Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with books and history

when Wikipedia articles fall short, it's time for a book

bluishorange — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:49:48 -0800

Have you read an informative, engaging book on German history? If so, what is it? After visiting Berlin last year, I became quite interested in German history. In particular I was fascinated by the city of Berlin itself, WWII and the events leading up to and following it, and the Berlin Wall years.

The 20th anniversary of the fall of the wall has me thinking about it again, so I've decided it's time to stop my casual internet reading and move on to a proper book. I read very little nonfiction, so I'm hoping for something that's not too dry. But I was an English major, so it doesn't have to be, you know, a kids' book or anything. Also, military strategy puts me to sleep.

I know this is a very broad subject to ask for A book about, but as of now I'm just trying to get my feet wet. Anything helps. Thanks!

Early Chinese History

shothotbot — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:19:07 -0800

What are some good books about the history of China, up to say the Qing dynasty? I am particularly interested in the Warring States period up to the first empire. Extra credit for discussions of the spread of Buddhism.

Oldschool kids' history.

cmyk — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:34:14 -0800

Long-lost childhood books: a history book printed after one of the World Wars. I don't know the title or author, but I'll tell you everything I remember. Hivemind, please help me find it! The book was six or eight inches tall, about two inches thick. It was a red canvas hardcover. It probably had a dustjacket originally, but mine had long since lost that. I think the page edges were also dyed red, but I'm not sure. No bookmark-ribbon, that I recall.

It was a Eurocentric and kid-friendly view of world history, starting with cavemen and going all the way up to one, if not both, of the World Wars. It spent time in the Fertile Crescent, went through Greece and Rome, Dark Ages, Renaissance, discovery of the Americas, the Hundred Years' War, all of that. It wasn't a textbook, it was just a sort of historical... reader, or primer. It was made to be read for fun.

Each chapter covered a specific event, or period in time. They started and/or ended with little rhyming couplets and bits of doggerel that were about the events in the chapter. There were also little black-and-white line drawings (not plates, just printed into the body text) of a man in each chapter. He had a name, I think, and as you read through history, you'd see the little cartoon guy in different clothes, or in important places, things like that.

The last chapter focused on what sorts of things might be found in the future. It was well before the 1950s space obsession, so it wasn't going on about hovercars and jet backpacks.

One distinct thing I do remember: towards the end of the book, when it got into "recent" history, it made mention of some kind of vaccination scar - polio, I think, or maybe smallpox - that, "if you look on your arm, you'll see it." I remember this because I didn't have one, but my grandmother did, just like the book described it.

I realize this is a longshot, but any clues would help. I've been wondering about this for years.

Best books and websites about Philly

LaszloKv — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:42:57 -0800

What are your favorite books or websites about Philadelphia or heavily involving Philadelphia? Both historical or modern.

How many books are there in the world?

kandinski — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:38:11 -0800

How many books are there in the world? Reading about the Google Books Search Settlement, I have vecome curious the number of books in the world. I don't mean the number of actual book-like objects, but the number of titles or editions. Or maybe not all editions; only those that have different texts. How many different files would Google Book Print or the Gutenberg Archive have to have before we say they are complete?

John Orwant sounds like he is joking when he says they "numbered precisely 168,178,719 when we counted them last Friday".

According to Eric Kansa, "US Census reports 2.334 M books published in the U.S. between 1880-1998, WordCat lists 23 million books"

Counting all editions in all languages in all countries throughout history, how many books? And how do you arrive at the figure?

Help a 13 y/o get to know the Amercian soldier.

keith0718 — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:30:34 -0800

What resources (films, books, websites) can I share with my 13 y/o daughter who has expressed a recent keen admiration and care for the American soldier from the Vietnam War era to the present? I recently took my 13 y/o daughter to see The Hurt Locker, after which she expressed a deeply felt admiration for the American soldier. I told her that not everyone feels the same way; and that, especially after the Vietnam War, soldiers were subject to quite a bit of disrespect when they returned home. She was really interested in his phenomenon and I would like to direct her to some resources (films, books, websites) that help her explore it and empathize with the existential experiences of the American soldier both on the battlefield and at home.

Books about Maine?

flummox — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:59:23 -0800

Suggestions for books on Maine history and culture, non fiction preferred but not a necessity. This would be for a person traveling to Maine in the near future, will be spending time on the coast and in the great north woods.

