20 Best Books For History Buffs (2023 Update)

Official u.s. edition with full color illustrations throughout.new york times bestsellera summer reading pick for president barack obama, bill gates, and mark zuckerberg from a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.” one hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited earth. yet today there is only one—homo sapiens. what happened to the others? and what may happen to us? most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but dr. yuval noah harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. from examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas.dr. harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. featuring 27 photographs, 6 maps, and 25 illustrations/diagrams, this provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate and is essential reading for aficionados of jared diamond, james gleick, matt ridley, robert wright, and sharon moalem.

"this is history on a grand scale, with a sweep and ambition that is rare… a proper historical epic of dazzling range and achievement." –william dalrymple, the guardian the epic history of the crossroads of the world–the meeting place of east and west and the birthplace of civilization it was on the silk roads that east and west first encountered each other through trade and conquest, leading to the spread of ideas, cultures and religions. from the rise and fall of empires to the spread of buddhism and the advent of christianity and islam, right up to the great wars of the twentieth century–this book shows how the fate of the west has always been inextricably linked to the east. peter frankopan realigns our understanding of the world, pointing us eastward. he vividly re-creates the emergence of the first cities in mesopotamia and the birth of empires in persia, rome and constantinople, as well as the depredations by the mongols, the transmission of the black death and the violent struggles over western imperialism. throughout the millennia, it was the appetite for foreign goods that brought east and west together, driving economies and the growth of nations. from the middle east and its political instability to china and its economic rise, the vast region stretching eastward from the balkans across the steppe and south asia has been thrust into the global spotlight in recent years.

One of the world’s most beloved writers and new york times bestselling author of a walk in the woods and the body takes his ultimate journey—into the most intriguing and intractable questions that science seeks to answer.in a walk in the woods, bill bryson trekked the appalachian trail—well, most of it. in a sunburned country, he confronted some of the most lethal wildlife australia has to offer. to that end, he has attached himself to a host of the world’s most advanced (and often obsessed) archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians, travelling to their offices, laboratories, and field camps. he has read (or tried to read) their books, pestered them with questions, apprenticed himself to their powerful minds. a short history of nearly everything is the record of this quest, and it is a sometimes profound, sometimes funny, and always supremely clear and entertaining adventure in the realms of human knowledge, as only bill bryson can render it. science has never been more involving or entertaining.

This brief history of america will span the earliest migrations to the present, reflecting paul s. boyer's interests in social, intellectual, and cultural history, including popular culture and religion. it will reflect his personal view of american history, in which a sense of paradox and irony loom large. while noting positive achievements—political, economic, social, and cultural—he will also discuss the united states's failures to live up to its oft-stated ideals; although america has figured in the world's imagination (and its own self-image) as a "land of opportunity" offering "liberty and justice for all," the reality has often fallen short. for example, the establishment of the north american colonies had very different meanings for colonists from the british isles and europe, for native peoples, and for enslaved africans brought against their will. the late nineteenth century saw not only impressive industrial expansion and the creation of vast fortunes but also appalling conditions in urban-immigrant slums and a degraded, exploited labor force. the twentieth-century emergence of a suburban society of consumer abundance meant a better life for many and laid the groundwork for impressive cultural creativity, yet left behind crime-ridden inner cities and spawned a stultifying mass culture. the immigrants who have renewed and revitalized the nation have also stirred hostility and resentment. while american popular culture has demonstrated global appeal, the projection of u.s. military power abroad, from the philippines early in the twentieth century to iraq early in the twenty-first, has sometimes failed in its purpose and damaged the nation's international standing. although this book will not be a muckraking exposé or anachronistic moral tract, neither will it be a celebratory panegyric or a bland recital of facts. about the series: the very short introductions series from oxford university press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. these pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

