History Suggestions

[Anonymous No.6498127]

Hey /lit/, I've been on a bit of a history binge for the past few months and I've read some awesome stuff, but I'm always on the look out for more. What are some great non-fiction history books you really enjoyed? The time period and subject doesn't matter.

[Anonymous No.6498134]

Appian's Civil Wars
very insightful

[Anonymous No.6498204]

Stuff I've read so far and would recommend to /lit/, none of this isn't particularly heavy reading. I'll post links for the kindle since that's what I use.

Revolutionary Russia, 1891-1991
http://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary-Russia-1891-1991-A-History/dp/0805091319

A great primer on the Soviet era by Orlando Figes, it recounts the bloody transition from the Tsardom to Bolshevism, and the way the party deviated from Lenin's original ideas upon his death.

Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941
http://www.amazon.com/Kaigun-Strategy-Technology-Imperial-1887-1941/dp/159114244X

Really good analysis of modern Japanese naval history and the many ways it differed in regards to the European powers. Also includes a lot of information on the naval air arm.


Bitter Harvest: Zimbabwe and the Aftermath of its Independence
http://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Harvest-Zimbabwe-Aftermath-Independence/dp/1857826043

Ian Smith's memoirs of his time as the leader of Rhodesia during the 1960s and 1970s. One of the best books I've ever read, he goes into the nuances and pitfalls of decolonisation and how the west turned its back on his country very well.

The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Game-Struggle-Central-Kodansha/dp/1568360223/

Another breddy gud book.

The Guns of August
http://www.amazon.com/Guns-August-Pulitzer-Prize-Winning-Outbreak/dp/0345476093

A WW1 literature classic on how the opening battles of the war determined its outcome.

Samurai!
http://www.amazon.com/Samurai-Martin-Caiden/dp/0743412834

Saburo Sakai's autobiography of his war years as Japan's leading fighter ace, short but sweet. Otto Carius has his own autobiography along similar lines called Tigers in The Mud.

The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Influenza-Deadliest-Pandemic-History/dp/0143036491

In-depth documentation of the events leading up to the 1918 spanish influenza pandemic and how it swept across the globe so effectively.

[Anonymous No.6498209]

>>6498134
Thanks m8 I'll give it a look

>>6498204
>isn't

*is

[Anonymous No.6498724]

>>6498134
This is really good lad, thanks for recommending it

[Anonymous No.6499049]

>>6498134

My Negro.

[Anonymous No.6499107]

>>6498127
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich - William Shirer
>Outdated in some ways and far from a definitive or objective history (Shirer has a hard-on for going on about sexual "perversions", and makes sweeping claims about the German mindset and culture that just seem silly now). But this work is meticulously researched and is filled to the brim with direct references to countless Nazi records, journals, etc. with plenty of annotations. Did I mention it's written spectacularly and does a great job of covering the birth of the post-WWI Nazi party up until the fall of Berlin?

Team of Rivals - Doris Kearns Goodwin
>The definitive Lincoln history. Focuses on his early life, autodidacticism, and ascension to politics, as well as the history and workings of his entire major cabinet (prepare to learn more about Salmon Chase than you ever expected). Teeming with research and smoothly inserted quotations, uplifting, sad, inspiring. Obviously focuses on the war but Lincoln is always the reference point, no blow-by-blow battle analyses or anything. Her reconstruction of the 1860 Chicago convention is a joy to read.

A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years - Diarmaid MacCulloch
>One man actually did write a comprehensive history of Christianity and Christian thought, from the ancient roots of Judaism and Hellenism through the 20th century. If you're skeptical just read the first section. A landmark work.

Ancient Rome - Christopher Mackay
>Rome's history is so vast and dense you need multiple works to get any detailed idea of it. Lots of people want to find one volume that they can jump into to get an overall idea of the full timeline's history - this is my recommendation. From the first organization of Rome as its own entity, the Republic, and the Principate/Empire, this is a solid skimming of all of Rome's existence. Don't complain about the lack of detail for important sections - you'll only get a few pages on the Punic Wars, for Christ's sake - there's plenty of other histories you can drown in about specific topics. This condenses the general outline of Roman history into one book really well.

[Anonymous No.6499213]

>>6499107
The Trial of Socrates - I.F. Stone
>Combines a general overview of Socrates' philosophy and dialogues with the politics and proceedings of his trial and death sentence. What's the point/context for some of these dialogues? Why did Socrates live in Athens if he was opposed to so much of its culture? Was Socrates' trial more due to his philosophical influence on authoritarians who would try to eliminate democracy in Athens, and his death sentence more due to his own stubbornness and refusal to defend himself properly, than common wisdom would suggest? This book explores all these.

