# Recommend a good history book **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2004, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399 "2004-09-14T12:34:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/1 "2004-09-14T12:34:12Z")
For some time, I’ve been interested in the way that historic events affected the lives of the average person. We’re all taught to memorize key dates in history, who declared war on whom, why certain groups of people made their mass exodus. In my Public School History classes, there was very little mention of how Joe Blow’s existence was altered by major (or not so major) decisions by the government, the social climate, or the economy. If personal anecdotes had been included in the curriculum, I would have been more excited to learn. A conversation with my grandmother about her experiences while my grandpa was stationed in the Pacific during WWII prompted me to start a search for reading material. In searching Barnes & Noble’s website, the only book I’ve found that fits my criteria is An Album of Memories by Tom Brokaw. While I’m interested in the WWII era, I’d also like to read about Prohibition, the Depression, the racial equality movement, etc. Any suggestions? PS Sorry for such a long OP for simple subject matter. ---
**Author:** ![aegypt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@aegypt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aegypt)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/2 "2004-09-14T14:06:47Z")
How about some slightly older history? “A distant mirror”, by Barbara Tuchman, is a great book that captures real life in the 14th century. It’s beutifully written and is quite a page-turner! ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/3 "2004-09-14T14:37:09Z")
I agree with you about how history is taught. On the first day of class, my American History teacher wrote “1492” on the blackboard and stated that it was the only date we would need to know; from that point onward we dealt with what motivated people and nations to act as they did. That’s how history should be taught, IMHO. Texas is a funny subject; people either love the state or they hate it. Lone Star, by T. R. R. Fehrenbach, covers the story of the people who lived here from the dawn of history to the present, focusing on the three-way battle for posession in the Nineteenth Century. It is told from an Anglo perspective and pays homage to the legends that pass for history around here, but both of these are understandable as one almost has to pick a side when telling the story and the legends have influenced how the state has grown, possibly moreso than any facts. In any case, it’s accurate and it’s a heckuva fun book to read. I even recommend it to people looking for a Western novel. ---
**Author:** ![Lao\_Tsu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lao\_Tsu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lao_Tsu)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/4 "2004-09-14T14:50:25Z")
One of the best social history books I’ve ever read regarding WWII is **War Without Mercy** by John Dower. Only 10 bucks on Amazon. Here’s a link. [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0394751728/qid=1095173214/sr=ka-1/ref=pd\_ka\_1/104-2224468-1423966](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0394751728/qid=1095173214/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-2224468-1423966) ---
**Author:** ![aegypt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@aegypt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aegypt)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/5 "2004-09-14T14:54:28Z")
Or “Gangs of New York”, by Herbert Asbury - the 1927 book that inspired the movie? It’s not a novel, but a really gritty and entertaining account of the New York underworld and slums in the 19th century. It will surprise you. ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/6 "2004-09-14T16:38:41Z")
Oooh, excellent suggestions everyone! Thanks so much! I’ll be making a list 🙂 **aegypt** , I saw _Gangs of New Yor_k. I happily immersed myself in the slang, the dress and even the brutality of it. I will definitely look into the book. And about A Distant Mirror: There’s just something that fascinates me about the Plague. Morbid curiosity, I suppose. **cornflakes,** I’ll put your book on my list. But as far as state history goes, I think I should first be loyal to my own home state, Missouri. Well, specifically the Kansas City area. Rest assured, I’ll get down to Texas. 😉 And your history teacher sounds like my kind of guy. My American History teacher in college hooked me by saying that during the Depression people grew their own produce, baked their own bread and choked their own chickens… hehehehe. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one in class who nearly busted out laughing. **Lao Tsu** , that one looks very interesting… and that’s exactly the kind of history I’m looking for- what they don’t mention in school. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Aitara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aitara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aitara)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/7 "2004-09-15T01:55:41Z")
You might enjoy Studs Terkel’s oral histories. Two that immediately come to mind are: [The Good War: An Oral History of World War II](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1565843436/qid=1095207890/sr=8-2/ref=pd_cps_2/104-2394348-2515126?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) [Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1565846567/qid=1095207890/sr=8-3/ref=pd_cps_3/104-2394348-2515126?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) One other that I would recommend is [Fire from Heaven: Life in an English Town in the Seventeenth Century](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0300059906/qid=1095210651/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-2394348-2515126?v=glance&s=books&n=507846). The fire in the refers the one that decimated Dorchester in 1613 and how that affected the people of the town. Many thought it was punishment. A very interesting account of the Puritans, many residents set sail for North America hoping to escape persecution in England. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/8 "2004-09-15T03:01:04Z")
I highly recommend [The Fifties](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0449909336/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_4/102-0678369-1085741) by David Halberstam. It’s a social, economic and political history which is not only informative but highly entertaining. It discusses cultural movements like the Civil Rights efforts as well as the Kinsey Report, which shocked America with its revelations about sexual habits. Birth control, television, _Peyton Place_, McCarthy and the Red Scare, Levittown, Betty Furness, and the H-Bomb are just a few more of the subjects included. It’s very readable, and I’d suggest it for anyone with an interest in modern history. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/9 "2004-09-15T03:04:14Z")
Anything by **Barbara Tuchman** is good. Or maybe you want to start at the beginning… **The Histories** by Herodotus It’s brilliant ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/10 "2004-09-15T03:40:51Z")
