|
Levitate posted:What are some good books to start with a general overview of ancient/classical history (Greek, Roman)? The general classic when I was growing up was Edith Hamilton's The Greek Way. It may be outdated by now though. http://www.amazon.com/The-Greek-Way-Edith-Hamilton/dp/0393310779
|
#
¿
Apr 2, 2012 21:47
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ May 2, 2024 14:14 |
|
|
Bagheera posted:So far I've only read the introduction, but it really puts Geghis Khan on a pedestal. It relates how he built massive road systems, enacted religious tolerance, banned torture (?), and joined disparate cultures that have never met before. The introduction makes no mention of the Mongols' slaughtering entire cities; in fact, it barely mentions the military aspect of Genghis' life. Some choice quotes from the introduction: It's a really interesting book in that it's basically a popular-audience version of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_History_of_the_Mongols . The downside is that, yeah, it's unashamedly pro-mongol.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 4, 2014 21:52
|
|
|
Tekopo posted:The Great Game: On Secret Service in High Asia (Peter Hopkirk): Felt ever so slightly biased towards the British and even without condemning the Russians directly the entire book seemed to always drive the narrative towards the side of the British. Was also paced slightly weirdly, with some events skimmed over while others seemed to have an unnecessary level of detail, especially when describing the travels of British adventurers. I've come this close to ordering this book several times but never pulled the trigger -- usually every time I read Kipling I think about it. How long a period does it cover and how comprehensive is it?
|
|
#
¿
Mar 18, 2014 21:16
|
|
|
barkingclam posted:I've been on a huge biography kick lately, reading all of Robert Caro's LBJ books (I'm about halfway through Master of the Senate; it's easily my favourite one so far) and I'm wondering if there's any other presidential biographies at about the same level: not fluff pieces, not ghostwritten autobiographies (like Reagan's awful memoir), but something along the lines of Caro's books or Richard Ben Cramer's What It Takes. I haven't read Caro's books but William Morris's three volume biography of Theodore Roosevelt seems to be pretty universally praised.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 2, 2014 19:45
|
|
|
Does anyone have good suggestions for a history-related Book of the Month selection? Right now I'm thinking of including People's History of the United States in next month's poll but other suggestions would be good, especially since the ones I've been suggesting on my own (1491, etc.) don't seem to get many votes.
|
|
#
¿
Apr 17, 2014 18:30
|
|
|
vyelkin posted:Have you ever done King Leopold's Ghost? It's historical and also a hugely important book for its impact on how people think of colonialism. It's depressing as poo poo though. I'll try to put it on the poll next month or the month after presuming I remember (feel free to remind me!)
|
|
#
¿
Apr 29, 2014 16:10
|
|
|
Any suggestions for the BotM poll? Right now I'm leaning towards The Black Count because it was pretty awesome
|
|
#
¿
Oct 28, 2015 00:55
|
|
|
Trier posted:I'm currently reading The Blackest Streets by Sarah Wise I've been meaning to read these two books because someone I can't remember recommended them: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006C0D72/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=19HZY9DR8MKGA&coliid=I2VGFFGDVB38J1 http://www.amazon.com/dp/1568525753/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=19HZY9DR8MKGA&coliid=I1X17T2TBAE9DJ
|
|
#
¿
Nov 21, 2015 15:37
|
|
|
I haven't checked this thread in a while because apparently you're all wonderful people who never use the report button Any thoughts on this title? https://www.amazon.com/October-Russian-Revolution-China-Mi%C3%A9ville/dp/1784782777 It's a topic I'd like to read more about but, well, Mieville is not exactly a historian
|
|
#
¿
Sep 8, 2018 19:10
|
|
|
chernobyl kinsman posted:any recommendations for books on everyday life in the USSR? There was one just mentioned in the "identify this book" thread but it was about immediately pre-Fall USSR
|
|
#
¿
Oct 25, 2018 20:40
|
|
|
A human heart posted:oh so nuns being decapitated is supposed to be bad now?? Makes it harder to put the Devil in Hell unless, of course, you're into that
|
|
#
¿
Oct 31, 2018 01:05
|
|
|
Ras Het posted:What should I read on the French revolution if https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2507/liberte Just replay it over and over again until you get the French Revolution you prefer
|
|
#
¿
Oct 31, 2018 17:53
|
|
|
xcheopis posted:Massie's "Peter the Great" is one of my favourite biographies. I need to re-read that, last time was like thirty years ago. Are Massie's other works better or worse?
