They are very dated, and I wish people would stop recommending them. It’s extremely insulting as an ancient historian to see so many people apparently believe that we’ve learned nothing of interest in the last 90 years. I wrote more about the first volume here.

Susan Wise Bauer’s History of the Ancient World is probably your best bet. For ancient Egypt in particular, I recommend Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs and Red Land, Black Land by Barbara Mertz.

Pierre Briant is good for Persian stuff. I'm currently reading Ancient Iraq by Georges Roux and its very good so far.

Currently reading “Hitler’s War” by Thomas Weber. A cumulative history of Hitler’s World War I military service. Only book I could ever find on the subject. It aims to disprove the myths expressed by Hitler in “Mien Kampf” about his WWI service as well as the common myth that it was the war itself that radicalized him.

I looked these up and they seem like beginner history books, which is perfect for me, although they also seem pretty dated, So might check them out but I'll definitely read them with a grain of salt.

Can anyone recommend a book that gives a history of the 80s in America? I’d like it to look at a mix of political and social changes.

Currently reading Augustus by Anthony Everett, Will Durant’s The reformation and “House of the dead, Siberian exile under the Tsars”.

Will Durant's, histories maybe.

Would stability be a better term then?

Could someone please give me ALL the reasons King John signed the Magna carta ?

Currently reading Rise and Kill First. The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations by Rogen Bergman. It's very dense and dry but has a massive wealth of information on the Israel's response to constant threats of terrorism both within its borders and abroad.

Why? We have historical markers everywhere.

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Thanks!

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>medieval

When, because that's about a thousand years.

>to wear a leather vest+skirt combo over a full chainmail suit?

I don't think I've ever heard of such a thing.

>Or would it be more common to just wear some clothes over the mail if they wanted to show the colors of their master?

You might be thinking of a surcoat, jupon, or tabard, depending upon the era. These could be simple colours or embroidered, and while a squire would want to show his allegiance, for most of that era a man-at-arms wouldn't get the same sort of consideration, and many of them would be lucky to get a 'uniform'.

I'm getting near to the end of Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford, I'm really enjoying so I am wondering what I could read next?

I don't mind who it's about as long as it's a page turner like this is

I'm also reading "the wars of reconstruction" which provides a more black centric viewpoint of all the challenges directly before and after emancipation. I feel like so much of the Civil War and wiring on slavery comes from the white viewpoint without considering the challenges individuals faced in the black community.

Yes, thank you, that looks exactly like something I need to read next! I think it’s very interesting looking at how minorities in America reacted to America’s wars and I imagine the Civil War being one of the biggest moments of differing opinions on that matter. I’m also aware that during the Vietnam War there was a huge movement of black people refusing to serve even when drafted, I suppose that’s something I’ll need to read up on too.

It also brings into question whether or not someone should have to serve in the military to be a citizen. The idea of not being able to truly take part in your country’s institutions/government/etc unless you’re willing to fight and die in wars you had no say in starting is..troubling. Interesting, but troubling.

Best comprehensive single volume history of Spain (in English)?
I was hoping to find an overview history of Spain. There are a lot of them, and I'm not sure which one to read.I saw quite a few in my search:

The History of Spain by Peter PiersonSpain A Unique History by Stanley G. PayneA Concise History of Spain by Phillips

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Is there evidence that Marx and/or Freud were Sabbatean-Frankists?

I recently finished "The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England: 400 – 1066", by Marc Morris.

I’m currently reading a study about the roots of the Iraq War in preparation for the 20th anniversary of the invasion next month. Also on the shelf is Michael Holt’s book on the 1860 election, Adrian Brettle’s Colossal Ambitions about Confederate dreams of empire, and Erica Dunbar’s Never Caught about Washington’s pursuit of Ona Judge.

You might also enjoy Fighting for Citizenship: Black Northerners and the Debate Over Military Service in the Civil War by Brian Taylor. A study about the ambivalence that northern blacks felt when compelled to fight in the war.

This is the first time I've seen this thread...it's awesome! I'm not sure if it's been brought up yet, but there's a podcast called "battles of the first world war" by Mike Cunha. He goes in depth with major battles of WW1, and it's a great listen!

I need a book on the Ancient world and very early civilization, places, and people's like Mesopotamia, Assyrians, Indus River valley civilization, and Babylonia, etc, But I need it to be entertaining, I am not a historian to me history is a fun hobby so I will lose focus and give up if I start reading the equivalent of a textbook, Basically I need a history book written like fan-fiction while still maintaining reality if anyone has a book that fits this description but not the time-frame feel free to still recommend it as I'll probably want to read eventually.