1776 - David McCullough
>Focuses on the year 1776 in the American Revolution, with Washington as its locus. This was one of the darkest years of the war, as the rich aristocrat Washington struggles to make do with his underpaid and poorly supplied army with little to no support from Congress or the rest of the nation. Concentrates on maneuver and battle details, the triumphs and massive failures of the Continentals, and Washington's own personality and inner world as this all occurs around him. Closes with why the end of 1776 was such a tipping point for America in the war.

100 Decisive Battles: From Ancient Times to the Present - Paul Davis
>More pulpy than my other suggestions, this book is just damn fun to read. Does what it says on the can: outlines 100 of the most important battles in all military history. For each you'll get a solid write-up of the conditions (political and otherwise) leading to the battle, initial plans and formations, a play-by-play, and conclusion/discussion, with some excellent diagrams and maps. Does a decent job of not just focusing on Western/European history. Perfect for reading on public transport, a trip, or during work breaks or something since you can knock out one battle in fifteen minutes or whatever.

[Anonymous No.6500699]

>>6499049
Hardest I've ever laughed on this board. Thank you truly and sincerely

[Anonymous No.6500899]

>>6498127
Read The Causes of War by Geoffrey Blainey. Brilliant and well-written.

[Anonymous No.6500938]

Ancient Rome:
>"Rubicon" - Tom Holland
Basically a great introduction to the Roman Republic, focusing on the 1st century BC from Gaius Marius and Sulla to the collapse of the Republic under Caesar, and the rise of Augustus. Solid work with loads of background info for new people in the history of Rome.
>"Rise of Rome" - Anthony Everett
A good general history of everything leading up to Marius and Sulla, providing a mythological founding of Rome, its early wars, and such characters as Hannibal and Pyrrhus.
>"The Roman Army: The Greatest War Machine of the Ancient World" - Chris Mcnab
The go to work of the Roman Military. While Adrian Goldsworthy is great, I like the Osprey publication for the amazing and accurate artwork.

Miscellaneous
>"When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army stopped Hitler" - David M Glantz
An incredibly dense yet meticulous work, it's one of the best works on the Ostfront done by the west.
>"Devil in the White City" - Erik Larson
A blend of narrative storytelling and typical history explanation, it is centered on the great World Colombian Exposition in Chicago during the 1890's, but also around the famous serial killer who prowled the city and event, Dr. H.H. Holmes , and his "Murder Castle"
>"The Lost City of Z"
A semi biography on the adventures of the British explorer, Percy Fawcett, and his dreams of finding a hidden civilization in the Amazon. The shit in the jungle is unreal, and the guy was a legit BAMF.

[Anonymous No.6500942]

>>6500699

My pleasure, anon.
/twg/ was a beautiful place circa August 2013; OC the likes of which haven't been seen since

[Anonymous No.6500978]

>>6500699

My pleasure, anon.

[« Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ » No.6500986]

>>6498127
>What are some great non-fiction history books you really enjoyed?
Currently wrapped up the Urartu section of this. The author makes such sparse information very exciting (For history nerds anyway) Note: This particular printing didn't seem to come with its plates, which I would assume are colour photos. Maybe mine is an aberration, but do check for them when and if purchasing a physical copy.

[Anonymous No.6501016]

>>6498127
Dat look of apprehending inescapable doom. Not that the guy didn't deserve it or anything.

[Anonymous No.6501050]

>>6500699

[Anonymous No.6501074]

>>6498204
>Ian Smith's memoirs
Wow, thanks. That sounds really interesting.

[Anonymous No.6501091]

>>6499049
>Reportedly, Antiochus III made the classic strategical mistake of not doing a single intelligent thing

[Anonymous No.6501100]

A distant mirror by Barbara Tuchman.

Points out oddities in renaissance society. excellent read. 8/10

[Anonymous No.6501110]

>>6500899
First page.

[Anonymous No.6501193]

>>6498204
>figes
committed academic fraud

>tuchman
>>6501100

journalist

[Anonymous No.6501963]

>>6501193
But they're still good books anon

[Anonymous No.6502000]

>>6501963
Then you may as well read fiction if you ascribe historicity to a fraud and a journalist's unscholar'd ramblings.

[Anonymous No.6502027]

>>6501193
>journalist

Her book isn't bad for that reason.

[Anonymous No.6502060]

>>6502027
100% of journalist's "histories" aren't.

[Anonymous No.6502068]

The Life and Times of Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI by Arnold H. Mathew
The Life of Cesare Borgia by Rafael Sabatini
Tigress of Forli by Elizabeth Lev