I've been listening to 'Escape from Camp 14' on audiobook for the past few days, and I was struck by a brief overview of & reference to the story of Charles Robert Jenkins, an American defector to North Korea. I found the concept as mystifying as it was intriguing, so I would like to know if any of you have heard of any non-fiction books about other defection stories that involve citizens of democratic nations obtaining residency in nations that would be deemed objectively totalitarian and renouncing their countries of origin. I'm on the lookout for his book, 'The Reluctant Communist,' but I'd like to hear about other stories of this type as well.
posted by Selena777 on Feb 3, 2013 - 13 answers

I only really have time to read a single book on the origins of photography. What do you recommend? Think Daguerre and Talbot, no need for hundreds of pages devoted to the camera obscura. I'd also prefer something heavier on text than actual photographs.
posted by Lorin on Jan 25, 2013 - 5 answers

Help me find historical fiction starring the kinds of people described in this awesome comment. [more inside]
posted by The demon that lives in the air on Jun 1, 2012 - 8 answers

Please recommend your favorite books on history that are a delight to read. [more inside]
posted by grayber on Apr 14, 2012 - 44 answers

What's the best, most readable biography of Daniel Webster? [more inside]
posted by Partial Law on Jan 24, 2012 - 2 answers

I recently read the book Endurance about Shackleton's trip to the Antarctic and enjoyed it immensely. What other historical books in the same vein would I enjoy? [more inside]
posted by kanata on Jun 17, 2010 - 51 answers

Help me learn what travel was like back in the day! [more inside]
posted by blazingunicorn on May 13, 2010 - 26 answers

Books about anthropology, psychology, sociology, modern rituals...I think. Can you point me in the right direction? [more inside]
posted by lhall on Dec 20, 2007 - 11 answers

I'd like recommendations for Polish or Ukrainian historical documentaries or fact-based films. [more inside]
posted by rinkjustice on Jul 19, 2006 - 6 answers

I'm interested in learning about Japanese history pre-1900. What book(s) should I be reading? [more inside]
posted by selfnoise on Sep 22, 2005 - 5 answers

MuseumGeeksinDCFilter: Looking for offbeat, trivia-intensive experiences in Washington, DC for a group of maritime history museum geeks. Special Exhibit inside. [more inside]
posted by Miko on Jan 18, 2005 - 8 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 by enrevanche on Jan 8, 2005 - 16 answers

What are your favourite historical fiction novels? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by Johnny Assay on Dec 11, 2004 - 46 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 by WolfDaddy on Sep 2, 2004 - 19 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.)? [more inside]
posted by dobbs on Jul 3, 2004 - 17 answers