Please recommend me some great books about the home front during WWI or WWII. [more inside]
posted on Jul 21, 2008 - 23 answers
Looking for good books on the history of technologies. [more inside]
posted on Jul 16, 2008 - 17 answers
I want to a read a book about the domestication, Western discovery, spread and eventual assimilation of New World foods. I'm interested in how these crops were transported to and received by different cultures, and how certain New World foods became synonymous with particular Old World cuisines. [more inside]
posted on Jul 4, 2008 - 13 answers 
I love history, and I love adventure. What real-life historical adventurers were awesome, and have books written about them worth reading? [more inside]
posted on May 5, 2008 - 40 answers
I'm interested in learning more about Canadian history, and two things I'd like to start with (because I learned damn near NOTHING about them in school) are the Acadians and the Great Explusion, and the October Crisis and the FLQ. Can anyone recommend some books?
posted on Apr 15, 2008 - 8 answers
How does visible light damage ancient documents? [more inside]
posted on Apr 8, 2008 - 8 answers
I am looking for writings on the infinity of definition. [more inside]
posted on Mar 13, 2008 - 32 answers
What are some good books on calendars, chronology and the division and measurement of time? I'm interested in the history, physics and especially mathematics of it all. A giant encyclopedic reference tome would be excellent. Thanks!
posted on Mar 2, 2008 - 10 answers
Looking for a good book that gives an overview of the African American experience in the United States. It should be readable, engaging, but also informative. [more inside]
posted on Feb 18, 2008 - 12 answers
Can anyone reccomend good books, or documentaries, about Australia (history, culture, politics) written by people from outside Australia? [more inside]
posted on Feb 7, 2008 - 11 answers
I'm looking for book suggestions for a radical reading group. [more inside]
posted on Jan 29, 2008 - 24 answers
How famous could you really get as an author before the printing press? [more inside]
posted on Dec 7, 2007 - 26 answers
My dad has mentioned that he would like a history book for Christmas. Help me find one that will really knock his socks off! [more inside]
posted on Dec 3, 2007 - 45 answers
Can you recommend some good books about places? [more inside]
posted on Nov 29, 2007 - 23 answers
Can you recommend any great, scholarly books about the Napoleonic era in Europe? [more inside]
posted on Nov 25, 2007 - 10 answers
What are the best history of science books for the intelligent layperson? Some examples along these lines include Richard Rhodes' "The Making of the Atomic Bomb", David Bodanis' "E=mc2" and Dava Sobel's "Longitude"; books which mix equally well the explanation of scientific concepts with historical/biographical storytelling, and are not intended for practitioners of the field.
In addition to general suggestions, specific recommendations about the history of probability & statistics and the history of science in the ancient/medieval world would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
posted on Sep 22, 2007 - 37 answers
Deforestation. Extinction. Soil depletion. Toxicity. Mental illness. Mass imprisonment. Neocolonialism. Etceterugh. What should one read for a better comprehension of just what the hell we're doing to the planet, ourselves, and eachother? [more inside]
posted on Sep 21, 2007 - 45 answers
What's a good book about eugenics? [more inside]
posted on Aug 2, 2007 - 22 answers
Bookfilter: Recommend a good book on Leon Trotsky and Trotskyism. [more inside]
posted on Jul 10, 2007 - 6 answers
I'm looking for books (in English) about Paris in 1899 for a research project. General cultural history is fine, as is a slightly broader period (1890-1910), but I'm looking for more than just a section in a larger French history book. Ideally, I'd find something like Margaret MacMillan's Paris 1919, but for 1899. I'm having difficulty finding something this specific via Google/Amazon/the library, as there are thousands of listings for "Paris", so I'm hoping you'll recommend books you've enjoyed or found useful.
posted on Jul 7, 2007 - 9 answers
I'm interested in reading about the Cold War, specifically, about Stalin and the Soviet side of things during the early phases of the war. Other topics are fine though. Any book recommendations you have will be greatly appreciated! [more inside]
posted on Apr 4, 2007 - 11 answers
St. Patrick's Day is coming up. Can you recommend books for getting into the mood and for appreciating Irish heritage and culture? [more inside]
posted on Feb 21, 2007 - 30 answers
I just heard an NPR story about how history books have changed to reflect the books' editorial biases. For instance, the author cites aged history books changing explanation of the reason for the Mexican-American war. Have any of you MeFites done any (formal or informal) research into this phenomenon? How can I learn more?
