History Reading List Project

[sabotai]

I, like many of you, am a history buff. A pretty big one. When I was in high school, I was seriously considering majoring in History when I went off to college (I chose Biology, and changed majors to Computer Science).

I, like many of you, dream of being a professional game designer/programmer. Ever since I was a kid, I've had notebooks filled with game designs for RPGs, FPSs, Adventure games, etc., and of course, Sport Sims (mostly using a deck of cards or a pari of dice). While it would be nice to be able to make a living making sport sims, a good part of me dreams of making games like Neverwinter Nights, The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion or World of Warcraft.

I, like many of you (I'm going somewhere with this, I swear!), am a wanna-be writer. I read sci-fi and fantasy novels a lot. I jot down ideas and notes all the time on story ideas of mine. I've even written several short stories and sent them to magazines for possible publication (all rejected, of course ;) ). I've also done NaNoWriMo the last two years (failed miserably but for good reasons. Will try again this year). I like to write stories and I like making up fantasy/futuristic worlds.

So, what does this have to do with anything? Well, I'm trying to compile a list of history books to read. The idea is to cover all major (and many, many minor) nations, cultures and wars. Basically the idea is to learn a lot about history. Enough that we get more than just a general idea of what happened, but not so much that we'd be experts on it.

This helps in all three things I posted above. One, feeding the history buff inside us, and for 2 and 3, a good, solid knowledge of many cultures, nations and wars to better equip us to make fantasy/futuristic worlds for our games and novels.

I originally got this idea from digamma when he started a thread on a Life Syllabus. The idea there was to create a reading list that, after being read, would give you a well rounded background on various topics.

The trick for this, though, is to keep it specific enough to really understand the time period of the topic, but general enough that, well, we have enough time to read everything. It'd be nice to a have a big history book for every year in history. What knowledge that would yield to us. But it'd take a lifetime just to read them all, if even that would be enough time to read everything.

What I'm looking for is essentially a decent sized book for every major civilization in history, wars and general cultures. Basically what I'm looking for is a realistic number of books that can be read in a realistic amount of time that covers as much of history in as much detail as possible. A tricky balance, I'm sure.

An example of this would be, let's say, the Civil War. I'm sure their are entire books on just one battle. Way too specific for this purpose. One book, covering the entirety of the Civil War, would be enough for our purpose. Again, the idea is to have more than a general understanding of the civil war, but nothing on the level of, say, Buccaneeer who I know has read dozens of books on the Civil War. We don't need to know troop formations for every battle. Just a good understnading of what happened.

A second example, The Battle of Hastings. I'm sure there is an entire book on The Battle of Hastings. And while that is a very important historic battle that would need to be covered in any project meant to accomplish what we are trying to do here, it'd be best if it was covered in one chapter of a larger book. (If there were a book covering all relevant information leading up to the Battle of Hastings, the battle itself and everythign that happened afterwards, that'd be ideal).

If we read 1 book per week, that would give us 52 books read in 1 year. To make it a bit less rigorous, let's try to aim (just to throw out an arbitrary number) to have about 35 books covering everything.

Anyway, enough of my babbling!! In the next post, I will be creating a list of nations and wars that most likely should be covered. (At first, all it will say is "placeholder for nations and wars" so no smart ass replies. :p ).

The first step will be creating a list of topics to cover. So, for anyone who wants to give a hand, just start naming off nations, wars (and cultures) that you feel need to be covered in order to achieve the goal.

The second step will be finding books that cover all the topics in enough detail to achieve the goal.

(And here's the part where I press Submit New Thread and hope that at least a few of you are interested in this. :) )

[sabotai]

LIST NOT COMPLETE. STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS

Here is my starting off list as I made this a few weeks ago. Keep in mind, this initial list is intentioanlly over detailed. That way, we can looks at several topics and realize there is a book that covers them all in enough detail for this purpose. For instance, I have Old, Middle and New Kingdom Egypt listed seperately. But I bet we can find 1 book that deals with them and a couple of others in enough detail for us.

Anyway, the list (pretty much in order of time period for now, and some of the years may be off)

(Lumped Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East together since so much of Ancient to Medievil history crosses through all three areas. It wasn't practical to put Middle East in Asia and Northern Africa into just Africa)

Note: A (?) next to a book means I am not sure if the book is good enough, as I probably just grabbed it off of Amazon or something and no one specifically suggested it. If anyone read the book, please speak up.