A new, completely revised, expanded and updated edition of the million-selling new york times bestseller that launched the entire don't know much about series when don't know much about history first appeared thirteen years ago, it created a sensation. with humor, wit, great stories, and a trademark conversational style, the book brought americans a fresh new take on history. shattering myths and vividly bringing the past to life, it spent thirty-five consecutive weeks on the new york times bestseller list. davis proved that americans don't hate history — they just hate the dull textbook version they were force-fed in school. the book became an instant classic, an "anti -textbook" that has sold more than 1.3 million copies. in his irreverent and popular question-and- answer style, davis now returns with a completely revised edition that brings history right up to the moment — covering such topics as the end of the cold war, clinton's impeachment, the bizarre election of 2000, and the events that led to september 11. incorporating new research and discoveries, davis also updates and expands on such long-standing american controversies as the jefferson-hemings affair, the alger hiss trial, and the rosenberg spy case. and he includes an expanded "civics lesson" that examines some of america's hottest social and political issues, such as the death penalty, gun control, and school prayer. for history buffs and history-phobes alike, longtime fans who need a refresher course, and for a new generation of americans who are still in the dark about america's past, davis proves once more why people magazine said, "reading him is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had."

The ultimate work of historical reference – from cavemen to the cold war, from alexander the great to global warming, from warfare through the ages to the great voyages of exploration, the times complete history of the world is the book that has all the answers. – this is the most comprehensive, authoritative and accessible work on world history available today. it has sold over 2.25million copies and has been translated into 18 other languages since its first publication in 1978. with a narrative scope covering the origins of mankind right through to the turmoil of the 21st century, this book is an unrivalled and breathtaking accomplishment. – with over 600 full-colour maps and charts on a wide range of historical subjects and representing the work of a team of professional historians, this new edition continues a tradition of nearly thirty years of excellence, style, authority and cutting-edge design. this edition is also internet-linked. readers can follow the weblinks in the book to acess the most up to date information permitting further in-depth exploration of key subjects. – with fully up-to-date text, including material on iraq and afghanistan, terrorism, israel and the eu, this book, edited by leading modern historian professor richard overy, is broad-ranging and more visually enticing than ever. – updates for the eighth edition include: – new material on the united states – the most up-to-date research on prehistory – reworked spreads on the middle east, including a new spread on iran – current information on the global economy, the global environment, warfare and world terrorism – new introduction – short biographies of 100 key figures in world history.

Martin gilbert, author of the multivolume biography of winston churchill and other brilliant works of history, chronicles world events year by year, from the dawn of aviation to the flourishing technology age, taking us through world war i to the inauguration of franklin roosevelt as president of the united states and hider as chancellor of germany. he continues on to document wars in south africa, china, ethiopia, spain, korea, vietnam, and bosnia, as well as apartheid, the arms race, the moon landing, and the beginnings of the computer age, while interspersing the influence of art, literature, music, and religion throughout this vivid work. a rich, textured look at war, celebration, suffering, life, death, and renewal in the century gone by, this volume is nothing less than extraordinary.

Named one of the best books of the year by the new york times book review – the washington post – entertainment weekly – the seattle times – st. louis post-dispatch – bloomberg businessweekin this magnificent biography, the pulitzer prize–winning author of american lion and franklin and winston brings vividly to life an extraordinary man and his remarkable times. thomas jefferson: the art of power gives us jefferson the politician and president, a great and complex human being forever engaged in the wars of his era. philosophers think; politicians maneuver. jefferson’s genius was that he was both and could do both, often simultaneously. thomas jefferson hated confrontation, and yet his understanding of power and of human nature enabled him to move men and to marshal ideas, to learn from his mistakes, and to prevail. passionate about many things—women, his family, books, science, architecture, gardens, friends, monticello, and paris—jefferson loved america most, and he strove over and over again, despite fierce opposition, to realize his vision: the creation, survival, and success of popular government in america. jon meacham lets us see jefferson’s world as jefferson himself saw it, and to appreciate how jefferson found the means to endure and win in the face of rife partisan division, economic uncertainty, and external threat. drawing on archives in the united states, england, and france, as well as unpublished jefferson presidential papers, meacham presents jefferson as the most successful political leader of the early republic, and perhaps in all of american history. the father of the ideal of individual liberty, of the louisiana purchase, of the lewis and clark expedition, and of the settling of the west, jefferson recognized that the genius of humanity—and the genius of the new nation—lay in the possibility of progress, of discovering the undiscovered and seeking the unknown. from the writing of the declaration of independence to elegant dinners in paris and in the president’s house; from political maneuverings in the boardinghouses and legislative halls of philadelphia and new york to the infant capital on the potomac; from his complicated life at monticello, his breathtaking house and plantation in virginia, to the creation of the university of virginia, jefferson was central to the age. here too is the personal jefferson, a man of appetite, sensuality, and passion. the jefferson story resonates today not least because he led his nation through ferocious partisanship and cultural warfare amid economic change and external threats, and also because he embodies an eternal drama, the struggle of the leadership of a nation to achieve greatness in a difficult and confounding world.praise for thomas jefferson: the art of power “this is probably the best single-volume biography of jefferson ever written.”—gordon s. wood “a big, grand, absorbing exploration of not just jefferson and his role in history but also jefferson the man, humanized as never before.”—entertainment weekly“[meacham] captures who jefferson was, not just as a statesman but as a man. . . . by the end of the book . . . the reader is likely to feel as if he is losing a dear friend. . . . in these endlessly fascinating pages, jefferson emerges with such vitality that it seems as if he might still be alive today.”—doris kearns goodwin

