History Books

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At the beginning of your studies, you will in all probability have some general questions, such as:

oHow did Europe come to dominate so much of progressed history?

oWas North America destined to become a super power?

oDoes the past have any bearing on the world today?

oDoes history have any bearing on an person person’s life?

Many people receive pleasure from easing into history and historical questions by reading historical fiction. Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code is a popular choice and may lead persons to further study Renaissance art, culture, and history.

History of War

Many people get started studying history by looking at the history of warfare. Military History and Maritime History may be arousing and attention holding subjects. You may study the wars themselves or the political figures who orchestrated the events.

Finest Years: Churchill as Warlord 1940-45 by Sir Max Hastings is a elaborated portrait of Winston Churchill. It is a arousing and attention holding introduction to England for the duration of the progressed wars. Learning in regards to the war periods may be disturbing. You might have some questions with regards to the very nature of war.

Some questions might be:

oDoes war define humane history?

oShould you define historical time periods by the wars that were fought?

oIf history is written by the victors, may we ever have a genuinely precise account of a war?

oCan lessons from history support us prevent future militarized conflicts?

Whispers from the Ancient World

Once you explore progressed military history, you might want to learn more regarding Ancient History and Civilization. Understanding the origins of civilization is key to a wide historical education. For thousands of years, a liberal arts education was based around ancient history and ancient languages such as Latin and Greek. In the progressed era, our cognition of the ancient world has been intensified by Archaeology. Books that explore the ruins of ancient buildings and villages offer a arousing and attention holding glimpse inside the each and everyday life of the ancients.

Another way to see ancient civilization through the eyes of those who lived at that time is by reading accounts recorded by ancient historians. Both The Histories (Oxford World’s Classics) by Herodotus and The Peloponnesian War (Classics) by Thucydides are valued accounts of the ancient world. These accounts, however, are not altogether accurate. Historians in the ancient world were not as concerned with making sure each detail of their histories was factually accurate. They wanted to tell stories; they wanted to flatter the persons in power. This former inclination to change history difficultnesses a lot of people. They see remnants of this in progressed life and it raises a great deal of questions:

oHave people changed since ancient times?

oWere ancient governmental systems better or worse than today’s governments?

oIs it perhaps to find an unbiased ancient historian? What does this say when it comes to our own modern historians?

oHas the discipline of history bettered since the days of Herodotus and Thucydides?

oDo any groups or humans still undertake to modify history to suit their purposes?

Politics as Usual

The political machinations of the ancient world are just as stimulating as the today’s Political History. The history of each political system in the world is a long history. Thousands of little cultural movements contributed to the adoption of each governmental system. It is totally unlikely to study political history without exploring Social & Economic History as well. Academic history studies have only been fascinated in political history for a short amount of time of time. Of all historical studies, it is the youngest. Political history intersects with Cultural History. The questions you will have will be affiliated to culture as well as politics.

oWill the two party scheme in America last indefinitely?

oIs democracy the best form of government?

oIs an economically successful communist country possible?

An Entire World of History

Too numerous persons focus completely on western history in their studies. There is an entire world of history, be sure you do not focus totally on western cultures, such as Britain & Ireland. Make sure that you dedicate at least galore of your study time to eastern cultures. There are galore splendid World History Texts available. Russia and China are arousing and attention holding countries. It is rather easy to get lost in their engrossing histories. Russia and the USSR, 1855-1991: Autocracy and Dictatorship by Stephen J. Lee is a outstanding text to transition your political studies to Eastern cultural studies. You ought to also investigate a lot of of the faiths of people in the Eastern world. Texts on Buddhism and Hinduism may aid you better comprehend the historical story of people. Religious History Essays are ofttimes a source of insight. When you study, you ought to make note of any questions you might have.

oWhy is most history curriculum concentered exclusively on Western culture?

oShould you study the history of other cultures or just focus on your own?

oIs it possible to relate to a history with regards to a humans from a dissimilar cultural background?

oShould people study dissimilar religions to better comprehend the faith and culture of a nation?