I _ **HIGHLY** _ recommend [_The Johnstown Flood_](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=mHu16BjzyO&isbn=0671207148&itm=1) by David McCullough. It possibly the best book I have read in my life. I can’t pick it up to glance through it whitout sitting down to reread the whole. It gives the history of the South Fork Dam, Johnstown, and what happened to many people afterwards. My Freshman history professor made it required reading. He was a great guy, would sing union mining songs in class, and generally did everything he could to make us feel what it was like to experience historical events. Wherever you are, Dr.Grossman, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/11 "2004-09-15T03:59:14Z")
Daniel Boorstin was a history professor and the Librarian of Congress. He had an amazingly wide range of interests. His book The Image : A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America started the notion of pseudo-events, events held just for media coverage without any real content. And we know where those went over the years. He did two major trilogies, although each book can be read separately. [The Americans, the Colonial Experience](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0394705130/qid=1095220434/sr=8-2/ref=pd_cps_2/104-0081104-4352756?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) [The Americans: The Democratic Experience](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0394710118/ref=pd_sim_books_1/104-0081104-4352756?v=glance&s=books) [The Americans: The National Experience](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0394703588/qid=1095220434/sr=8-4/ref=pd_ksr_4/104-0081104-4352756?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) and [The Discoverers: A History of Man’s Search to Know His World and Himself](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0394726251/qid=1095220434/sr=8-1/ref=pd_cps_1/104-0081104-4352756?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) [The Creators: A History of Heroes of the Imagination](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0679743758/ref=pd_sim_books_1/104-0081104-4352756?v=glance&s=books) [The Seekers: The Story of Man’s Continuing Quest to Understand His World](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0375704752/qid=1095220434/sr=8-3/ref=pd_ksr_3/104-0081104-4352756?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) Each book consists of short chapters on particular subjects or individuals and what they meant to history. You’ll never find better short introductions that provide depth and context all at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/12 "2004-09-15T05:16:22Z")
[http://www.biblio.com/books/4800062.html](http://www.biblio.com/books/4800062.html) Why They Behave Like Russians is an excellent book about post-WWII Soviet Russia. It was written in 1947 and covers everything from how the farm economy was run, to how the grocers operated, to how the government was set up, and right down to daily life for a Soviet citizen. It’s non-fiction and one of very few I’ve read that avoided judgement about Communism, but at the same time points out why the system was destined to fail. Remember, it was written in '47, before the “Red Scare”. It is almost eerie how prescient the author was in seeing future problems and conflicts. In one chapter he writes of how Russia was formed and talks about past invasions from the Mogol among others. He really makes it clear why Russia has a psyche of mistrust of other countries, and a desire to create buffers by invading other countries. It’s easy to see now why the Soviet Union acted the way they did, having 60 years of history to look at, but again, this was written in '47. It’s a great read and definatly not a boring, plodding history book. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/13 "2004-09-15T13:31:46Z")
My single favorite piece of writing is the intro to AGE OF EMPIRE by Eric Hobsbawm wherein he describes a couple of British kids meetin in England and what it leads to. The best single description of how history affects people and why it’s important. While the book itself isn’t what you’re looking for, it may be worth it to check out in the library or in the store and read that section. ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/14 "2004-09-15T14:44:48Z")
Wow! Thanks for all the suggestions! I’m so glad I finally started this thread. Let me look into my crystal ball… I see… Me… placing a call to the library to request a few books… Oh, I forgot about a book I read when I was about 12- Black Like Me. Perhaps I’ll revisit that one too. ---
**Author:** ![Nuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea666f/32.png) [@Nuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nuke)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/15 "2004-09-15T17:01:50Z")
I always like James Burke’s books: [Connections](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316116726/qid=1095267560/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/102-7867491-5382506?v=glance&s=books) [The Day the Universe Changed](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316117048/ref=pd_sim_books_1/102-7867491-5382506?v=glance&s=books) ---
**Author:** ![thermalribbon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@thermalribbon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thermalribbon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/16 "2004-09-15T18:42:00Z")
Agree that **Barbara Tuchman** is about as good a history writer that I’ve read. For a suggestion, try her book [The Guns of August](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/034538623X/ref=pd_sim_books_1/103-2884839-7379842?v=glance&s=books) about the months and years leading up to World War I. It was as great a learning experience that I’ve had reading a single book. For a second recommendation, try reading **Charles Van Doren’s** [History of Knowledge](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345373162/qid=1095273311/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/103-2884839-7379842) . (Yes, that Charles Van Doren). Very good, very readable, comprehensive study of human acheivement and advancement. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/17 "2004-09-15T22:28:18Z")
Huh, 3 votes for Tuchman, so far. Guess I’ll have to make it to the bookstore tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/18 "2004-09-15T23:41:21Z")
It may not be exactly what you’re looking for (not very anecdotal), but I’m just going to plug anything by Howard Zinn. Take it all with a grain of salt, as he proudl wears his bias on his sleeve, but I fully recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![haardvark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@haardvark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haardvark)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/19 "2004-09-15T23:54:50Z")
Getting back to the WWII pacific theme, John Toland’s “The Rising Sun” is excellent, if extremely detailed. Purists may howl, but one of my favourite overview books is still Isaac Asimov’s “History of the World”. I’ve read it cover to cover 2 or 3 times. ---
**Author:** ![Melandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Melandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melandry)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399/20 "2004-09-16T01:57:01Z")
The first book that came to my mind on reading the OP was [Japan at War: An Oral History](http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=1565840399&userid=of7qWZ3A0g&cds2Pid=946&pdf=y). I found this book to be a very powerful collection of recollections of the Japanese WWII generation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-history-book/264399.md?page=2)