Asia

China

Uncovered
Xia Dynasty (21st Centru BC - 17th Century BC)
3 Kingdoms China and after (220 AD - 750 AD)
The Five Dyansties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907 - 960 AD)
Liao Dynasty (907 - 1125 AD)
Jin Dynasty (1115 - 1234 AD)
Republic of China (1911 - 1949 AD, to Present Day on Taiwan)
People's Republic of China (1949 - Present Day)

"The Dynasties of China: A History" by Bamber Gascoigne
(might be too general in information)
Covers: Shang China (1500 BC - 1050 BC), Zhou China (1050 BC - 221 BC), Qin and Han China (221 BC - 220 AD), Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD), Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 AD), Mongol Invasion and the Yuan Dynasty (1200 - 1368 AD), Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD), Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD)

"China's Cultural Heritage: The Qing Dynasty" by Richard J. Smith
Covers: Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD)


Japan

Not covered
Jomon Period ( - 300 BC)
Yayoi Period (300 BC - 250 AD)

"A History of Japan to 1334" by George Sansom
Covers: Yamato Period (250 - 710 AD), Nara Period (710 - 794 AD), Heian Period (794 - 1185 AD),
Kamakura Period (1185 - 1333 AD),

"A History of Japan, 1334-1615" by George Sansom
Covers:Muromachi Period (1336 - 1573 AD), Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568 - 1600 AD)

"A History of Japan, 1615-1867" by George Sansom
Covers: Edo Period (1603 - 1867 AD)

"A Modern History of Japan" by Adrew Gordon (?)
Covers: Meiji Period (1868 - 1912 AD), Taisho Period (1912 - 1926 AD), Showa Period (1926 - 1989 AD),
Heisei Period (1989 - Present Day)

India
Harappan India ( - 1500 BC)
Vedic Civilization (1500 - 500 BC)
Kuru Dynasty (1200 - 316 BC)
Maha Janapadas (700 - 321 BC)
Magadha Empire (684 - 321 BC)
Maurya Empire (321 - 184 BC)
Gupta Empire (240 AD - 550 AD)
Chola Empire (848 - 1279 AD)
Hoysala Empire (1040 - 1346 AD)
Delhi Sultanate (1210 - 1526 AD)
Vijayanagara Empire (1336 - 1565 AD)
Mughal Era (1526 - 1707 AD)
Maratha Empire (1674 - 1761 AD)
Colonial Era (1757 - 1947 AD)
Republic of India (1947 - Present Day)

Russia
Kievan Rus (880 - 1200 AD)
Novgorod Republic (11th Century - 1478 AD)
Golden Horde (1242-1499 AD)
Imperial Russia (1469 - 1917 AD)
Soviet Union (1917 - 1991 AD)
Russian Federation (1991 - Present Day)

South East Asia
Khmer Empire (657 - 1462 AD)
Ayutthaya Kingdom (1365 - 1768 AD)
Langkasuka (1st or 2nd Century AD - 15th Century AD)

Central Asia
Mongol Empire (1206 - 1368 AD)
Timurid Empire (1370 - 1522 AD)

Europe, Middle East and Northern Africa

Egypt and North Africa
Old Kingdom Egypt (3100 BC - 2023 BC)
Middle Kingdom Egypt (and the Hyksos) (2023 BC - 1550 BC)
New Kngdom Egypt (1550 BC - 1069 BC)
Last Egyptian Kings (1069 BC - 332 BC)
Carthage (814 BC - 146 BC)
Napata (850 BC - 310 BC)
Meroe (500 BC - 350 BC)
Aksum (100 AD - 700 AD)

Middle East
The Hittites (1650 BC - 1200 BC)
Sumer (2900 BC - 2004 BC)
Minoan Crete (2000 BC - 1500 BC)
Mesopotamia (2004 BC - 1595 BC)
Indus (2500 BC - 1500 BC)
Phoenicians (1000 BC - 500 BC)
Assyria and Palestine (1000 BC - 609 BC)
Neo-Babylonian Empire (626 BC - 539 BC)
Byzantine Empire (395 AD - 750 AD)
Achaemenid Empire (550 BC - 330 BC)
Sassanid Empire (224 AD - 651 AD)

Italy
Etruscans (900 BC - 400 BC)
Rome (800 BC - 264 BC)
Sicily (750 BC - 330 BC)
Republican Rome (509 BC - 27 BC)
Roman Empire (21 BC - 235 AD)
Parthian State (247 BC - 224 AD)
Roman Empire (235 AD - 395 AD)
Fall of Western Roman Empire (395 AD - 476 AD)

Greece
Archaic Greece (Age of the Tyrants) (700 BC - 500 BC)
Greek City States (500 BC - 350 BC)
Athenian Democracy (500 BC - 300 BC)
Macedon and Alexander the Great (500 BC - 323 BC)
Hellenistic World (323 BC - 30 BC)