The amazing book of history is a 704-page collection of hundreds of articles, lists, quotes, and anecdotes that explore a lively range of human history, from the ancient world to the recent past to pop culture. perfect for history buffs, trivia fans, and everyone with an interest in the past. looks at history from an anything-goes perspective, with nearly 300 dynamic tales of people, places, and events. topics include science, politics, the arts, war, medicine, sports, crime, food, historical figures, and more. learn about: the real-life explorers who created king kong. the teenager who invented television. nazi germany's secret baby farms. biological warfare secrets of the ancient world. the racy true story of the barbie doll. the development of american hot rod culture. a brief history of underwear. the food obsessions of ancient rome.

A lively and engaging narrative history showing the common threads in the cultures that gave birth to our own.this is the first volume in a bold series that tells the stories of all peoples, connecting historical events from europe to the middle east to the far coast of china, while still giving weight to the characteristics of each country. susan wise bauer provides both sweeping scope and vivid attention to the individual lives that give flesh to abstract assertions about human history. dozens of maps provide a clear geography of great events, while timelines give the reader an ongoing sense of the passage of years and cultural interconnection. this old-fashioned narrative history employs the methods of “history from beneath”—literature, epic traditions, private letters and accounts—to connect kings and leaders with the lives of those they ruled.

Named one of the ten best books of the year by the chicago tribune – a publishers weekly best book of 2019 | a 2019 npr staff pick – a pathbreaking history of the united states’ overseas possessions and the true meaning of its empire but what about the actual territories—the islands, atolls, and archipelagos—this country has governed and inhabited? in crackling, fast-paced prose, he reveals forgotten episodes that cast american history in a new light. in puerto rico, immerwahr shows how u.s. doctors conducted grisly experiments they would never have conducted on the mainland and charts the emergence of independence fighters who would shoot up the u.s. congress. – in the years after world war ii, immerwahr notes, the united states moved away from colonialism. instead, it put innovations in electronics, transportation, and culture to use, devising a new sort of influence that did not require the control of colonies. rich with absorbing vignettes, full of surprises, and driven by an original conception of what empire and globalization mean today, how to hide an empire is a major and compulsively readable work of history.

"a wonderful, splendid book–a book that should be ready by every american, student or otherwise, who wants to understand his country, its true history, and its hope for the future." –howard fastwith a new introduction by anthony arnove, this edition of the classic national bestseller chronicles american history from the bottom up, throwing out the official narrative taught in schools—with its emphasis on great men in high places—to focus on the street, the home and the workplace.known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, a people's history of the united states is the only volume to tell america's story from the point of view of—and in the words of—america's women, factory workers, african-americans, native americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. as historian howard zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles—the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality—were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance.covering christopher columbus's arrival through president clinton's first term, a people's history of the united states features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history.