Book identification filter: Help me find a WWII history book with a bright orange cover.

snowleopard — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:36:09 -0800

Book identification filter: Help me find a WWII history book with a bright orange cover. I got this book out of the library years ago. I'm guessing it was published pre-2000. As I recall it had no particular focus, but just a different article about some aspect of the war on each page, maybe loosely chronologically ordered. It might have been one volume of a multi-volume set.

The things I remember more clearly:
Somewhere in the middle it had a full double-page spread with a grid of thumbnail images from various WWII movies. I remember looking at them and wanting to go through and watch them all, which is pretty much what prompted this question, since I intend to give the watch-them-all plan a go if I eventually find the book. Anyway, under each thumbnail was the title of the movie and a small note about whatever was notable about that film. I think the thumbnails were from about half color and half B&W films.

And the most distinctive thing I remember about the book was that it had a bright orange cover - no dust jacket (although it may be that it had one originally, and the library removed it), and the title printed in simple black lettering on the spine only.

What creative plot devices have been ruined by technology?

ckolderup — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:16:52 -0800

What inventions/societal changes besides cell phones have effectively "ruined" plot devices for stories in movies, TV, books, and so forth? It used to be that you could write a story in which tension is built or a problem is created because someone is trying to get in touch with someone else to get them information that they need immediately, but they have already left their house and will not hear the phone ringing. Nowadays, it is much more likely that the person would be carrying a cell phone and be reachable at almost all times. Have there been other inventions throughout history or massive changes in societal norms that have "ruined" similar plot devices?

Are there more that are endangered due to up-and-coming technologies that may not be extremely widespread yet, but are showing a promising adoption rate?

What is it good for?

mkb — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:39:08 -0800

What are some good recent military history books? My dad is a war history buff, and I need to get him a birthday present. I think I would like to buy him a military history book, and my best bet for not duplicating anything in his collection is to buy a book that's come out in the past 5 years. He's particularly interested in the American Civil War, World War II, and Irish history.

The discovery of... Upper Silesia?

doiheartwentyone — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:19:39 -0800

Having devoured "The Discovery of France", where should I look next? I really enjoyed Graham Robb's book for its evocation of the lives of ordinary people in provincial France, but he doesn't spend much time contrasting the French experience with those of other countries.

So which social histories would you recommend for the rest of Europe? Where can I discover Spain, Germany, or Russia ?

Intellectual histories of the natural sciences?

shivohum — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:18:03 -0800

Any recommendations for books giving a general history of any of the natural sciences, with a particular attention to how the great biologists, botanists, and zoologists, etc. approached problems of classification and conceptualization of their phenomena (e.g. like how Linnaeus came up with his taxonomy)? Not looking for great technical detail so much as how these scientists thought and responded to each others' thoughts.

Good books about the Italian Renaissance?

nickhb — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:04:43 -0800

Can anyone recommend good books about the interaction of Italian City-States during the Renaissance? My brother is writing a 200 page paper over the next three years, and his topic is Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan and how their interactions shaped the Italian Renaissance. He doesn't have any good books to go on, and I'm at a loss to help him (I'm not a history person) Any help would be appreciated.

Sources about atrocities in the Southwest?

Bookhouse — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:15:29 -0800

What are the best nonfiction sources about the atrocities surrounding the Mexican-American War and related Native American wars? Having recently read In the Rogue Blood and being now halfway through Blood Meridian, I'm curious how close to fact the authors are when describing the absolute horrors committed in the Southwest during the 19th century. I'd love to find an engaging history book on the subject, but will take any suggestions for sources.

paper time machine

zennoshinjou — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:06:04 -0800

What are some great books about history? I recently finished reading Rubicon by Tom Holland and its ignited a desire to read more history. I am not necessarily after narrative history but I'm not against it. What I'm after here are books you consider to be exemplary from any period in western history. I have read my fill for now of eastern history and feel like my knowledge of the west isn't what it should be. The scope can be wide or narrow.. the main criteria I'm after are scholarly, considered to be reputable/respected and interesting. Primary or secondary texts are both fine.

I realize this is a pretty broad question but I find that my interests are too and I love to learn about things I didn't know I liked so fire away!

Best World War II books?

lullaby — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:59:52 -0800

What are the best books on World War II? I know this is a pretty broad subject, but I suppose I'd like a broad education. I am not only interested in books that have a wide focus, though. Histories, biographies, memoirs, etc., are all good. Fiction as well.

Thanks in advance!

Which books should I read ?

nicolin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:27:28 -0800

In order to pass an English competitive examination in France, I need reference (but not too long) books on two history subjects. I do not have many history books, and I don't have much time either. So I must tap into real good books from the start. The first subject is The abolition of Slavery and The English Debate from 1787 to 1840. The second one is the South after civil war, from reconstruction to resegregation. I will gladly take into account any serious internet resource.

