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The best History Books I read earning my M.A. in History
22
items I've read well over 100 books while earning my M.A. in History. Some were amazing, some okay, and others I quickly sold after the class ended. Out of all the books I read, these were the best of the best that were not only well-written but challenged...
Sections
6
American History
Japanese History
European History
Social History
Historiography
Environmental History
American History
Books that focus on an aspect of American history---from the founding fathers to the West, World War II and beyond.
Easily the best general history book about North America leading up to the American Revolution I've read. What makes it stand out is not only its writing but that it's written with the mindset that history is complex. Taylor doesn't ignore sometimes ...
American Colonies: The Settling of North America - Alan Taylor
Carol Berkin argues that the colonies did not become united just because they beat the British. Instead, a series of incidents, namely the Whiskey Rebellion, Genet Affair, the XYZ Affair and the Alien and Sedition Acts developed a national identity.
This is an excellent account of early political crisis' but also an engaging read for anyone wanting to know more about the post-American Revolution period and its major players.
This is an excellent account of early political crisis' but also an engaging read for anyone wanting to know more about the post-American Revolution period and its major players.
A Sovereign People: Crises of 1790s & Birth of American Nationalism - Carol Berkin
This is a well-written book about the lives of those who lived in the Plymouth colony. In “Time of Their Lives,” Deetz seeks to destroy the popular image that the pilgrims dressed in drab clothing and hated the idea of fun. As he uncovers, the opposi...
The Times of Their Lives: Life in Plymouth Colony - James Deetz
Why were some women targeted as being witches and not others? Were there really witches afoot in Salem or was it an easy way to attack an enemy?
Karlsen seeks to answer the question of why the majority of those accused of witchcraft were women and what commonalities they shared or had that made them targets. This is an excellent book that utilizes a wide breadth of sources, all compiled toget...
Karlsen seeks to answer the question of why the majority of those accused of witchcraft were women and what commonalities they shared or had that made them targets. This is an excellent book that utilizes a wide breadth of sources, all compiled toget...
The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft - Carol F. Karlsen
This is a striking story of a young girl, Eunice Williams, whose family was part of the infamous attack on their town in Deerfield in 1704, Massachusetts by Native Americans. Their entire family was abducted (her mother died on the way) including her...
We don't know what Eunice's thoughts are over the course of her life or why she chooses not to return, and what we know is told through the eyes of those around her, most notably her father. A father who spends his entire life trying to get her back.
We don't know what Eunice's thoughts are over the course of her life or why she chooses not to return, and what we know is told through the eyes of those around her, most notably her father. A father who spends his entire life trying to get her back.
The Unredeemed Captive: Early America Story - John Demos
This is a fascinating read about one of, if not the earliest, major sex scandal in American history. Marszalek masterfully crafts a story of how Margaret Eaton, the wife of Jackson's Secretary of State, John Eaton was ostracized by Washington society...
The Petticoat Affair: Manners, Mutiny & Sex - John E. Marszalek
Brotherhood of Spies is a concise and well-written narrative about the U-2 incident. The U-2 incident involving Gary Powers was a complex incident that led to a geopolitical crisis and chilled talks between the Soviet Union and United States over pea...
A Brotherhood of Spies: U-2 & CIA War - Monte Reel
Phillips crafts a well-written analysis of salvage tourism, performances that focus on Native American “history” in order to entertain. As she explores, many of these performances take creative liberty and construct stories that are not accurate or n...
Staging Indigeneity: Salvage Tourism & Native History - Katrina Phillips
Japanese History
I've always loved Japanese history and its is easily my “area” of history (alongside social history). As a grad student, I was able to take a deeper dive into it through coursework and research projects.
This is a carefully curated collection of oral histories by several Japanese who lived through World War II. In many ways this is quite the rare undertaking because culturally many Japanese (as the authors themselves state) are hesitant to talk about...
The authors not only personally interviewed everyone and carefully translated their stories but interviewed a wide range of people. From people who owned bakeries, who were in the horrific Unit 731, to kamikaze pilots and those in the military. It's ...
The authors not only personally interviewed everyone and carefully translated their stories but interviewed a wide range of people. From people who owned bakeries, who were in the horrific Unit 731, to kamikaze pilots and those in the military. It's ...
Japan at War: An Oral History
This is an example of very well-written and researched “niche” history. By niche I mean an aspect of history that is under researched and not many people talk about.
Not to be confused with “pirates” Shapinsky argues that Japanese sea lords had a powerful impact on the economy, developed autonomy and held control over and waters of Japan between 1300-1600 (diminishing in the wake of the Tokugawa era). Shapinsky explores this does so with a fascinating narrative.
Not to be confused with “pirates” Shapinsky argues that Japanese sea lords had a powerful impact on the economy, developed autonomy and held control over and waters of Japan between 1300-1600 (diminishing in the wake of the Tokugawa era). Shapinsky explores this does so with a fascinating narrative.
Lords of the Sea: Pirates & Commerce in Japan
Spectacular Accumulation takes a look at the importance of material culture for the great unifiers of Japan: Nobunaga, Ieyasu and Tokugawa.