The Basics of History Study

It is important to amass a collection of Reference material. Depending on what area of study you want to focus on, there are a few books you must have. If you are studying the British Empire, you ought to get a copy of The Penguin Historical Atlas of the British Empire (Penguin Reference) by Nigel Dalziel. You will have to enlarge or increase your studies with as galore Journals, Letters & True Accounts, as possible. Reading texts such as Her Own Life: Autobiographical Writings by Seventeenth Century Englishwomen provide a worthful clear or deep perception into the real lives of people in history. In the end, that is the true value of history. Getting clear or deep perception into those from the past, from all Countries & Regions, and learning how their struggles may relate to ours is a priceless lesson from history.

History isn’t always made by great armies colliding or by great civilizations rising or falling. Sometimes it’s made when a chauffeur takes a wrong turn, a scientist forgets to clean up his lab, or a drunken soldier gets a bit rowdy. That’s the kind of history you’ll find in The Greatest Stories Never Told.

This is history candy — the good stuff. Here are 100 tales to astonish, bewilder, and stupefy: more than two thousand years of history filled with courage, cowardice, hope, triumph, sex, intrigue, folly, humor, and ambition. It’s a historical delight and a visual feast with hundreds of photographs, drawings, and maps that fetch each story to life. A new invention waits on each page: stories that changed the course of history and stories that affected what you had for breakfast this morning.

Consider:

The Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock because they ran out of beer
Some Roman officials were so corrupt that they actually stole time itself
Three cigars changed the course of the Civil War
The Scottish kilt was developed by an Englishman

Based on the ordinary Timelab 2000® history minutes hosted by Sam Waterston on The History Channel®, this collection of arousing and attention holding historical tidbits will have you shaking your head in wonder and disbelief. But they’re all true. And you’ll soon find yourself telling them to your friends.

Review“Full of tasty morsels…A delightful book to arm one for the next dull cocktail party.” (Chicago Tribune )

“History like you’ve never read it before…Amusing.” (The Tennessean )

“100 stories you haven’t heard will delight in knowing.…Lively, offbeat and surprising in quick-hit snippets.” (Denver Rocky Mountain News )

“Surprising…the necessities of arousing and attention holding stories are here.” (Dallas Morning News )

About the Author

Rick Beyer is the author of the frequent Greatest Stories Never Told book series, and an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work has been seen on The History Channel, A&E, and National Geographic Channel. He is also an accomplished speaker who inspires and entertains audiences around the country. He lives with his wife in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Most helpful customer reviews

77 of 79 people found the following review helpful.
The overlooked past brought into the spotlight
By J. J. Kwashnak
Beyer is an author who is dedicated to making history interesting and fun, which he does so well in this collection of one page stories. I found the book especially interesting because of the background work the author had put into his research (the imprint of the History Channel did not hurt either) which raised these tidbits above the normal trivia, or potential urban legends. Beyer highlights some things that should not be lost in the mists of history, and points out historical facts that may be glossed over in many other history books. There is nothing earth shattering here, but more than a few will make you scratch your head, or share with others in conversation. A great book for dipping your toe in history – each story is about a page of text and is well illustrated. There is just enough to get you the interesting point without boring you. It’s a truly fun and fascinating book.

73 of 76 people found the following review helpful.
Something for everyone in this friendly and fun book
By C. B. Hurst
This is not a coffee-table book, it’s a briefcase book, a bathroom book, a bedside book, a stuck-in-traffic book. It’s a book for dads and kids, a book for teachers and students, a book for priests and ministers (great sermon material!), and a great gift for practically everyone. My personal favorite involves what Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp were doing during the 1920s–I won’t give away the story but Wyatt was in Hollywood and Bat was in Manhattan! It’s clear that the author is not a student of history, he’s a lover of history, and the enthusiasm and excitement with which he approaches his subject comes through on every page.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful.
Charming and Quirky
By A
I always hated history in school — and I hardly ever watch the History Channel — so I approached this book with great trepidation. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself paging eagerly through the well-written, highly entertaining historical vignettes (each one takes up a mere two pages, perfect for subway reading). Some of them made me laugh out loud; once I had to fight the urge to turn to the stranger next to me and ask if he knew what had killed Atilla the Hun. (I’m not telling.) Although not written for kids particularly, this is also a great book to share with older children . . . especially those who complain that history is dull.

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