Germany
Frankish Kingdoms (481 AD - 843 AD)
Holy Roman Empire (843 AD - 1806 AD)
Confederation of the Rhine (1806 - 1813 AD)
German Confederation (1815 - 1866 AD)
North German Confederation (1867 - 1871 AD)
German Empire (1871 - 1918 AD)

France
Celtic Gaul ( - 121 BC)
Roman Gaul (121 BC - 475 AD)
Merovingians (481 AD - 751 AD)
Carolingians (751 - 987 AD)
Capetians (987 - 1328 AD)
Valois (1328 - 1498 AD)
Valois-Orleans (1498 - 1515 AD)
Valois-Angouleme (1515 - 1589 AD)
Bourbon Dynasty (1589 - 1792 AD)
Nepoleon France (1799 - 1815 AD)
Restoration (1814 - 1830 AD)
July Monarchy (1830 - 1848 AD)
Second Republic (1848 - 1852 AD)
Second Empire (1852 - 1870 AD)
Third Republic (1870 - 1940 AD)
Vichy France (1940 - 1944 AD)
Fourth Republic (1946 - 1958 AD)
Fifth Republic (1958 - Present Day)

Great Britain
Pre Roman Britain ( - 43 AD)
Roman Britain (43 AD - 410 AD)
Sub-Roman Britain (410 AD - 597 AD)
Anglo-Saxon England (410 AD - 1066 AD)
Anglo-Norman England (1066 - 1154 AD)
Kingdom of England (927 - 1707 AD)
Kingdom of Scotland (843 - 1707 AD)
Pre-Norman Ireland ( - 1169 AD)
Lordship of Ireland (1171 - 1541 AD)
Kingdom or Ireland (1541 - 1800)
United Kingdom (1707 - Present Day)
UK of Great Britain and Ireland (1801- - 1922)
Irish Republic (1919 - 1922)
Northern Ireland (1921 - Present Day)
Irish Free State (1922 - 1937)
Ireland (later renamed Republic of Ireland) (1937 - Present Day)

Spain
Visigothic Hispania (410 - 711 AD)
Al-Andalus (711 - 1031 AD)
Reconquista (718 - 1492 AD) ( - not a nation. Reestablishment of Christian rule in Spain)
Habsburg Spain (1516 - 1700 AD)
Spain under Bourbon Rule (1700 - 1923 AD)
Second Spanish Republic (1931 - 1939 AD)
Spain under Franco (1936 - 1975)
Modern Spain (1075 - Present Day)

Middle to South Africa






North and South America

Central America
Mesoamerican Empires (1200BC - 500 BC)
Mexican Highlands (500 BC - 750 AD)
Toltecs and Aztecs (900 AD - 1521 AD)
Central American Colonization (mid 1500s - 1847)
Mexico (1847 - Present Day)

North America
North American Indians ( - Present Day)
Colonial America (1493 - 1776 AD)
USA (1776 - Present Day)
Canada (1838 - Present Day)

South America
Pre Incas in the Andes (2600 BC - 1438 AD)
Incas (1438 AD - 1525 AD)
South American Colonization (mid 1500s - 1800 AD)
South American Independence (1800 - Present Day)

Australia

Australia
Pre-Discovery Australia ( - 1787)
European Colonization (1787 - 1850 AD)
Rapid Expansion (1850 - 1901 AD)
Modern Australia (1901 - Present Day)




Wars

Europe + Middle East
Hyksos Conquest of Egypt (1600 BC)
Trojen War (1200 BC)
Messenians War (800 BC)
Sicilian Wars (480 BC - 307 BC)
Peloponnesian War (431 BC - 404 BC)
Samnite Wars (343 BC - 290 BC)
Alexander the Great Conquests (334 BC - 323 BC)
Punic Wars (264 BC - 146 BC)
Roman Servile Wars (135 BC - 71 BC)
Mithridatic Wars (89 BC - 63 BC)
Julius Caeser's Wars, Civil Wars and post Ceaser Civil War (58 BC - 33 BC)
Parthian Wars (161 AD - 217 AD)
Gothic War in Italy (535 - 553 AD)
Syrian Wars (274 BC - 200 BC)
Jewish-Roman War (aka Great Jewish Revolt) (66 AD - 70 AD)
Byzantine-Arab Wars (632 AD - 677 AD)
Islamic Conquests (633 AD - 718 AD)
The Crusades (1096-1291 AD)
Scottish Wars of Independance (1296-1328 AD, 1332-1333 AD)
Hundred Years' War (1337-1453 AD)
Thirteen Years' War (1454-1466 AD)
War of the Roses (1455-1485 AD)
Huguenot Wars (1562-1598 AD)
Eighty Years' War (1568-1648 AD)
Thirty Years' War (1618-1648 AD)
British Civil Wars (1639-1652 AD)
The Deluge/Northern Wars (1648-1660 AD)
War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748 AD)
Seven Years' War (1756-1763 AD) ( - Part of this was the French and Indian War)
French Revolution (1792-1802 AD)
Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 AD)
Franco-Prussian War (1870 - 1871 AD)
Balkin Wars (1912-1913 AD)
Italian Independence Wars (1848-1866 AD)
World War I (1914-1918 AD)
Spanish Civil War (1936-1939 AD)
World War II - European Theater (1937 - 1945 AD)
Greek Civil War (1944-1949 AD)
Isreali-Arab Wars (20th Century)
Gulf War (1990-1991)
Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001)

