year or so of the revolutionary war. If you haven't read John Adams yet, I would recommend that book (same author) over 1776. I am currently reading Alexander Hamilton by Chernow and it is a terrific and detailed history of the same period.

[RockyBalboa]

John Adams is my favorite Non-Fiction book I've read.

I've also enjoyed the following:

Rough Stone Rolling....great insights into Joseph Smith. It was eye opening for me in some aspects. I'm glad I read it.

Ghost Soliders....this book is haunting and about the Survivors and rescue of the Bataan Death March. It is one of the best stories I've ever read in terms of the indomitable spirit of man's will to survive.

[Hazzard]

Guns, Germs, and Steel is excellent. You won't be disappointed.



While 1776 is very good, it is quite brief and only covers the first year or so of the revolutionary war. If you haven't read John Adams yet, I would recommend that book (same author) over 1776. I am currently reading Alexander Hamilton by Chernow and it is a terrific and detailed history of the same period.

I've had Alexander Hamilton by Chernow on my shelf for awhile. I got into the first 100 or so pages and then put it down a couple of years ago, but I think I'll pick it up again. Especially in light of the current financial crisis, I think Hamilton will be interesting because of his key role in creating our early financial system.

I'm looking forward to Guns, Germs, and Steel.

[Hazzard]

John Adams is my favorite Non-Fiction book I've read.

I've also enjoyed the following:

Rough Stone Rolling....great insights into Joseph Smith. It was eye opening for me in some aspects. I'm glad I read it.

Ghost Soliders....this book is haunting and about the Survivors and rescue of the Bataan Death March. It is one of the best stories I've ever read in terms of the indomitable spirit of man's will to survive.

I read RSR and loved it. I'll probably read John Adams at some point, but I might just get the CD's and do it that way. It seems like it'd be a fun book to listen to in the car.

I'll check out Ghost Soldiers. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Solon]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I looked up all of your suggestions; Guns, Germs, and Steel looks cool. So does Zinn's book. And I'm definitely going to read The Histories -- that was already on my list.

From what I've read, it sounds like Tuchman has some stuff on WWI that could be great. I've already read a few things on the founders and the revolution; should I bother with 1776 (and yes, I've heard it's amazing)?

The new Landmark Herodotus is a little pricey, but the maps and other charts make it easier to understand. Norton has an abridged version that's pretty reasonably priced. But if you just want to read it, Penguin's version is great (and does have some good explanatory notes).

If you're interested in ancient Greece, I like Cahill's Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Still Matter. It's not the best book ever written, but it's pretty interesting, and is the most recent book directed at a popular audience.

My favorite non-fiction author is James Reston Junior. Dogs of God (about Spain in 1492), Galileo: A Life, The Last Apocalypse (about Europe in the year 999-1000), and Warriors of God (about the Third Crusade) are all very well done. (Plus, Reson's son attended the U of U.)

[Hazzard]

The new Landmark Herodotus is a little pricey, but the maps and other charts make it easier to understand. Norton has an abridged version that's pretty reasonably priced. But if you just want to read it, Penguin's version is great (and does have some good explanatory notes).

If you're interested in ancient Greece, I like Cahill's Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Still Matter. It's not the best book ever written, but it's pretty interesting, and is the most recent book directed at a popular audience.

My favorite non-fiction author is James Reston Junior. Dogs of God (about Spain in 1492), Galileo: A Life, The Last Apocalypse (about Europe in the year 999-1000), and Warriors of God (about the Third Crusade) are all very well done. (Plus, Reson's son attended the U of U.)

Thanks for the suggestions. All of the Reston Junior books you mentioned look fascinating and are exactly what I'm looking for. I know virtually nothing about the Crusades, so that one especially piques my interest. I'll let you know which one(s) I read and let you know what I think.