History book recommendations?

[Briancuse]

Im sure libraries clearly are a great resource but given the situation, just buying off maybe amazon is best?

If you are an amazon prime member you can subscribe to their audible for cheap.

 

[billsin01]

I think you can't go wrong with any of the McCullough books. The ones on the Johnstown flood, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, the building of Panama Canal, and the story of the Wright Brothers were personal faves.

Yeah I really liked the pioneers as well about settling the Ohio territory. Find all of his books to be really engaging. I also liked Joseph Ellis’ founding brothers and the Truman biography as well. Arthur Herman’s reexamination of Joe McCarthy was really interesting. Not entirely of defense of his actions or character but a concerted attempt to provide an alternate look at what/who McCarthy was.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Yeah I really liked the pioneers as well about settling the Ohio territory. Find all of his books to be really engaging. I also liked Joseph Ellis’ founding brothers and the Truman biography as well. Arthur Herman’s reexamination of Joe McCarthy was really interesting. Not entirely of defense of his actions or character but a concerted attempt to provide an alternate look at what/who McCarthy was.

Ellis is good but his last book was too political for me.

That’s what I have the OT board for.

 

[billsin01]

Ellis is good but his last book was too political for me.

That’s what I have the OT board for.

Ha — I didn’t think we still had an OT board

 

[HOFCeluck]

Ha — I didn’t think we still had an OT board

it’s glorious

 

[OttoMets]

Yeah I really liked the pioneers as well about settling the Ohio territory. Find all of his books to be really engaging. I also liked Joseph Ellis’ founding brothers and the Truman biography as well. Arthur Herman’s reexamination of Joe McCarthy was really interesting. Not entirely of defense of his actions or character but a concerted attempt to provide an alternate look at what/who McCarthy was.

Ellis, good call. That's a must-read. A little dry, IIRC, but so informative.

 

[HoustonCuse]

In terms of pretty dense history but with some great side detail for context I’ll recommend The Making of the Atomic Bomb and Dark Sun both by Richard Rhodes.

For a smaller scale but page turner type, any of the WWII naval books by James Hornfischer. Neptune’s Inferno will make you feel like you are on a US warship slugging it out with a then superior Japanese Navy in the savage night battles at Guadalcanal. Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors will do the same only now you are aboard a hopelessly outmatched destroyer escort facing down the main battle line of the Japanese off Samar in the Philippines.

 

[moqui]

i highly recommend dierdre mcloskey's economic history, the "bourgeouis virtues" trilogy. it's an epic commitment, but read all 3

 

[Newhouser]

Max Hastings - Inferno World at War is an excellent WW II piece.

 

[CuseLegacy]

Not a book but the History channel is doing a 3 night mini series on Grant. Really good. Last night was the first night but part one will reair at 7pm tonight followed by part two at 9pm.

 

[Briancuse]

Not a book but the History channel is doing a 3 night mini series on Grant. Really good. Last night was the first night but part one will reair at 7pm tonight followed by part two at 9pm.

I dvred it really looking forward to watching it tonight.