I have found that reading either historical fiction or time travel fiction can lead into reading history, e.g., Simon Schama's A History Of Britain based on a TV series.
Saturday 31 March 2018
The Corridors Of History
I have found that reading either historical fiction or time travel fiction can lead into reading history, e.g., Simon Schama's A History Of Britain based on a TV series.
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3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
For me, the history I read was Churchill's HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLES. Which expanded from a history of England to including the history of the US down to about 1901. I've also read David Hume's HISTORY OF ENGLAND, altho severe criticisms I've seen of his accuracy and even honesty makes me hesitate to recommend it. And I've read biographies of various figures from British history, such as Edward III, Henry VIII, Charles II, Victoria.
Sean
In my youth I found a copy of "The Story of Mankind" by Hendrick Van Loon, in my parents home.
I think it is an excellent overview of world history, intended to be understandable by children, though it is also helpful for adults. Read it to get the broad picture and fit in details of more local histories in that overview. I would only criticize it a bit for being too Eurocentric. The edition I read was published in the 1950s so only went to a bit after WWII. I understand there is an edition from a bit after 2000 to bring things a bit more up to date.
Another overview history I would recommend is "The Rise of the West" by William McNeill. It better covers the importance of the rest of Eurasia and how European civilization has dominated the world only in the last few centuries. The style more for adults than "The Story of Mankind".
A third overview history I would recommend is "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond. If you want to know *why* the peoples of other continents were less technologically advanced when Europeans sailed all over the world after 1500, this is the book to read.
Kaor, Jim!
I am sure the books you listed are very good, esp. Jared Diamond's book. One very useful overview history I've read was Paul Johnson's MODERN TIMES, starting from 1919 down till about 2000 (in the second edition).
Ad astra! Sean
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