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Good comprehensive history books
Over the summer I'd like to learn some history, does anyone have any strong recommendations? Not something too expansive or too specific, i.e. no "Complete US History" or "Andrew Jacksons 1st term." Just googling THIS looked interesting but would like to hear some more ideas, some non-US history would be great. Thanks
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#2
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Re: Good comprehensive history books
Guns, Germs and Steel
First published in the United States by W.W.Norton and Company, on March 1 1997, Guns, Germs and Steel was initially subtitled ‘The Fates of Human Societies.’ Within a few months, this subtitle had evolved into ‘A Short History of Everybody for the Last 13,000 Years.’ |
#3
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Re: Good comprehensive history books
WW2
Churchill's six volume "History of the Second World War" is an awesome read. |
#4
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Re: Good comprehensive history books
The March of Folly by Barbara Tuchman.
From Amazon: Twice a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, author Barbara Tuchman now tackles the pervasive presence of folly in governments through the ages. Defining folly as the pursuit by governments of policies contrary to their own interersts, despite the availability of feasible alternatives, Tuchman details four decisive turning points in history that illustrate the very heights of folly in government: the Trojan War, the breakup of the Holy See provoked by the Renaissance Popes, the loss of the American colonies by Britain's George III, and the United States' persistent folly in Vietnam. THE MARCH OF FOLLY brings the people, places, and events of history magnificently alive for today's reader. A great book when I read it about 10 years ago, it's even more relevant today. Guns, Germs, and Steel is also an excellent recommendation. |
#5
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Re: Good comprehensive history books
I really liked The Pencil which may be a bit too specific for you but covers a lot of ground in discussing one of the most ubiquitous of everyday objects.
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#6
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Re: Good comprehensive history books
US History .... Shelby Foote wrote a 3 volume set on the US Civil war .... very readable
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