Essential History: The Best Books for History Buffs
History helps us develop a better understanding of the events that have shaped the world around us and make sense of the present. As a subject that enables us to gain insight into the rise and fall of civilizations and to learn how society, technology, religion, literature, and science have evolved over the centuries, reading history is indispensable. Whether it's a keen interest in a particular epoch or event or a general love for the past, all of us like to dabble in a little history reading from time to time; for this precise reason, we've put together a list of five books to quench the thirst of the history buff inside you.
1. The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman
The Great War, now known as World War I, was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history, claiming nine million combatant and seven million civilian lives. In The Guns of August, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barabara Tuchman describes the events that led to the outbreak of the war. With acerbic wit, exquisite detail, and an ability to bring the past to life, Tuchman surveys the events and the fatal errors of judgment that resulted in the four-year war, a global cataclysm that changed the course of history. The title of the book refers to August 1914, the fateful month when the active conflict began; with the war now 100 years behind us, it is both intriguing and unsettling to realize how easily this disaster could have been avoided.
2. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond
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Guns, Germs, and Steel is an insightful history book by Jared Diamond, professor of geography and physiology at the University of California. In this Pulitzer winning book, Diamond examines the evolution of human societies, arguing that it is geography and environment, and not race or intelligence, that established the supremacy of some civilizations over others. Explaining that gaps in power and technology between human societies, Diamond refutes that supremacy has anything to do with race or intelligence, showing how these differences are rooted in environmental and geographical factors. Instrumental in understanding the disparities of wealth and progress in the modern world, Guns, Germs, and Steel is an eye-opening account of the rise and fall of human civilizations.
3. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard
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SPQR stands for the phrase "Senatus Populusque Romanus," meaning "The Senate and People of Rome." Written in 2015 by English author Mary Beard, this is a highly informative book that became an instant bestseller and was nominated for several awards the same year. In SPQR, Mary Beard carries out a detailed examination of one of the most important epochs in Western history, i.e., the first millennium of ancient Rome. A book of remarkable breadth and scope, it studies the lives of the citizens of ancient Rome, the plebs and the patricians, and reveals how a small 8th-century village, coming from humble beginnings, rose to become the undisputed hegemon of the Mediterranean. As a rational skeptic, Beard's writing is engaging and takes an inquisitive, probing look at the period, distinguishing myths from facts and giving us a truer insight into life during that period.
4. Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson
Beginning in 1861, the Civil War was a watershed moment in the history of the United States. One of the most studied and written about episodes in U.S history, the four-year conflict transformed the nation, resulted in the emancipation of slaves, and has played a pivotal role in shaping modern-day America, as well as its public memory and identity. Battle Cry of Freedom covers the social, military, and political events of the period, the events that led to the buildup of hostilities, the major battles, the strategic maneuvering on both sides, as well as the far-reaching consequences on American life in the aftermath of the war. Truly illuminating, this tome is one of the most extensively researched and comprehensive single-volume books on the subject, one that is crucial for understanding American history.
5. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford
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This thoroughly researched book is a historical account of the life of Genghis Khan, the founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. One of the largest and most powerful empires the world has seen, the Mongol Empire covered 9.15 million square miles of land, more than 16% of the earth's landmass, and had 110 million citizens, more than 25% of the world's population between 1270 and 1309. Surveying both his brutality and his tactical brilliance, the book dives into the large scale civilian massacres, devastating wars, and his relentless campaign for expansion, without ignoring the progressive reforms he made, such as expanding trade, unifying the tribes of Northeast Asia, and providing religious freedom to all, leaving the reader to decide whether Genghis Khan was a great king or a genocidal tyrant.