Asia
War of the Three Kingdoms in China (220 AD - 265 AD)
War of the Eight Princes in China (291 AD - 306 AD)
Civil Wars in China (316 AD - 589 AD)
Korean Civil War (892 AD - 936 AD)
Chinese Civil War (907 AD - 960 AD)
Mongol Conquests (1206 - 1279 AD)
Wars of the Sengoku Period in Japan (1467-1603 AD)
Crimean War (1854 - 1856 AD)
First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895 AD)
Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905 AD)
Russian Revolution (1917-1918 AD)
Russian Civil War (1918-1922 AD)
World War II (1937-1945 AD) ( - included: Second Sino-Japanese War)
Korean War (1950-1953 AD)
Vietnam War (1954-1975 AD)
Civil War in Sri Lanka (1983-2000 AD)

Americas
American Revolution (1775-1783 AD)
Mexican War for Independence (1810-1821 AD)
Bolivar's War (1811-1825 AD)
War of 1812 (1812 - 1815 AD)
Seminole Wars (1817-1858 AD)
Mexican-American War (1846-1848 AD)
Caste War of Yucatan (1857-1901 AD)
American Civil War (1861-1865 AD) "The Civil War (Amarican Heritage Books" Bruce Catton

Africa
Cape Frontier Wars (1779-1879 AD)

Australia
Maoril Land Wars in New Zealand (1843-1872 AD)


Other Topics
Other historic events or topics relevent to the creation of fantasy/futuristic worlds

Specific Historical Events
The Black Death and other pandemics
The Renaissance
The Cold War
Piracy in the Caribbean

General History
Economics
Comminications
Agriculture
Science and Technology
Philosophy
--- "A History of Western Philosophy" Bertrand Russell
Language and Linguistics
Religion and Spiritulism
Government and Politics
Art, Music, etc.

Misc. History Books and Topics
Counterfactuals
--- "What If?", "What If? 2", and "What ifs? of American History"

Specific Items or Products
--- "Salt: A World History" Mark Kurlansky (Is this the book AENeuman suggested?)

General "How they lived"
--- "Life in a Medieval Village" Frances Gies
--- "Life in a Medievel Castle" Joseph and Frances Gies

Other? (Don't know exactly what these cover, if they cover any of the above topics)
--- "Guns, Germs and Steel" Jared Diamond
--- "A Distant Mirror" Barbara W Tuchman

[DaddyTorgo]

nice idea sab!

[DaddyTorgo]

Nations:
France
Russia
China
Japan (or at least Japan/Korea/Asia excluding China)

[DaddyTorgo]

of course there's
England
USA
Native American cultures and their fall to Europeans (South+North America)
Mongols
Ancient Egypt
Greece
Rome

[path12]

The history of the major religions may be applicable for both nations and wars.
The papacy, crusades, Italian city/states, etc.

[DaddyTorgo]

yes

christianity + islam definately
Germany ought to be on there of course

[ISiddiqui]

Great idea. I've recently become interested in trying to find a "History of the World" told from the Eastern world's perspective. I think this is a result of some of great civilizations that have existed that we in the Western countries haven't heard that much of (the Songhai Empire in Mali, Khymer in Cambodia, etc).

[sabotai]

The reason I'm not listing cultures (and religions) seperately is because any book dealing with the nations that we would include on ths reading list would cover the cultrue of the people (religion included). So any book we pick for Old, Middle and New Kingdom Egypt would idealy cover the culture of the people, not just the politics and history of the nations themselves.

[Groundhog]

I'm biased as It's a particular interest of mine, but I believe Japan is worthy of being studied on it's own, not as a combination with China/Korea et al.

[DaddyTorgo]

I'm biased as It's a particular interest of mine, but I believe Japan is worthy of being studied on it's own, not as a combination with China/Korea et al.

i agree that japan+china deserve seperate books, but i lumped them in consideration of not knowing how many books we would end up with at least in our initial list.

[sabotai]

I'm biased as It's a particular interest of mine, but I believe Japan is worthy of being studied on it's own, not as a combination with China/Korea et al.