Spectacular Accumulation: Tokugawa Ieyasu & Samurai
In Everyday things in Premodern Japan, Hanley explores the importance of material culture in premodern Japan. Of note it examines aspects such as food options pre- and post- western introduction and hygiene in Japanese society. These are aspects not ...
Everyday Things in Premodern Japan: Material Culture
Photography for Everyone is an enlightening read about photography in Japan during the early twentieth century. Books like these are fantastic because they do a deep dive into niche topics that you don't even realize the significance of--or how they can reflect other aspects of a society.
Photography for Everyone: Cameras & Culture in Early 20th-C Japan
European History
I've taken a few courses on European history and here are the best books that I read from those classes.
Before Churchill became the infamous Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II he was a MP (member of parliament) in Dundee, Scotland.
In “Churchill: The Scottish Years” Liddle has crafted a very well-written narrative about his early political career. His experiences during this time (and involvement in World War I) would deeply shape his later political beliefs and approaches. Add...
What also stands out about this book is its not just geared for history students but for the general public. Whether you go in knowing little of Churchill (beyond being a Prime Minister) or quite a bit, Liddle has written a narrative for a diverse au...
In “Churchill: The Scottish Years” Liddle has crafted a very well-written narrative about his early political career. His experiences during this time (and involvement in World War I) would deeply shape his later political beliefs and approaches. Add...
What also stands out about this book is its not just geared for history students but for the general public. Whether you go in knowing little of Churchill (beyond being a Prime Minister) or quite a bit, Liddle has written a narrative for a diverse au...
Churchill: The Scottish Years
As the name implies, ndustry, Reform and Empire: Scotland focuses on the rise of industry and social reform in Scotland during the Industrial Revolution. Hutchinson weaves not only a lot of interesting facts to engage readers but outlines pain points...
Industry, Reform and Empire: Scotland, 1790-1880|Paperback
Social History
These are books that focus more on a social aspect with history incorporated
In Good Wives, Ulrich provides not only a well-researched book built upon a solid thesis regarding women's role in society but an engaging narrative.
Women operated within their own society according to Ulrich and she highlights how their freedoms changed and flexibility in spite of the social conforms that were imposed on them. Though that may not be accurate, because their sphere of influence wa...
Women operated within their own society according to Ulrich and she highlights how their freedoms changed and flexibility in spite of the social conforms that were imposed on them. Though that may not be accurate, because their sphere of influence wa...
Good Wives: Image & Reality of Women, 1650-1750
I love medical history (see my bookshelf) and this is one of my personal favorites. Abrams focuses her study on the the lives of several founding fathers and mothers, including but not limited to George and Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Jo...
Revolutionary Medicine: The Founding Fathers and Mothers in Sickness and in Health - Jeanne E. Abrams
Historiography
Historiography is literally the study of the methods used by historians to develop history as an academic discipline. It also pertains to any research or historical thought on a particular aspect of history. It's also one of the reasons I love histor...
Written by a French economic historian in the early 20th century, this book highlights why history is so dynamic and considers its complexities. This is a fantastic read for anyone interested in deeper considerations about history and especially hist...
Disclaimer: It is not an easy read and definitely a book designed to be savored slowly and contemplated. It also ends abruptly because this was compiled after Bloch's death at the hands of the Gestapo in 1944.
Disclaimer: It is not an easy read and definitely a book designed to be savored slowly and contemplated. It also ends abruptly because this was compiled after Bloch's death at the hands of the Gestapo in 1944.
The Historian's Craft: Nature, Uses & Methods
American History Now provides a carefully curated collection of the state of historgraphy from several well-renowed historians. For someone who is looking to get a good overview of topics ranging from American to Native American history, women's hist...
This book is fourteen years old (as of this writing) and since the field is ever expanding some information may be dated. Weaknesses in historiography in some areas mentioned by historians may have been filled since and new gaps are likely to have em...
Warning: This book will add some books to your list of books you want to read!
This book is fourteen years old (as of this writing) and since the field is ever expanding some information may be dated. Weaknesses in historiography in some areas mentioned by historians may have been filled since and new gaps are likely to have em...
Warning: This book will add some books to your list of books you want to read!
American History Now
I categorize this under historiography because of the approach the author takes. This is a dynamic analysis of the Boxer rebellion. Not only it is a well-researched and written account, but Cohen takes a very unique approach. It analyzes the Boxer re...
History in Three Keys: The Boxers Event
Environmental History
Environmental history is a newer branch within history and focuses on, as the name implies, the history of the environment. This list features several of the best ones I've read.
Did you know several of the Founding Fathers, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were avid gardeners?
In this well-written book, Wulf explores how a love of gardening helped fuel several of the founding fathers in their political careers and development of America and severed as a vehicle for several to bond.
This is likely one of the ten best books in my graduate career and one I constantly recommend.
In this well-written book, Wulf explores how a love of gardening helped fuel several of the founding fathers in their political careers and development of America and severed as a vehicle for several to bond.
This is likely one of the ten best books in my graduate career and one I constantly recommend.
Founding Gardeners: Revolutionary Generation & Nation
A well-written examination of the impact people make on the land and vice versa (from an American perspective). Cronon provides some fascinating discussion points and makes this a must-read for anyone interested in environmental history.
Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists & Ecology