Best Books for People Who Love History
I've often said that if I could go back and re-do college, I'd be a history major. I love learning about people and events from the past and how they connect to our experience today (and what they can teach us to avoid in the future). “Those who do n...
True Crime Through The Ages
Crime pays. Or, at least, writing about it does if you do it well enough. I've an avid true crime reader, and these are some of my favorites.
A fascinating look at H.H. Holmes (debatably America's first serial killer) and the creation of Chicago's Columbian Exposition of 1893, and how the two were linked. It exposes the extremes of what humans are capable of--both good and bad.
This true crime story about the brutal murder of the Clutter family reads like a novel (and many argue that Capote made up or fictionalized quite a bit of it). But it's a true classic in the true crime genre.
If you're not familiar with Kate Winkler Dawson through her various historical true crime podcasts, you're in for a treat. American Sherlock tells the story of Oscar Heinrich, America's first forensic investigator (whose ability to solve crimes throu...
Lucy Worsley is one of my favorite historians, and this look at both historical crimes in Britain and how they influenced both society and the arts is a fascinating read.
A whodunnit over a hundred years in the making. This book covered some very early forensic and detective methods that were interesting to learn about and, I felt, made a solid case for the most likely suspect of Jane Stanford's murderer. Also a great...
I actually haven't had the chance to read this one yet, but it looks so interesting, and it's on my to-be-read pile.
This was a fascinating look at poisons that have been used throughout the years and some of the more famous murders they were used in.
This was a riveting look at the death of Lana Turner's mobster husband by her daughter. Was it murder or was in self defense?
A murder in more recent history, but still a fascinating look into the dangers of violence in extremist faith groups.
Germs and Creepy Crawlies
We all just lived through a worldwide pandemic. Well, we still have a lot to learn about diseases, germs, and illness from those who have gone before us.
A great look at the origins of various illnesses and how a better (and corrected) understanding of those origins can help us to handle the spread of disease in the future.
It's a wonder that humans survived some of history “cures” for illness and disease in the past. This book showcases some of the most wild and weird.
There's a reason that this “biography of cancer” won the Pulitzer. In a compassionate and compelling way, Dr. Mukherjee tells the history of cancer through the stories of the people who have battled it--from the doctors searching for ways to stop it ...
Ever used Listerine? Well, it was named in honor of Dr. Lister who discovered the power of antiseptics and its use in surgery.
The heartwrenching story of the young women who worked in factories that produced watches with dials lit by radioactive radium. Not just a medical history, but it's also a cautionary tale of the need for workplace safety measures and oversight.
Fascinating Biographies
I learned so much “hidden” history about many of the women who shaped the earliest years of the United States from this wonderful book by the late Cokie Roberts.
A biography with a biting hook. This look on Edgar Allen Poe and his mysterious last days was fascinating.
The heartbreaking and pulsepounding tale of the Galveston hurricane of 1900 and Isaac Cline, the weather forecaster whose hubris cost thousands their lives.
Truth be told, this biography could have actually gone under my True Crime tab. The man who actually invented the motion picture machine (before Thomas Edison) disappeared on his way from France to debut it in the United States. It's a mystery what h...
A fascinating and emotional biography and look at bioethics. This book tell the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were harvested and preserved without her knowledge and consent, contributing countless medical knowledge and advances over the 60+ y...
This was a fascinating deep dive into the life (and mysterious death) of Rudolph Diesel, inventor of the Diesel engine. I learned so much about him as well as his contemporaries. I learned so much about the pre-WW I time period.
I had never heard the fascinating and inspiring story of Rudolph Vrba, a Jewish concentration camp survivor who managed to escape from Auschwitz and was instrumental in letting the world know about the atrocities of the Holocaust. He was a complex fi...
Reader Resources
Until they figure out a way to infuse books through osmosis, I'm going to have to settle with reading them the old-fashioned way.
I love to support my local library! And I love listening to audiobooks and downloading e-books through the Libby app. Yes, I have to be patient on the waiting list, but it's a great way to read a lot of books on a budget if you're a bibliophile like ...
Buying books through bookshop.org is a great way to support local independent bookstores!
You can find some great audiobook deals on Chirp, and if you don't feel like committing to a subscription, it's a good option for audiobooks.
If you love listening to audiobooks, Audible is a great option. They have a ton of titles that you have access to on an unlimited basis, and then you can also choose a new book each month to keep. You can get a month's free trial to decide if you lik...
Yes, I'm that weirdo who has multiple tablets to read on. I prefer my Kindle for nighttime reading and travel. I prefer reading on my iPad during the day and for books that I need to be able to zoom in on (like, say, a map of a manor house where some...
I've had my Kindle Paperwhite for years now, after being one of those people who said that you could pry paper books out of my cold dead hands. Well, consider me a humbled convert. I love the way that I can carry my TBR pile around with me. I love th...
I'm an avid reader, so I joined Barnes & Noble's premium membership plan. You save 10% on books, free shipping, as well as exclusive discounts and goodies.
Good e-book and audiobook option!
If you like to read on your iPhone, Apple Books offers the best app for reading.
Another good e-book option
Books-A-Million is a great alternative for print books, ebooks, and more.
Alternate subscription services for reading
Just For Fun
Great gifts for history buffs in your life. (Or treat yourself!)
Nothing says, “return my dang book!” in a nicer, prettier way than a personalized book embosser.
I laugh every time I look at this mug. Perfect gift for any history lover in your life (or yourself).
Cool poster of major events in history.
It may have been playing Oregon Trail, starting in 5th grade, that started my love of history, so this shirt thrills me.
No matter where I travel, I always love to learn something about the history of that locale before I leave. Visiting a local museum, taking a guided tour, or hiring a local tour guide is such a fantastic (and usually affordable) way to make the most ...
This funny history mug makes a great history teacher gift (or really a fun gift for any history buff in your life, including if you just want to treat yourself)
If you're looking for librarian gifts (or really any book lover gift), I don't know if you'll find a more perfect one than this card catalog book checkout card scarf. I'm of a certain age, but I can just *smell* the books and feel the excitement of t...
Pick a date, any date! These customizable puzzles are such a fun way to learn about history.
Celebrate the suffragettes with this cool circular Votes for Women puzzle
Much like the embosser, this beautiful stamp increases the chances of getting retrieving your loaned-out books.
For all those book lovers out there like me who have a never-ending to-be-read pile. Tame that TBR with this beautiful book holder stand with built-in book page holder.
If you love to learn about history at museums around the U.S., the NARM is a great organization to join, providing reciprocity entrance to a whole network of institutions.
Get your (history) sticker groove on with this fun and affordable bundle of 30 fun stickers.
Write your own history in this beautiful journal!
Kickin' in old school with this vintage library card tote bag. There was nothing like the “ka-chunk” sound of checking out a book at the library.