I'd agree. Considering Japan's history, all the way up to the mid 1800's and later, of total isolation, their history and expecially their culture is vastly different from Korea, China and other far eastern countries.

[lungs]

Mexico and the Mexican Revolution

[sabotai]

Here are two examples of the types of books that I am looking for:

Covers Egypt from beginning all the way to 395 AD
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0192802933/sr=1-3/qid=1144725790/ref=sr_1_3/104-7548884-8000702?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books

And here's one that covers Egypt, Greece and Rome
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0198721943/sr=1-15/qid=1144725790/ref=sr_1_15/104-7548884-8000702?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books

This second one is an example of one that would cover several nations and wars, but we would probably need a book or two to cover a time period or war in more detail if the time period and war warrented a more detailed look. For instance, I think if you used this book (or one like it) for all of the topics that it covers, we would at least need a book detailing the time period of Julius Ceaser, leading up to Julius Ceaser and the aftermath of his assassination. Not only did a lot happen in that short period that would be almost impossible to cram all of the relevant information into a short chapter, but the whole time period has great story telling features for both writing and game designing.

[Franklinnoble]

Creepy... the first three paragraphs in the first post of this thread could have been written by me... change "Biology" to "Aerospace Engineering" and that'd be about it. Read any of my dynasties? Sheesh... it's uncanny... I feel like Bizarro-sabotai all of a sudden. I think I might need a shower...

A few favorite history books, just off the top of my head:

* The Last Lion - William Manchester - Two volume series (shoulda been three...) on Churchill. Absolutely awesome biography, and paints a vivid picture of the transition of the British empire from the Victorian era to the early twentieth century.

* The Arms of Krupp - Manchester - Fascinating read on the history of the Krupp family, the arms manufacturers for Germany for several generations. Pretty specific, but, hey, Manchester is my favorite historian.

* Goodbye, Darkness - Manchester - See the trend yet? No historian has a better grasp of the English language (well, almost none...) I digress... this is an outstanding biographical perspective on the war in the Pacific. Most people don't know much about this immense aspect of WWII.

* A History of English Speaking Peoples - Winston Churchill - Pretty self-explanatory.

[Groundhog]

For the entire history of Japan - from the beginning of recorded history until 1867, anyway - you really can't beat G.B. Sansom's "A History of Japan" in three volumes. Each volume is 350-400 pages long and covers everything in very enjoyable prose, and best of all it's very cheap to buy in paperback. It read like a novel the first time I went through it, which I've now done at least 5 times.

[sachmo71]

Durant's civilization series is a pretty good overview of history.

[path12]

A few favorite history books, just off the top of my head:

* The Last Lion - William Manchester - Two volume series (shoulda been three...) on Churchill. Absolutely awesome biography, and paints a vivid picture of the transition of the British empire from the Victorian era to the early twentieth century.

* The Arms of Krupp - Manchester - Fascinating read on the history of the Krupp family, the arms manufacturers for Germany for several generations. Pretty specific, but, hey, Manchester is my favorite historian.

* Goodbye, Darkness - Manchester - See the trend yet? No historian has a better grasp of the English language (well, almost none...) I digress... this is an outstanding biographical perspective on the war in the Pacific. Most people don't know much about this immense aspect of WWII.

* A History of English Speaking Peoples - Winston Churchill - Pretty self-explanatory.

If we're actually talking specific books, I'd chime in with:

The Civil War - A Narrative -- three volumes by Shelby Foote. A big read (each book is around 1100 pages) but there is no better read on the war that I've found. Truly reads like a novel. Actually have read through this twice.

Anything by Barbara Tuchman, but particularly A Distant Mirror, which is a fascinating in depth look at the 14th century. Focused on France, but covers a wide swath.

Of course you're gonna get about 85,000 different book recommendations. :D

And I've never read Manchester, so thanks for the callout. I think Goodbye Darkness sounds pretty interesting....

[Wolfpack]

If we're actually talking specific books, I'd chime in with:

The Civil War - A Narrative -- three volumes by Shelby Foote. A big read (each book is around 1100 pages) but there is no better read on the war that I've found. Truly reads like a novel. Actually have read through this twice.

Good to see this. I plopped down about $50 for all three in hardcover when B&N was apparently clearing out some excess stocks of them a few months back and have begun reading the first one. Just gotten to Fort Sumter. Very interesting read so far.

[sabotai]

Going off on a tangent, I was wondering about those Civil War books by Foote. I've seen them and was going to eventually ask my fellow FOFCers what they thought of them.

[WSUCougar]

I think the one-volume Battlecry of Freedom by McPherson would work instead of the 3-volume Foote, but YMMV.

[AgustusM]

threads like this is why I still come to this site.