New york times bestsellerthe most complete portrait ever drawn of the complex emotional connection between two of history’s towering leaders franklin roosevelt and winston churchill were the greatest leaders of “the greatest generation.” in franklin and winston, jon meacham explores the fascinating relationship between the two men who piloted the free world to victory in world war ii. it was a crucial friendship, and a unique one—a president and a prime minister spending enormous amounts of time together (113 days during the war) and exchanging nearly two thousand messages. amid cocktails, cigarettes, and cigars, they met, often secretly, in places as far-flung as washington, hyde park, casablanca, and teheran, talking to each other of war, politics, the burden of command, their health, their wives, and their children. born in the nineteenth century and molders of the twentieth and twenty-first, roosevelt and churchill had much in common. sons of the elite, students of history, politicians of the first rank, they savored power. in their own time both men were underestimated, dismissed as arrogant, and faced skeptics and haters in their own nations—yet both magnificently rose to the central challenges of the twentieth century. theirs was a kind of love story, with an emotional churchill courting an elusive roosevelt. the british prime minister, who rallied his nation in its darkest hour, standing alone against adolf hitler, was always somewhat insecure about his place in fdr’s affections—which was the way roosevelt wanted it. a man of secrets, fdr liked to keep people off balance, including his wife, eleanor, his white house aides—and winston churchill. confronting tyranny and terror, roosevelt and churchill built a victorious alliance amid cataclysmic events and occasionally conflicting interests. franklin and winston is also the story of their marriages and their families, two clans caught up in the most sweeping global conflict in history. meacham’s new sources—including unpublished letters of fdr’ s great secret love, lucy mercer rutherfurd, the papers of pamela churchill harriman, and interviews with the few surviving people who were in fdr and churchill’s joint company—shed fresh light on the characters of both men as he engagingly chronicles the hours in which they decided the course of the struggle. hitler brought them together; later in the war, they drifted apart, but even in the autumn of their alliance, the pull of affection was always there. charting the personal drama behind the discussions of strategy and statecraft, meacham has written the definitive account of the most remarkable friendship of the modern age.

Finalist for the pulitzer prize – winner of the council on foreign relations arthur ross book award – one of the new york times' ten best books of the year“impressive . . . mr. judt writes with enormous authority.” —the wall street journal“magisterial . . . it is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive, authoritative, and yes, readable postwar history.” —the boston globealmost a decade in the making, this much-anticipated grand history of postwar europe from one of the world's most esteemed historians and intellectuals is a singular achievement. postwar is the first modern history that covers all of europe, both east and west, drawing on research in six languages to sweep readers through thirty-four nations and sixty years of political and cultural change-all in one integrated, enthralling narrative. both intellectually ambitious and compelling to read, thrilling in its scope and delightful in its small details, postwar is a rare joy. judt's book, ill fares the land, republished in 2021 featuring a new preface by bestselling author of between the world and me and the water dancer, ta-nehisi coates.

Official u.s. edition with full color illustrations throughout. – new york times bestseller yuval noah harari, author of the critically-acclaimed new york times bestseller and international phenomenon sapiens, returns with an equally original, compelling, and provocative book, turning his focus toward humanity’s future, and our quest to upgrade humans into gods. – over the past century humankind has managed to do the impossible and rein in famine, plague, and war. this may seem hard to accept, but, as harari explains in his trademark style—thorough, yet riveting—famine, plague and war have been transformed from incomprehensible and uncontrollable forces of nature into manageable challenges. for the first time ever, more people die from eating too much than from eating too little; more people die from old age than from infectious diseases; and more people commit suicide than are killed by soldiers, terrorists and criminals put together. the average american is a thousand times more likely to die from binging at mc – donalds than from being blown up by al qaeda. – what then will replace famine, plague, and war at the top of the human agenda? homo deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century—from overcoming death to creating artificial life. this is the next stage of evolution. this is homo deus. – with the same insight and clarity that made sapiens an international hit and a new york times bestseller, harari maps out our future.

The first truly global history of work, an upbeat assessment from the age of the hunter-gatherer to the present day "beginning in the hunting-and-gathering past, this long view of work shows how little has changed over millennia. progressing through the rise of cities, wages and markets for labour, it traces a perennial cycle of injustice and resistance–and the age-old desire for more."–the economist, "best books of 2021" "absolutely fascinating. . . . jan lucassen provides an inclusive history of humanity's busy labor throughout the ages. spanning china, india, africa, the americas, and europe, lucassen looks at the ways in which humanity organizes work: in the household, the tribe, the city, and the state. he examines how labor is split between men, women, and children; the watershed moment of the invention of money; the collective action of workers; and the impact of migration, slavery, and the idea of leisure.

