Recommend me some good historical reading

[Jay Riall]

Ok, so I've just applied to several universities to study a History degree. I have a decent basic knowledge of lots of history, but thats about it. I would like to get back into the habit of reading and try and widen my historical knowledge in general before I go next September.

So recommend me some books. Nothing too heavy or specific - I'm looking for books like 'The American Civil War' - i.e. not books that are focusing on a very narrow topic or assume lots of prior knowledge of the period.

I have been told 'Stalingrad' is an excellent book, and would fit my criteria a lot. Confirm/deny?

[Keyser.]

I believe this book is still considered the standard for Civil War books: http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Cry-Freedom...9136571-2756460

Although good luck getting through it. Unless you're realllly interested in the subject, (I wasn't when I had to read it for school) it can be quite boring.

[Jay Riall]

Hmmm, if you were bored by it I'll probably give it a pass. I need something interesting and gripping so I don't just give up after the first 50 pages. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Also I'm not specifically after Civil War books, was just using that as an example.

[orange]

1776 was a great book.

guns, germs, and steel was okay.

[Jay Riall]

Great suggestion on 1776 - you know how I love the UK vs USA thing even if we do lose in this one [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]. I also know almost nothing about American History so this looks very interesting. Just ordered from Amazon.

[Kimbell175113]

The Killer Angels
http://www.amazon.com/Killer-Angels-.../dp/0345348109

Pulitzer Prize winner, fiction-style account of the battle of Gettysburg and its greatest personalities. (Very very not boring, btw.)

[Phat Mack]

A general American History that I enjoyed:

Freedom Just Around the Corner : A New American History: 1585-1828 by Walter McDougall was a good read with an interesting perspective.

War and Peace in the Middle East: A Concise History by Avi Shlaim is, I believe, a well written and balanced account.

A History of Card Games by David Parlett is probably an example of what you said you didn't want: a narrow subject. But hey, this is a poker board and it's a fascinating book! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[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

[OrigamiSensei]

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

[/ QUOTE ]
A fantastic and insightful book that I finally read to completion a few months ago. I never quite understood how Hitler got into power until I read it. But man, is it heavy going at times.

[DoubleDealDecker]

'The Killer Angels' by Michael Shaara. It won the Pulitzer for
Fiction in 1975. The book follows the thoughts of several of the commanders at Gettysburg. Based on fact, it is a must read
for anyone interested in history.