I love historical books (particularly US history, but open to anything) that make me feel like I've learned something about a different time or major event, but I frankly don't have the patience for dry historical tomes. As much as I love nonfiction authors like Jon Krakauer, the books I've read by him have focused more on events that, while captivating, don't enhance my understanding of history too much. I loved One Summer: America 1927 by Bill Bryson, and am looking for a new recommendation.
by james517
17 Comments
Devil in the white city looks good. Reading it right now
The Woman Who Smashed Codes. Phenomenal!
Great choice, but you can choose anything by Erik Larson.
Empire of the Summer Moon. History of the Commanche Indians, the greatest plains horses culture ever.
Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England’s Kings and Queens by David Mitchell. Super entertaining!
Time Travelers Guide to Medieval England
They’re not “novelistic” necessarily but I really liked Alan Taylor’s books American Colonies, American Revolutions, and American Republics. They tell the fairly familiar story of American colonization, the American Revolution, and the early republic, but in more of a “widescreen” way taking into account more of the context. For example, the Colonies book is very focused on the nuanced politics of the Native nations and the ways it tied into the Great Power conflict in Europe, as well as the distinct slave societies in the Caribbean, and the ways all of that influenced the development of the USA.
I like these books because they’re full of good, interesting, counterintuitive stories that you don’t normally see represented. They’re not one big narrative, but they’re just full of cool “ground level” anecdotes.
Girt – David Hunt. History of early Australia and it is hilarious.
Alice Roberts has some great history/osteoarchaeology books
The Last Stand of Fox Company by Bob Drury. Read it aloud on a group roadtrip and everyone wanted to continue listening rather make our stops!
Anything by Mark Kurlansky.
Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky by Noam Chomsky
How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England by Ruth Goodman
Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
If you haven’t done Robert Caro’s LBJ series, then that your next 12 months sorted.
*1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed* is a short and fantastic book about the Sea People and their contribution the collapse of civilization. I learned so much from this book.
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
It reads like a fiction book with its narrative, following six defectors from North Korea. One of my favorites that I recommend to everyone.
**A short history a nearly everything**