[WSUCougar]

A few additions...

Nations:
Carthage (although you've got the Punic Wars listed)
Mongols
Huns

Wars:
War of 1812 (1812-15)
Crimean War (1854-56)
Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)

I think it'd be wise to split World War II at least into European and Pacific theaters.

Rather than singling out the Yom Kippur War, perhaps an inclusive listing of the Arab-Israeli wars.

[sabotai]

Thanks for the suggestions WSU.

You guys didn't think with my name that I'd forget the Mongols, did you? ;)

[Buccaneer]

I think the one-volume Battlecry of Freedom by McPherson would work instead of the 3-volume Foote, but YMMV.

Since I was honored with a citation, allow me return the favor and give you my brief review of Civil War literature. But since I quoted my fellow Civ War historian, I want to start by agree fully with his recommendation. I am critical of Foote's narrative but since you want to hear what to read, as oppose to what not to read, I'll let it go at that.

From my reading through your initial post, I fully understand wanting a more overview as oppose to more detailed views. For the Civil War, this basically means strategic vs tactical (which becomes similar to strategy and war games). I started off reading both levels because campaigns/major battles are interesting in of themselves, even without fully understanding its context. However, they can get bogged down, which would slow your quest down to learn about world history.

For the general history of the Civil War, you have several categories to choose from actually. There are those that talk about the war from beginning to end including what led up to it (horizontal histories), but also taking a specific theme and focusing on that in the context of the war and the time period (vertical histories). A slight variation on the beginning-to-end would be slanting it towards a particular viewpoint just to offer something different or a different interpretation.

Here's what I would recommend:

1. American Heritage The Civil War. This is the classic (from the 60s) that everyone has read or seen and it is still the best single volume overview of the Civil War. Being one of the American Heritage books, it is loaded with pictures and unique maps (that Sid Meier still raves about) but as a bonus, the text is written by Bruce Catton, still the best writer of the Civil War ever. I don't think this has become dated so it is a great place to start. (Incidently, I am an avid collector of those American Heritage books for I think they are a great introduction to many of the time periods and wars covered, better than any textbook I read or saw in school.)

2. Battle Cry of Freedom. Still the best single-volume (long) narrative of the war.

3. Drawn With the Sword, also by James McPherson. Here he provides his reflections on the Civil War while covering it all in a series of easy to read and interesting essays, including bringing it up to date more (this being mid-90s). The sections include Origins of the Civil War, The War and American Society, Why the North Won, The Enduring Lincoln and Historians and Their Audiences. The book is only about 250 pages long but every essay is concise and perfectly written.

Besides the Civil War, my other areas of expertise and interest in American History would include the American Revolution period, the "making of a nation" period (between the Rev and Civil War, which covers several topical areas), the California Gold Rush, Westward exploration and expansion, and general American history.

[King of New York]

You might want to check out The Teaching Company.

hxxp://www.teach12.com

Each "course" consists of about twenty-four lectures--some are longer, some shorter--by a college professor who's reputedly good at lecturing. You can get them in a variety of video/audio formats. You can listen to them while you are working out, commuting to work, and so on, or watch them on TV. They are not cheap, but local public libraries sometimes have them, or will buy them at your request.

They have a fair amount on American and European history, not so much on other areas.

[biological warrior]

If you want a comprehensive view of US Military history try:
''For the Common Defense'' by Millett and Maslowski. It chronicles the beginnings of the US military from frontier days to the mid 90's.
The book has not yet been updated to include the GWOT and the Army's 21st century transition though.

[st.cronin]

Thucydides! The History of the Peloponnesian War

[Franklinnoble]

You might find this interesting: http://www.digitalstadium.org/smf/index.php?topic=222.0

[GMO]

Challenge of the West
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CSQFIG/qid=1144886001/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-1068034-4982260?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
is an overview of Western Civilization "from the Stone Age to the Global Age", by Hunt/Martin/Rosenwein/Hsia/Smith.

[Daimyo]

If you're interested in primary sources as opposed to just anthologies, this book is a pretty good account of China's cultural revolution. It is a collection of short stories tell the experience of people who lived through it culled from hundreds of interviews.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/083512584X/104-7848748-4851102

[AENeuman]

Let me give you a head start on your reading list. Since most of the topics are wars and rulers thought I would sum up most of your readings:
First, some group/people/kingdom wanted more land/money/people
Second. said group fought the holders of the other group
Thrid, the winners of said fight out maneuvered, out maned or had better weapons.
Forth, winning group kept fighting until they lost from either corruption, power struggle or weak leadership
Fifth, new winners would fight for more land/power/money...

Sorry to give it away.

