History is Not Boring discussion

I think it needs to start with what you're interested in. History is a pretty broad topic! :D

You say 'our history' do you mean American history (had to take a sneak at your profile) or just in general?

I'm reading this one at the moment The War on Our Doorstep: London's East End and How the Blitz Changed it Forever which I just can't put down. It's mostly an oral history of the war years in London's East End. Absolutely fascinating!

So many history books can be a bit dry, I find ones based on oral history are the most fascinating because you get a glimpse into what people's lives were really like. That might be a place to start?

I find Tony Horwitz's books to be very compelling. A Voyage Long And Strange: Rediscovering The New World, looking at early explorers in America, is one of my favorites.

A Voyage Long and Strange is a great read. But where to start probably depends on what kind of history you're interested in.

What are you interested in? Do you have a favorite author, time period, subject, historically-based TV show, hobby such as sewing or quilting? I would start with popular history to begin with and then move up to scholarly history if you choose. I'm a 19th century American historian. I learned to love history through family stories and novels. I like novels with an author's note and bibliography in the back so I can locate sources.

Angell wrote: "Thank you all for replying! :)

I guess I can say I want to learn American History. It's embarrassing the things I don't know lol!

Once I know that, I think I would like to start "from the beginni..."

I really wouldn't recommend trying to learn all of history, any type of history books that are just an overview of world or national history tend to be very dry in my experience, just like a school textbook. If you didn't like history in school, you probably won't enjoy learning history this way either. In order to appreciate a dry textbook, you have to be very passionate about the subject matter, which usually means narrowing down the topic matter.

Well, if you want to start with American history, A Voyage Long and Strange is good. Let me think what else I've enjoyed in recent years.

Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, by James McPherson
Mornings on Horseback, by David McCullough (also his biographies of John Adams and Harry S Truman, The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge, and 1776)
Undaunted Courage: The Pioneering First Mission to Explore America's Wild Frontier, by Stephen Ambrose
Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America, by David Hackett Fisher
Nothing Like it in the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-69, by Stephen Ambrose
American Colonies: The Settling of North America, by Alan Taylor
Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War, by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Year of Decision 1846, by Bernard DeVoto

But a lot of it depends on what your specific interest is; American history is a big field!

And to add some snark, read "The Wordy Shipmates" by Sarah Vowell.

Mayflower is fabulous! I would start there. If I were you, I'd choose more popular history books- what's on the best seller lists and that kind of thing.

I loved Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation! I learned so much about the founders that I never imagined.

Angell wrote: "Thank you all for replying! :)

I guess I can say I want to learn American History. It's embarrassing the things I don't know lol!

Once I know that, I think I would like to start "from the beginni..."

What I do is pick a figure or event or period I know little or nothing about and then try and find some historical fiction on it. It gives you some context and really helps peak your interest. I find after that I can read historical books from the same period and comprehend them better.

When I was in high school, my history teacher recommend The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World Before the War, 1890-1914. I remember liking it a lot.

Oh, Barbara Tuchman is excellent.

VIII is a great book, it's sort of a YA historical book. It's all accurate, about Henry VIII and I loved it.

For world history I thought The Human Web: A Bird's-Eye View of World History was quite good overview.

Hi Angell,

I think topical stories and biographies are the most enjoyable. I agree with S.W. find something or someone you are interested in.

A few of my favorite authors.
David McCullough
Erik Larson
Laura Hillenbrand

Hi Angell,
I've only just begun to focus my reading on history and biography instead of fiction. One reason for this is that I've recently moved to the South and don't know as much about that part of the country as I need to in order to understand the people. So I'm looking at books that are not about the Civil War but about Reconstruction and the politics of that time when the South was rebuilding. This is giving me a much better understanding of current attitudes.

I also can't help but mention Small Moments: A Child's Memories of the Civil Right's Movement by Barrow. This is creative non-fiction about how the Civil Rights Movement affected one family, its children and caregiver. It may be of interest. And it is easy to read as it tells a story that weaves in the history

Angell, Please check out my list of books I own. I have a lot of history fiction and nonfiction on there. I am in the process of listing everything (over 5000) so it is updated daily.

My suggestion - go to youtube watch "crash course history" all episodes. It'll take a day. You ll know where to start and what to read after that.

Always remember history is not a matter of fact but of interpretation.Victor's history is very different to loser's history. There are many perspectives and a lot of disinformation. Historical novels often get nearer the truth than official records. If you are interested in a certain period or event read books from different authors with conflicting opinions. Then you will form your own judgement.

Hi Mary,
I really liked Democracy Reborn: The Fourteenth Amendment and the Fight for Equal Rights in Post-Civil War America by Garrett Epps, which covers how the 14th Amendment, in particular, was misapplied after the Civil War. I think one of the most famous historians of the period is probably Eric Foner, so check out his work.