posted on Nov 21, 2006 - 15 answers
I'm looking for a book I read back in 1999/2000 about Jesus. [more inside]
posted on Nov 17, 2006 - 5 answers
Where can I find some fairly easy-to-read, factual books about historical events? Amazon is overwhelming and Google is unhelpful [more inside]
posted on Nov 16, 2006 - 22 answers
I'm looking for sites related to American popular culture from the early 20th century: books, films, radio, magazines, music, dance, comic strips, celebrities — you name it. I'm particularly interested on the period between the wars, but open to great stuff from before (and during) World War I, as well. Little Nemo, Keystone Kops, the Lindy Hop, Enrico Caruso, Fatty Arbuckle, Al Jolson, Clara Bow, Flash Gordon, Alice blue, Teddy bears, etc. These are all the sorts of things I'm after, especially as they're represented on the web. Bonus points for sites with RSS feeds. [more inside]
posted on Nov 3, 2006 - 10 answers
What is the best book about everyday life during the American Revolution? Books focusing on the lives of women would be especially helpful. [more inside]
posted on Oct 11, 2006 - 10 answers
Recommendations for good books about the aftermath of WW1, the between-wars period, and the buildup to WW2? I'm looking for a good follow-up to Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August. [more inside]
posted on Sep 14, 2006 - 22 answers
I was a dumb teenager, and I wasn't interested about other nations history. Couple of years ago, after reading 1984 I quickly changed my mind, but I also realized that history is full of one-sidedness (just like in 1984 unfortunately). [more inside]
posted on Aug 31, 2006 - 29 answers
Can anyone recommend any good documentaries? Bonus points if its history or culture related. [more inside]
posted on Aug 23, 2006 - 38 answers
Could you suggest good visionary (realized or unrealized) architecture and urbanism books ?
I'd be interested in well illustrated books. I can afford a 50 to 150 dollars book on that topic.
I'd like to find things like that.
posted on Jul 21, 2006 - 18 answers
Help me create a comprehensive reading list on American history [more inside]
posted on Jul 17, 2006 - 37 answers
I'm on the hunt for sites and/or blogs about big ideas...
Who wants to join me? [more inside]
posted on Jul 9, 2006 - 17 answers
My co-workers and I are interested in forming a group that explores the cultural history of Sacramento, but we're not sure where to start. [more inside]
posted on Jun 13, 2006 - 17 answers
The Protagonist: What can you tell me? [more inside]
posted on Jun 8, 2006 - 17 answers
Watching "Assume The Position, Mr. Wuhl" on HBO made me hungry for more debunking of legends and myths that we often accept as fact and history. My problem is, I'm not sure what to search for in seeking such material. [more inside]
posted on Apr 5, 2006 - 16 answers
I would like to learn about an interesting aspect of history which is new to me. This could be broad ('Ancient Greece') or very specific ('Anarchists in the Ukraine in the Russian Revolution'), thematic ('the Victorian underworld and crime') or about a location ('Venice') - but I'd like to also know why your suggestion interests you so much. If you can recommend some good books on your suggested topic, that would be just perfect. [more inside]
posted on Mar 11, 2006 - 25 answers
The Great Books: where should I start? I seek timeless wisdom. [more inside]
posted on Feb 21, 2006 - 74 answers
What are your favorite books about submarines? [more inside]
posted on Dec 16, 2005 - 19 answers
Help me find alternative history books [more inside]
posted on Dec 14, 2005 - 30 answers
Good books to read before wandering about Central and South America for a few months? [more inside]
posted on Nov 11, 2005 - 19 answers
In the spring there was a lot of discussion about the Oxyrhynchus papyri, but since then the news has totally died down. Has anything new been deciphered yet? [more inside]
posted on Nov 4, 2005 - 2 answers
For no particular reason, I am looking to compile a list of what people consider to be the best history books available. I'm looking for non-fiction, but I'll take anything. I am particularly interested in the opinion of people who've studied history at a graduate level, but if you're just an armchair historian, like myself, I still want to hear what you have to say. [more inside]
posted on Oct 17, 2005 - 28 answers
I'm interested in learning about Japanese history pre-1900. What book(s) should I be reading? [more inside]
posted on Sep 22, 2005 - 5 answers
Can anyone recommend any excellent books covering the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s? [more inside]
posted on Aug 7, 2005 - 12 answers
Can anyone recommend some good books on Indian (particularly South Indian) culture/history/politics/etc? [more inside]
posted on Jul 28, 2005 - 8 answers
JewishHistoryFilter : Can anybody recommend a good book that dissects the common Jewish conspiracy theories and discusses their history? Extra points for readability. [more inside]
posted on Jul 16, 2005 - 21 answers
Follow-up to a question I asked earlier : Has anyone read any "short" histories of France that they would recommend? [more inside]
posted on Jun 4, 2005 - 8 answers
German scholars, historians, copyeditors, and anyone else: Can someone explain to me why an author whose book I'm editing has cited Hitler's Mein Kampf as "Mien Kemp"? Google doesn't elicit much in English, and I'm unilingual, alas. As far as I know, American English is my author's native language. Is he just a lousy speller? (Looks like it could be Dutch, but that's just a guess.)
