Recommend me a book

[Charlie]

Recently it dawned on me how little History I know, I always preferred Geography at school so never really tried that hard in History... However it is letting me down now, I really don't have much of a clue on the History of the world, I haven't a clue about the wars in North America or English French wars pre-world wars. I don't know the chronological order of important events in the worlds history. And in my view that is quite bad.

So I was wondering if there is an interesting book about which doesn't go into too much detail, but enough so I know what people/references are on about of the history of the world. Anyone got any ideas?

Oh and I remember someone recommending me a book about the science of everything, which I cant remember the title of. Again not huge detail but enough so you know what was roughly going on. I know quite a bit of science but it would generally but quite interesting. Again, anyone got any ideas?

Thanks in advance
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[T1z3R]

the bible?
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[panrider_uk]

[arry]

John O' Farrell

You'll love this; well written, funny, short sharp punchy but informative. Definitely worth a read.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Utterly-Impartial-History-Britain-Upper-class/dp/0385611986

[Charlie]

[sk8wheeler]

1066 and all that. It's a silly book, but it does contain some facts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1066_and_All_That

[pa_broon74]

I find myself wikipedia'ing random things these days, The Golan Heights, the Boer War, The battle of Balaclava. (I never knew Florence Nightinggale was a product of that war, I assumed it was WW2 or 1 maybe) or that it was the first war to be photographed.

I never remember anything right enough but it's interesting to read. Bill Bryson's book mentioned above is a good read, a bit heavy going at times but definitely worth a browse.


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Didn't catch anything.

[bacon]

edited out!

Ill stop typing now, as you probably got bored not even halfway through that

Just realised you wanted more of a history fact book, my spam isnt needed!

[Charlie]

[Clanger]

Why don't you have a delve into your own family history? Reason I suggest this, is the first I knew anything of my Grandfather's life was at his funeral , I had nooo idea of the things he went through in his life...so I did a bit of digging. Which then led me to do the full ancestory bit, tracing that side of the family back to the late 1600's.

It's time consuming, but really interesting - especially as you can go off on tangents, and find out a whole array of historical facts, but why it makes it that little bit special - is because it's part of your history.

This might then wet your appetite for other things in history, and then you might find your own path...because you may find that what inspires one person won't inspire you!
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[The Original Muzza]

This thread needs more Horrible Histories books. For children but they taught me a lot. I had too many to list but I can't think where they be.
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[The Artist]

Jihad by Tom Carew - not true but good read about a guy who goes round Afghanistan a while back.

Also a book I can't remember. I had it in paperback about the clever guy who was involved in making to atomic bomb. Had light blue cover with multicoloured text on front I think.

It was called something like this.

Life and everything

by ......mcfinn??? all vague memories. name and author could be wrong.

[Charlie]

[silky666]

[The Artist]

Surely you're Joking Mr Feynman!

That's it. One of 2 books I have read in my life that I was properly into.

[silky666]

[Skudd]

The sort of history that interests me isn't normally in the every day history books.
Things like, contraception, toilets, bog roll, sanitary towels, soap, tooth brushes, bad breath, shaving, combs and that sort of thing. I know it is all there in the small print, but you have to read all the guff before you get to the stuff that interests me.
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[ms51ves3]

[Skudd]

[Itchy]

For some Asian history,

The art of War the sawyer version is a good one,
1421 (though this has some mistakes in it)
Hyamoto Mushashi's 5 rings of power is a good counter point to art of war.
Mao (the Jung Chang version)


Some interesting UK ones:
Dava Sobel's Longitude
Nick Middleton's books are so so , they have some history but generally are travel/science books.
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[WildGoose]

First off listen to "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel, look up the lyrics, and pick one you like the sound of

In all seriousness... wikipedia is free and can provide endless hours about the history of the world from any angle you wish. I have been obsessed with wikipedia since I discovered it.

for proper books,
try Street without Joy - Bernard B. Fall

Gives a thorough insight into that small strip of jungle in the South China sea that nobody really understands. The history of french indochina, why it all went wrong, and why american involvement in the subsequent vietnam war was doomed to failure.

The author was involved through it all, and ultimately died there.

I've a fascination with military history, but british and french colonialism in particular at the moment, and have always found the history of indochina and its conflicts particularly interesting.

If you are into off the beaten track British military history, this is also a fantastic source for reading material.

https://www.britains-smallwars.com/main/index1.html

You'll excuse me if everything I have mentioned has a basis in war and conflict, i've no idea why, but it does make up such a large part of history.
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[Liono]

Not on your usual school history curriculum, but Flashman books are damn good reads. They combine a good deal of cowardice in the face of the enemy with a fair bit of "comforting" various ladies and a smattering of British military history.

[TheDonUK]

Paul Kennedy: 'The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Change and Military Conflict From 1500 to 2000'

Covers the 500 years up to 2000 quite well...
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[Kal]

A good place to start is England, the Autobiography: 2,000 Years of English History by Those Who Saw it Happen edited by Jon Lewis-Stempel with enteries from Julius Ceasar in 55BC up to the London Bombings and Enland winning the Ashes in 2005AD.
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