History of leaders and wars is boring and not very informative. Questions like: how did the average person live... what role did the exploitation of resources play in history....were civ's that rule by blood over merit ultimately doomed... seem more informative approaches to learn the history of humans

Try books like the History of Salt, Guns Germs and Steel, Distant Mirror, History of the Lower Danube. You learn about the common person, why they did the things they did, and what impact its had on us. As brother buc would probaly agree, all history should be taught like the tv show "Connections"

[st.cronin]

Let me give you a head start on your reading list. Since most of the topics are wars and rulers thought I would sum up most of your readings:
First, some group/people/kingdom wanted more land/money/people
Second. said group fought the holders of the other group
Thrid, the winners of said fight out maneuvered, out maned or had better weapons.
Forth, winning group kept fighting until they lose from either corruption, power struggle or weak leadership
Fifth, new winners would fight for more land/power/money...

Sorry to give it away.

History of leaders and wars is boring and not very informative. Questions like: how did the average person live in... what role did the explication of resources play in history....were civilization that rule by blood over merit ultimately doomed... seem more informative approaches to learn the history of humans

Try books like the History of Salt, Guns Germs and Steel, Distant Mirror, History of the Lower Danube. You learn about the common person, why they did the things they did, and what impact its had on us. As brother buc would probaly agree, all history should be taught like the tv show "Connections"

There is history written badly of all types, and well written history of the type you dismiss. Thucydides is the type you dismiss, but he makes for an incredibly compelling read, as does Gibbon, who is perhaps more the type of historian you endorse.

[GMO]

Life in a Medieval Village, by F & J Gies
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060920467/qid=1144887955/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-1068034-4982260?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[Buccaneer]

Try books like the History of Salt, Guns Germs and Steel, Distant Mirror, History of the Lower Danube. You learn about the common person, why they did the things they did, and what impact its had on us. As brother buc would probaly agree, all history should be taught like the tv show "Connections"

Yep. History of Salt, for example, is one of those vertical histories - a common theme spanning many eras and civilizations. While I have read many of these types of histories, they do tend to believe that their subject was the most important element affecting history (salt actually does come close but it always was and still a piece of a more complex puzzle - much like how today's oil will be viewed in the future). You are right in that history should be taught like Connections (the first series, not the trivialized subsequent series). That's why taking a theme (like any of the technologies of change) should be considered along with the breadth and chronology of eras and civilizations. Guns, Germs and Steel is another good example of this in that it takes more of a vertical theme (like biological factors) and how they influence the rise and fall of civilizations (among other things). Such a topic can apply to all civilizations in all eras, not just the ones that have been written about the most.

[Groundhog]

History of leaders and wars is boring and not very informative. Questions like: how did the average person live... what role did the exploitation of resources play in history....were civ's that rule by blood over merit ultimately doomed... seem more informative approaches to learn the history of humans


Well, it depends. What I love about Sansom's histories of Japan is that he doesn't get bogged down in the never-ending battles and wars. Instead he focuses mainly on the cultural side of Japan's history, mentioning the more important battles and heroes where neccessary.

I do also enjoy reading military histories and books on particular battles, but only if it's to do with a time period or nation that I have a particular interest. I would happily read through a 300 page book on the battle of Sekigahara yet would never get past 20 pages on a book on the American civil war, for example.

[Buccaneer]

yet would never get past 20 pages on a book on the American civil war, for example.

2nd quickest way to get on my Ignore List. :)

[Groundhog]

2nd quickest way to get on my Ignore List. :)

Ok, you've got me curious now... what's the 1st quickest? :)

[Mac Howard]

A book I read again and again and also use constantly to advise of more detailed study is Russell's "History of Western Philosophy". It covers the evolution of western thought (and a little of eastern thought where it has an impact) over the last 5000 years or so up to midway through the 20 century. Not only are its 800 pages packed with incredible ideas, integrating the development of thought with the social and historical conditions in which they existed, but it gives a structure to your studies that can be lost when going straight into detailed history.

I recommend it highly. It's very readable, often humourous and far and away the most informative book I've ever read.

[WSUCougar]

Ok, you've got me curious now... what's the 1st quickest? :)
Be an outspoken proponent of "athletical" QBs. :D

[sabotai]

bump

Updated list, added some of the suggested books (some suggestions were just too specific or broad, or the books were out of print) and some more topics.

[ISiddiqui]

Be an outspoken proponent of "athletical" QBs. :D

Hey, Bucc still talks to me, so that can't be it! ;)

[biological warrior]

I have a question about Shelby Foote's ''Stars in their courses'': Isnt the book a chapter of one of his civil war narrative?

[moriarty]

A decent, but not great, book which covers WWI end to end (overview) is The First World War by John Keegan.

For Nazi history (might be a little too detailed for your wants), you can't do better IMO than The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich : A History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer.

