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History

Chronicles of the past, from ancient republics to modern global conflicts.

Rubicon, by Tom Holland (2026)

An excellent history of the end of the Roman Republic. The glory, the politics, and the utter savagery behind the veneer of civilization.

The Wager, by David Grann (2025)

An excellently pieced together account of a ship and its tumultuous journey. Survivors are pushed to extremes. Recommended.

Fear and Loathing in La Liga, by Sid Lowe (2025)

An excellent peek into the history of Barca and Madrid, starting from the Spanish Civil War. Recommended!

Funny Because It's True, by Christine Wenc (2025)

A history of The Onion, from its early college days to its zenith in the pre-internet era.

The Dictionary People, by Sarah Ogilvie (2025)

A history of the OED primarily from the perspective of the people who contributed to it.

World War II & History of the Second World War (2025)

Concise and monumental summaries of the war, including Liddell Hart's military perspective.

Impossible Journeys, by Mathew Lyons (2024)

A lovely collection of true stories from a time when most of the world was still unexplored.

The Illustrated Longitude, by Dava Sobel and William J.H. Andrews (2024)

An already excellent book elevated to greatness by lavish illustrations.

Shock Doctrine, by Naomi Klein (2024)

A depressing look at how crises are used by the military-industrial complex to amass wealth.

Coromandel, by Charles Allen (2024)

An excellent history of South India. Highly recommended.

The Outlaw Ocean, by Ian Urbina (2023)

A fascinating look into the wild, lawless life in the oceans. From illegal fishing to slavery and piracy.

All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wire, by Jonathan Abrams (2023)

The greatest show made in TV history, these interviews are quite fascinating.

Masters of Doom, by David Kushner (2023)

An inside look at the early days of id software and how Doom was built.

Prisoners of Geography, by Tim Marshall (2023)

An excellent guide to how geography shapes history and civilizations.

The Incredible History of India's Geography, by Sanjeev Sanyal (2019)

A concise information dump of India's Geography and how it shaped its History.

Hate, Inc., by Matt Taibbi (2019)

Detailed Review