|
|
#
¿
Jan 4, 2019 16:41
|
|
|
OscarDiggs posted:My younger brother has been on a bit of a History bent for the last two weeks, and has been asking me for recommendations. Right now he is looking for something "like with Aztecs and poo poo" in his own words. So, can the thread recommend any decent history texts for the layman, especially around the Mexican area? How old is he? I'm kinda drawing a blank between Cartoon History of the Universe at the young end and 1491 at the more adult end.
|
|
#
¿
Jan 16, 2019 03:50
|
|
|
Lewd Mangabey posted:Glad you found a recommendation that fits what you were looking for, but let me add another vote for 1491 as an eye-opening, accessible popular history book for a young person looking to read about cool history poo poo and hopefully spark an interest in further reading. I put this in the Book of the Month poll since it seemed to be a consensus pick (and I liked it when I read it). Go vote for it if you want it to win!
|
|
#
¿
Jan 30, 2019 01:34
|
|
|
chernobyl kinsman posted:hieronymous make this botm it sounds badass Look you already voted for sex bear
|
|
#
¿
Jan 31, 2019 23:22
|
|
|
https://twitter.com/alloy_dr/status/1192589004232908801
|
|
#
¿
Nov 16, 2019 14:34
|
|
|
StrixNebulosa posted:Okay, weird request but I need something uplifting as I trudge through King Leopold's Ghost: are there any uplifting nonfiction books? I understand human history is a long train of people screwing each other over but surely there must be something cool to read about besides the space race. That's a tough one. A few options: 1) 1066 And All That -- funny history 2) The Burglary by Betty Mesdger -- the story of the burglary of FBI offices by private activists which revealed the COINTELPRO program; they were never caught, but Medsger was the journalist they talked to 3) The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe -- story of Ken Kesey and the birth of the hippie movement in the 1960's Other good options might be something like histories of the French Resistance in ww2, etc.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 16, 2019 15:10
|
|
|
Grand Fromage posted:Also tbh King Leopold's Ghost is one of the most depressing history books I can think of and it's normal to be bummed out after reading that. The Congo Free State is top level Yeah, I've considered it for BotM .ore than once when I was feeling perverse but never picked it for that reason.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 1, 2020 17:29
|
|
|
What's a good book or books on Reconstruction?
|
|
#
¿
Sep 4, 2021 18:37
|
|
|
Thanks!
|
|
#
¿
Sep 4, 2021 20:02
|
|
|
https://twitter.com/alloy_dr/status/1653514266266279936?s=20
|
|
#
¿
May 8, 2023 14:59
|
|
|
stereobreadsticks posted:Perhaps a bit of a long shot here but I'm willing to accept pretty much any recommendation, whether popular or academic, history, archaeology, or anthropology are all fine. I've been curious about the indigenous peoples of southern South America. Obviously there are plenty of English language sources for the major Andean cultures, and there are also a decent amount of books on Amazonian cultures as well, but I haven't seen many sources for the Southern Cone, so how about it? Any books in English about the non-Andean indigenous peoples of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil? 1491 is the first thing I'd think of. Not quite on point but covers some of the ground.
|
|
#
¿
Jul 11, 2023 03:33
|
|
|
Gripweed posted:I’m reading Six Frigates. It’s extremely good. I’m not going to let this turn me into a boat guy. If you're reading Six Frigates at all, and don't want to be a boat guy, I have bad news
|
|
#
¿
Jan 5, 2024 03:10
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ May 2, 2024 14:14 |
|
|
Foreskin Problems posted:Would anyone be able to recommend a biography of Theodore Roosevelt? The three volume one by Edmund Morris. Starts with Theodore Rising. Excellent if a bit hagiographic.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 21, 2024 17:45
|
|