[WSUCougar]

I have a question about Shelby Foote's ''Stars in their courses'': Isnt the book a chapter of one of his civil war narrative?
Yes, I believe that's correct.

[biological warrior]

Can anyone recommend any books on US imperialism (and the naval arms race) from the 1890's-1920's? I've been really drawn into this era in US history as of late because of my History of US foreign relations to the 1920s class.

[DaddyTorgo]

Can anyone recommend any books on US imperialism (and the naval arms race) from the 1890's-1920's? I've been really drawn into this era in US history as of late because of my History of US foreign relations to the 1920s class.


i took a class similar to that. let me see if i can dig through my old "collection of primary sources" book to find stuff, or maybe i have a syllabi lying around.

[biological warrior]

i took a class similar to that. let me see if i can dig through my old "collection of primary sources" book to find stuff, or maybe i have a syllabi lying around.

Yeah, I used to hate those ''Major Problems of...'' (Primary Resource) stuff when I was an underclassman, but now as I got older I/ve appreciated them more than the textbook ''roadmaps.''

[DaddyTorgo]

Yeah, I used to hate those ''Major Problems of...'' Orimary Resource stuff when I was an underclassman, but now as I got older I/ve appreciated them more than the textbook ''roadmaps.''

that's EXACTLY what it is. "Major Problems in American Foreign Policy...blah blah year"

yeah. I never really appreciated how great they were till like junior/senior year.

shit...i need to go back to school. and on that vein...a new thread appears!

[biological warrior]

An updated list of history books read will be posted this weekend. im trying to compile a list that I have read (extensive,) and will be typed in the Chicago Style citation system (God Bless You Mrs. Turabian...wherever you are.)

[Thomkal]

Can anyone recommend any books on US imperialism (and the naval arms race) from the 1890's-1920's? I've been really drawn into this era in US history as of late because of my History of US foreign relations to the 1920s class.

I would probably start with this book which covers a much larger time period, then use the sources credited within for the time period and subjects you are looking for.

Forging of the American Empire: A History of American Imperialism from the Revolution to Vietnam by Sidney Lens, Shirley Lens, and introduction by Howard Zinn.

The original was published in 1974, updated in 2003.

[biological warrior]

Since I was honored with a citation, allow me return the favor and give you my brief review of Civil War literature. But since I quoted my fellow Civ War historian, I want to start by agree fully with his recommendation. I am critical of Foote's narrative but since you want to hear what to read, as oppose to what not to read, I'll let it go at that.

From my reading through your initial post, I fully understand wanting a more overview as oppose to more detailed views. For the Civil War, this basically means strategic vs tactical (which becomes similar to strategy and war games). I started off reading both levels because campaigns/major battles are interesting in of themselves, even without fully understanding its context. However, they can get bogged down, which would slow your quest down to learn about world history.

For the general history of the Civil War, you have several categories to choose from actually. There are those that talk about the war from beginning to end including what led up to it (horizontal histories), but also taking a specific theme and focusing on that in the context of the war and the time period (vertical histories). A slight variation on the beginning-to-end would be slanting it towards a particular viewpoint just to offer something different or a different interpretation.

Here's what I would recommend:

1. American Heritage The Civil War. This is the classic (from the 60s) that everyone has read or seen and it is still the best single volume overview of the Civil War. Being one of the American Heritage books, it is loaded with pictures and unique maps (that Sid Meier still raves about) but as a bonus, the text is written by Bruce Catton, still the best writer of the Civil War ever. I don't think this has become dated so it is a great place to start. (Incidently, I am an avid collector of those American Heritage books for I think they are a great introduction to many of the time periods and wars covered, better than any textbook I read or saw in school.)

2. Battle Cry of Freedom. Still the best single-volume (long) narrative of the war.

3. Drawn With the Sword, also by James McPherson. Here he provides his reflections on the Civil War while covering it all in a series of easy to read and interesting essays, including bringing it up to date more (this being mid-90s). The sections include Origins of the Civil War, The War and American Society, Why the North Won, The Enduring Lincoln and Historians and Their Audiences. The book is only about 250 pages long but every essay is concise and perfectly written.

Besides the Civil War, my other areas of expertise and interest in American History would include the American Revolution period, the "making of a nation" period (between the Rev and Civil War, which covers several topical areas), the California Gold Rush, Westward exploration and expansion, and general American history.

Agreed on all points. Might I also add:
Trudeau's Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage. Quite honestly one of the most organized and simply written book I've read. It chronicles Gthe Hour by Hour; the events leading to, during and the aftermath of the battle of Gettysburg. Lots of Maps, but lacks the illustrated drawings which populate the Sears Gettysburg.