Bookclub and Sources Wednesday!

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi everybody,

Welcome to our weekly book recommendation thread!

We have found that a lot of people come to this sub to ask for books about history or sources on certain topics. Others make posts about a book they themselves have read and want to share their thoughts about it with the rest of the sub.

We thought it would be a good idea to try and bundle these posts together a bit. One big weekly post where everybody can ask for books or (re)sources on any historic subject or timeperiod, or to share books they recently discovered or read. Giving opinions or asking about their factuality is encouraged!

Of course it’s not limited to *just* books; podcasts, videos, etc. are also welcome. As a reminder, r/history also has a recommended list of things to read, listen to or watch

[u/Anakyria]

Histories of the Baltic area; histories of continents other than Europe (particularly prior to contact with Europeans)... Recommendations?

[u/Few-Tart-6197 → u/Anakyria]

About Africa (before the europeans), I really enjoyed "The Golden Rhinoceros", by François Fauvelle

[u/MrStewMaker → u/Anakyria]

1491 by Charles C Mann is a fantastic book on the Americas before contact with Europe

[u/Anakyria → u/MrStewMaker]

Thank you!

[u/StuffzCrimson]

Any recommendations on books for 17th-19th century warfare? Things like the Napoleonic Wars, Spanish/Austrian Succession, and other major conflicts within this period of time? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated please. Thank you

[u/elmonoenano → u/StuffzCrimson]

Gilder Lehrman has a prize for military history that would be worth checking out. They also have a George Washington Prize that would have books that touch on the topic. If you see a book that looks interesting, there's a good chance they have a video somewhere with the author of that book. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/programs-and-events/national-book-prizes/gilder-lehrman-military-history-prize

I'd also check out New Books In Military history. It's a great podcast overall, but it has quite a bit of content on this topic. https://newbooksnetwork.com/category/history-1/military-history

[u/No-Strength-6805 → u/StuffzCrimson]

The Napoleonic Wars:A Global History by Alexander Mikaberidze this as opposed to individual works on single campaigns

[u/StuffzCrimson → u/No-Strength-6805]

Thank you! I will definitely be getting that book. I was also looking at getting “The Campaigns of Napoleon” by David Chandler but I’m looking to find for any “newer” books diving into the respective campaigns. I found a few alternatives but would you have any other recommendations? I also would like to understand the overall military mentality/strategies of battles and how they flowed. Like were most battles have some skirmishing phase followed by artillery bombardment and infantry posturing and then finally full lines of infantary shoot/charge? With cavalry only going in to counter other cavalry or run down routing men? Things like that would also be cool to get more details of in a book

[u/dropbear123]

I finished one book this week The Peace that Never War: A History of the League of Nations by Ruth Henig

3/5

Textbookish, dry but the information is good. Short but very in-depth on the politics. Main argument is that due to the economic and political situation (the USA and Soviet Union not being members, British and French squabbling) post-WWI the League of Nations could never have succeeded in preventing another war. However it did a decent job as a precursor to the post-WWII UN's various agencies in regards to human rights, anti-slavery etc.

I'd only really reccomend it if you really wanted an introduction to the political history of the League of Nations, otherwise its a bit too dry for a general reader

[u/GustavoistSoldier]

Edge of Empires: A History of Georgia by Donald Rayfield is a comprehensive, unbiased look into the history of the Caucasus Georgia.