(I'm a Journeyman Librarian)

sonic meat machine — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:11:51 -0800

If you were building a library collection around the history of business—guilds, apprenticeships, royal charter companies, corporations, and so on—what books would you select?

Best general books on how the world works?

shivohum — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:57:00 -0800

What are the best "grand theory" books and essays purporting to explain generally how the world works - at the macro, economic/political/historical/sociological/foreign policy scale - written in or after the 20th century?

Is there a book in the same vein as Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, only covering history instead of science?

wordsmith — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:58:05 -0800

Is there a book in the same vein as Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, only covering history instead of science? Something that's fairly light and fun(ny?) to read, not dense and textbook-like.

You know you're a graduate student when you understand jokes about Foucault. What else should I read?

strixus — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:48:39 -0800

So, it seems I'm changing vectors slightly, and taking up the challenge of getting a PhD in history. The problem? I did very little actual history classes as an undergrad and graduate student. I have until August to patch holes in my knowledge....help! So, as a grad and undergrad, I was focused in philosophy and religious studies. I did a lot of methodology reading for rels, but that's about it. But I'm bright, and I read fast, and I have a summer with a light teaching load.

So answer me this, hivemind, what books should every history undergrad/MA student have read by the time they graduate, to be competent in the methods and conversations in history as an academic discipline?

Bonus: I'll be focusing on early modern Europe and its interactions with South East Asia - any books covering 1600-1900 in either field that might be interesting? Necessary? Useful?

European history textbooks?

philosophygeek — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:12:39 -0800

I'm looking for a good book or two surveying the major topics in European history up through the unification of Germany and Italy in the late 1800s. Ideally, the book would have a level of detail similar to what would be covered in an AP European History class or a lower-division undergraduate European history course. Bonus points if the book has a good bibliography for further reading on specific events/time periods.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a manuscript must be in want of reference materials.

headspace — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:40:24 -0800

Can you please recommend some books on daily life, home life, and general society in the UK and the US in the 1840s - 1880s for me? I already have What Jane Austen Ate, and What Charles Dickens Knew and An Elegant Madness. It doesn't have to be specifically on daily life- creative nonfiction like Larson's The Devil in the White City or Johnson's The Ghost Map are awesome, too.

New theories of Mimesis (in digital/hypertextual/hypermedial cultures)

0bvious — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:09:48 -0800

I am looking for writings on mimesis in regards new, digital, hypertext and hypermedial technologies and cultures. I am following the redefinition of mimesis. From Plato's disregard of oral culture, through his mimesis of Socrates' dialogues in writing. Following Plato, Aristotle's theory was always a written mimesis, thus the order and processes of representation and mimicry were fundamentally written.

In essence, I am interested in how the artefacts of oral culture differed in their mimesis to written culture, and thus, how our modern move from a written to a digital/hypertextual culture will similarly impact on mimetic embodiment.

(I am also concerned with the terms 'digital' and 'hypertextual' - perhaps they are too narrow. Oral, written cultures and then XXXXX? The terms 'Cybertext' and 'Ergodic' do not seem to cover the ground wide enough.)

I have been reading Marshall McLuhan, Jacques Derrida, Paul de Man and Gunter Gebauer's and Christoph Wulf's Mimesis: Culture--Art--Society. I am looking for writings on digital, hypertextual mimesis, and how it differs, how it has altered, the theoretical embodiment of representation in thought, artefacts, language and culture.

Your help, ideas and advice are much appreciated, as always

Won the war. Lost the war poet.

taramosalata — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:57:20 -0800

Help me identity this 1910s/20s/30s British poet (from precious little information). * Auden admired his work -- this is definite but I've lost the source and cannot be sure whether Auden ever reviewed his work.

* He's not usually ranked among the great WWI poets like Sassoon, Owen, Brooke, et al. And I cannot find him on this Wikipedia list. But I do remember reading a short Wikipedia entry devoted to him.

* And he did write about war -- before WWII, if not during WWI -- and was particularly well-known for one longish poem (or short epic) that was published as a single volume. With 80% certainty I believe its title to be a definite article followed by a multisyllabic latinate (but not too complicated) abstract noun. It was something like 'The Ambiguity.'

* First name might be David. (20% certainty here).

[Apologize for the sparse clues. As soon I read about his work I knew I was determined to track it down -- then neglected to bookmark or jot down the actual info. So this riddle is really a passionate query.]