[Zeno]

Anthologies can be an excellent introduction to history so I'll recommend Readings in the Classical Historians by Michael Grant. You will get the flavor of a large number of history writers and a large variety of themes.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer is worthy of reading.

Since I've recommend the follow book a few times in other forums, I'll mention it here also as an excellent read about recent History, and so much more, that becomes more and more relavent every day: Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45 , by Barbara W. Tuchman. First-rate read.

-Zeno