Did you know that neither hitler nor stalin graduated from high school? or that the allies often employed teenage girls as spies? flagel leaves no stone unturned as he presents dozens of top ten lists that examine the politics, leaders, and battles of the second world war. from hitler to stalin, battleground to home front, flagel's compelling analysis and attention to often-overlooked information ensures a surprise on every page for even the most dedicated world war ii buff. this fresh, impossible-to-put-down book puts a new perspective on one of the most heavily researched wars of all time and is sue to enthrall expert and amateur historians alike. – do you think you know world war ii? top ten speeches – top ten causes of military deaths – top ten most popular myths and misconceptions – top ten forms of resistance – top ten military blunders

A sweeping, magisterial biography of the man generally considered the greatest president of the twentieth century, admired by democrats and republicans alike. traitor to his class sheds new light on fdr's formative years, his remarkable willingness to champion the concerns of the poor and disenfranchised, his combination of political genius, firm leadership, and matchless diplomacy in saving democracy in america during the great depression and the american cause of freedom in world war ii. drawing on archival materials, public speeches, personal correspondence, and accounts by family and close associates, acclaimed bestselling historian and biographer h.w. brands offers a compelling and intimate portrait of roosevelt's life and career. brands explores the powerful influence of fdr's dominating mother and the often tense and always unusual partnership between fdr and his wife, eleanor, and her indispensable contributions to his presidency. most of all, the book traces in breathtaking detail fdr's revolutionary efforts with his new deal legislation to transform the american political economy in order to save it, his forceful–and cagey–leadership before and during world war ii, and his lasting legacy in creating the foundations of the postwar international order. traitor to his class brilliantly captures the qualities that have made fdr a beloved figure to millions of americans.

A sweeping, magisterial biography of the man generally considered the greatest president of the twentieth century, admired by democrats and republicans alike. traitor to his class sheds new light on fdr's formative years, his remarkable willingness to champion the concerns of the poor and disenfranchised, his combination of political genius, firm leadership, and matchless diplomacy in saving democracy in america during the great depression and the american cause of freedom in world war ii. drawing on archival materials, public speeches, personal correspondence, and accounts by family and close associates, acclaimed bestselling historian and biographer h.w. brands offers a compelling and intimate portrait of roosevelt's life and career. brands explores the powerful influence of fdr's dominating mother and the often tense and always unusual partnership between fdr and his wife, eleanor, and her indispensable contributions to his presidency. most of all, the book traces in breathtaking detail fdr's revolutionary efforts with his new deal legislation to transform the american political economy in order to save it, his forceful–and cagey–leadership before and during world war ii, and his lasting legacy in creating the foundations of the postwar international order. traitor to his class brilliantly captures the qualities that have made fdr a beloved figure to millions of americans.

From the evolution of homo sapiens to the exploration of space, the vast landscape of human history appears in j.m. deftly written and evocatively illustrated, this book offers an outstanding one-volume survey of the major events, developments, and personalitiesof the known past. in a truly remarkable work of compression and synthesis, roberts sweeps through thousands of years of history, weaving the stories of empires, arts, religion, economics, and science into his lucid narrative. beginning with the early hominids, he swiftly and authoritatively brings the story upthrough the emergence of mesopotamian civilizations and ancient egypt. here, too, is comprehensive coverage of the indian and chinese civilizations ("for two and a half thousand years," he points out, "there has been a chinese nation using a chinese language"), as well as developments in africa andsouth america. aided by photographs of key archaelogical finds (such as monumental egyptian statues, peruvian medallions, and celtic jewelry), roberts clearly explains the early arts, engineering, and religion. he also carefully ties in changing economics–such as trade routes and developments inagriculture and manufacturing–making clear their importance for the history of politics and changing societies. the story leaps ahead, through the roman empire, the explosive arrival of islam, the rise and fall of samurai rule in japan, the medieval kingdoms of sub-saharan africa, the mongolconquests, and the early modern expansion of europe across the globe. american independence, the french revolution, the colonial empires, japan's startling modernization, and the world wars follow in turn, accompanied by discussions of scientific and technical breakthroughs. with informative maps, photographs, and reproductions of important artwork (some in full color), roberts clearly explains the impact of the key individuals and the major influences on history the world over, down to the era of an integrated global economy and the fall of the u.s.s.r. vividlywritten and beautifull illustrated, history of the world offers the finest, most readable one-volume survey available today.