10 Must-Read History Books

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[WillowTalksBooks]

This video occasionally attracts the odd cishet man (probably looking for Roman Empire stuff), and I’m sorry about that. Just try to ignore them and have a good time 💜

[sateiitenatural]

I think your channel might be my new favorite in terms of books🌟 I love how you give recommendations from a wide variery of places and perspectives. thank you!

[lissiav]

As someone who wants to get into reading and prefers non-fiction (especially historical non-fiction), these are some really interesting recommendations. Thanks.

[reneenoortman]

As a Dutchie, I love how many Dutch books you read! Most of them I haven't read and it's actually making me quite excited to read more in my own language again!

[StephanieJCohen]

Just added Human Kind to my TBR. Wild Swans is terrific!

[ChainsawCheese]

I read Killers of the Flower Moon this year and was totally blown away by both the storytelling and history. Looking forward to reading more of David Grann's books.

[davidwinkle]

A few more: 'To Hell and Back' by Ian Kershaw, a history of Europe from 1915 to 1949, and John Keay's single volume histories of India and China.

[vitareads]

These all sound so interesting!
I'd love to hear your audio narration, will have to check that out. 🖤

[mary-louisepoulin]

If you liked The Wager, you’d also enjoy River of the Gods by Candice Millard, the true story of two British explorers who set out to discover the source of the Nile. Their native guide, Bombay, is the real hero of the story; he kept them alive (barely) but of course got none of the glory. Fantastic book!

[loriskeist]

I really love this List. I came across it a couple months ago after reading Sapiens and have since then read most of these books and will read the rest. All of them have been amazing my favorite being wild swans. Funnily enough this list deserves credit for my new reading habits. I really appreciate that you made it.

[kimdaniel]

Great list! We just downloaded the audio for the Wager. My husband had already finished so now my turn. I will definitely check out some others on your list.

[blackswansss]

thank you so much for all these great recommendations!! I will definitely get and read some of these books!

[trinitymedina]

You have a beautiful voice I will be buying the audiobook you narrate. Also I just found your channel and really enjoy your recommendations and how you summarize them

[GentleReader]

As someone with a lot of pessimistic and nihilistic tendencies and depression on top of that, I immediately yoinked in a copy of Human Kind. I need that kind of challenge right now.

Have you read Kyle Harper? The Fate Of Rome is a fascinating study of the role of climate and disease in setting up the empire for challenges that eventually brought it down in the west. Plagues Upon The Earth expands the same kind of study onto the global scale. Really engaging.

There’s also an interview with him on the Toldinstone Footnotes channel.

Thanks for this list! I share your enthusiasm for all the ones I’ve read and now look forward to the others.

Oh, I also agree on the limits of male perspectives of history. For all my enthusiasm above for Kyle Harper, I’ve noticed in recent years how often the histories they most engage and persuade me are by women. Next year may be a year for me of reading only works by women and non-binary people, and oh wow is there no shortage of amazing books to read in history, archeology, anthropology, etc.

[davidwilliama.]

I just found your channel randomly last night (I found your video on an e-reader that was good for manga). I've never been a huge reader. I have enjoyed some books, but I mostly listen to audiobooks and read manga (which counts as reading to me).

I want to get into reading physical books more, but 1.) I am a slow reader (it takes me hours to get through a single chapter sometimes) and 2.) My house is not a good place to read for various reasons that I won't go into.

I am interested in some of these books so I'll try to get to some of them at some point. I want to learn some history.

The first one I'm getting is Wild Swans on audiobook because you said it was one of your favorites of all time and also because I'm somewhat interested in Chinese history. I don't know much about them, but they're a large portion of the world population and China also comes up in political discussions. A lot of our products are from China too. So, I want to learn something about their culture. Also, it's from the perspective of women and a lot of history is told from men's perspectives. I think it could be refreshing to hear from the women. It'll give a different view on things, maybe.

I think the next one I'll hopefully get is Human Kind because history is filled with terrible stuff and I'd like something a little more positive.

[jstamps]

I just watched your previous video on "Human Kind" which is powerful. I'm in need of that books message now. I want to share that kindness.
Many of these books are on my TBR Kindle lists. I like how you don't just talk about the most recent book releases, but put together these varied book genre lists including books written in other decades and centuries.
You are a terrific narrator of The LGBTQ+ History Book. Right up there with Maggie Gyllenhaal narrating The Bell Jar. Only more important to society.

[sylviakanel]

❤There you go being all hopeful again. Now I've got to get Humankind. That we thrive in cooperative relationship to others is a truth I've found only in the best psychology vlogs. An actual history of our kindness seems too good to be true! Thank you, thank you, thank you!❤

[ag]

You give the best book recs! Thank you!

[GSicKz]

what an interesting list thank you very much for this video!

[panikiczcock]

I need to get A Brief History of Japan!