Malcolm wrote: "Always remember history is not a matter of fact but of interpretation.Victor's history is very different to loser's history. There are many perspectives and a lot of disinformation. Historical nove..."

I can't remember was it one of those "crash course histories" but I have noticed that for example in many similar ones about WWII the events in Eastern Europe are not accurately portrayed at all. Not even a mention of the Soviet Union's actions. According to them, the war starts in 1941... (And I have been told that not even the history majors have ever heard of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact...)

I wouldn't be so sure about the historical novels, either. Of course some are good but it's difficult to say which are accurate. It might be difficult for a foreigner to understand the perspective of the people living in some other country.

It depends if you want very historical fiction that is only based on facts, or does it also have some myths mixed in, and also what time, like the stone age, 16th century or mid 19th century, and is it mostly about wars or leaders, how life was like, or sth else..?

Tytti, you are so right. For instance many in both the UK and the US do not realise that nearly ninety per cent of all German casualties were on the Eastern front and only a little over ten per cent in the West. In other words it was the Soviet Union which, having suffered vast losses from the Nazi onslaught, finally broke the back of the Wehrmacht. The Allied effort was dominant on the sea and in the air, but on land it was the Russians. The West is very ungracious, partly because the Soviet Union then subjected Eastern Europe to years of occupation on its own terms.

My own novel Hitler's First Lady reveals some of the intrigue about which we know nothing.

Malcolm wrote: "In other words it was the Soviet Union which, having suffered vast losses from the Nazi onslaught, finally broke the back of the Wehrmacht."

Well, 70 years and three days ago the Soviet Union launched the major offensive against Finland. Luckily we were able to cause some major losses to the Russians, too. Among those fighting against them (and side by side with Germans) was the whole Jewish population of Finland.

Tytti

Finland's defence against the Soviets is one of the heroic chapters of history and the poor performance of Stalin's forces undoubtedly made the Germans over confident in 1941. Nevertheless it does not alter the battlefield arithmetic after Barbarossa failed in its objective. Without the Soviet contribution the war would have been much more difficult to win for the West.

Malcolm wrote: "Nevertheless it does not alter the battlefield arithmetic after Barbarossa failed in its objective. Without the Soviet contribution the war would have been much more difficult to win for the West."

Well, I was talking about the perspective. The Allies (=the Soviet Union) weren't really the good guys in the East.

ETA: There is a memorial in Finland erected in 1994 for the Detachment Kuhlmey of Luftwaffe and every time when the battles of 1944 are talked about their effort is also mentioned. Many credit them for being one of the main things that saved Finland, along with the weapons from Germany that arrived at the last minute.

Good point.

Any of David McCullough's books are terrific.
I would also recommend "Madison and Jefferson," by Andrew Burstein & Nancy Eisenberg.

"Team of Rivals," by Doris Kearns Goodwin, another favorite book of mine.

"Washington," by Ron Chernow is another great book.

I also liked "American Lion," and "Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power." Both are by Jon Meacham.

Mary wrote: "Hi Angell,
One reason for this is that I've recently moved to the South and don't know as much about that part ..."

As a Southerner, I applaud your efforts at understanding your new home! And I completely agree that learning about Reconstruction and the effects it had on the South is just as important, if not more so, than learning about the war itself. The war we got over. The damaging effect on our psyche caused by Reconstruction efforts we are still dealing with today.

One recommendation I'd add is Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves and the American Revolution by Simon Schama. It's an extremely readable account of the American Revolution and its aftermath from the perspective of the slave population.

Everyone has made wonderful suggestions. I would like to add The Oxford History of the United States volumes to the list. I have read several and have loved them all. http://global.oup.com/academic/conten...

I love Barbara Tuchman, Jon Meacham, and David McCullough. My favorite book is Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman.
I suggest you choose one and see where that will lead you.

I am not sure if anyone has yet mentioned A World On Fire by Amanda Foreman. This is absolutely superb exposition of the relationship and tensions between the Union, the Confederacy and Great Britain during the Civil War, based on contemporary writings, diaries,diplomatic exchanges and letters. Well worth adding to any reading list. Nearly one thousands pages and every one enthralling.

I enjoy historical biographies, expecially books by Joesph Ellis and David McCullough. If you are new to history, it might be better to start with historical fiction or a more specific era or event i.e. The Revolution, The Civil War, WW1, WW2 or something related to your family or the part of the country that you are from.

I'm fascinated by the history of the U.S. before 1800, emigration and westward expansion, I've been working on the genealogy of my family and I've learned quite a lot about that time period from researching my family.