posted on Apr 4, 2005 - 13 answers
Anyone know of any good books, plays, or other material about Suzanne Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau, a.k.a. "Mademoiselle Nation"? She was an eleven-year-old girl adopted by the French revolutionaries after her father's murder by a royalist. Her portrait by Jacques-Louis David is currently on display at the Getty in Los Angeles, and as the book blog Romancing the Tome says the story of her life would make for excellent reading. Surely she's found her way into print by now?
posted on Mar 18, 2005 - 3 answers
Does anyone have some good info on writer Langston Hughes, aside from obvious Google sources? Any information gotten off the beaten path? I'd love to get some relatively unknown info on him, if anyone has it, or some particulary good access sites/books. Writing a paper and am tired of following everyone elses footsteps with information access.
posted on Mar 12, 2005 - 15 answers
I'm trying to learn about the Edwardian era especially (but not exclusively) in England, Ireland, and Canada. What excellent materials (fiction and non-fiction books, movies, websites, etc.) have you read and seen about this period?
posted on Mar 1, 2005 - 17 answers
I'm looking for a good book on Roman history. [more inside]
posted on Feb 26, 2005 - 13 answers
I'm looking for books and\or films about the rise of Nazism and fascism. [+]
posted on Jan 23, 2005 - 30 answers
SinoFilter: I'm looking for a scholarly-but-accessible book (or books) about Chinese history and culture. (Web site recommendations also welcome.) I have done some Googling and poking around amazon.com, but frankly my ignorance is so deep that I have no good way of evaluating the quality of what I'm finding.
posted on Jan 8, 2005 - 16 answers
What are your favourite historical fiction novels? [more inside]
posted on Dec 11, 2004 - 47 answers
My wife went to India for work a few months ago and brought back some neat little trinkets--marble elephants, jewelry, etc--to give to my nieces and nephews (aged 7 to 12) for Christmas. I'd like to include a book, movie, or other gift to give them an idea of India's history and culture. (My nieces and nephews live in small towns, and I hope this can expand their horizons a bit.) Aside from Kipling, can you suggest any specific authors or age-appropriate titles I should consider?
posted on Dec 10, 2004 - 6 answers
I am looking for either books or online resources for Bayeux Tapestry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry - style illustrations (or any other book/site that depicts depict medieval life.) So far, the illustrations on the web are of relatively small size or poor quality.
posted on Dec 10, 2004 - 4 answers
As a lay...very lay...student of Roman Republic and Empire, and anticipating the upcoming HBO/BBC series Rome with relish, I'm reading everything I can get my hands on about both Republic and Empire. Currently I'm reading an abridgement of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire I just inherited. What next? [insert Latin for "more inside" here].
posted on Sep 2, 2004 - 19 answers
I've just reduced my book queue to a puny six or seven, I'm looking to pile a little something on, and a bookstore just opened within walking distance. I'm in the mood for a good history of the French Revolution. Any recommendations?
posted on Sep 1, 2004 - 4 answers
I'm a big fan of Ken Burns' documentaries (just finished up watching Baseball for the third time, for instance, and have seen The Civil War twice)... What I'm curious about is what books would you recommend that present history in a siimilar fashion (easily digestible, compellingly written, etc.)?
posted on Jul 3, 2004 - 18 answers
My wife and I are going to London soon. I've lived there before, but it will be her first time. What are some good books that will bring the city's history and landmarks alive for her? Fiction and non-fiction are fine, as long as they are good reads (not dry or academic). I'm looking for the type of thing that will really make you appreciate the Tower or Camden Town or whatever when you're there.
posted on Mar 9, 2004 - 23 answers
London in the 1920's -- what are the best books (nonfiction and fiction) and websites to research this topic? (more inside)
posted on Mar 8, 2004 - 6 answers
AskMefi provided some great answers a few weeks ago to my solicitation for book recommendations. Now for a similar but unrelated question. I have a friend at law school who is an exchange student from Europe. He has had none of the mandated high school U.S. history curriculum that had been drilled into the heads of the rest of us years ago. As such, he would like some background on American political history to supplement our constitutional law lectures and McCloskey and Levinson's The American Supreme Court, which has been assigned for the class. Any suggestions?
posted on Feb 5, 2004 - 5 answers
Wondering if there's a book about the history of LA restaurants. For my December birthday, a friend gave me "Minnesota Eats Out," a fun, colorful book from the Minnesota Historical Society Press. As a former Minnesota restaurant editor and critic, I loved it. Now I'd like to find a similar book about Los Angeles-San Fernando Valley restaurants for my California in-laws, who have many fond memories of LA restaurants, some gone, some still serving today. Does anyone know of such a book?
posted on Jan 15, 2004 - 8 answers
