Another consideration could have been Barbara Tuchman's "The Guns of August" Its the story of the early days of WW1 when the severely underfunded, outmanned, and inexperienced British regiments defended the Belgian land from the Germans. It's written well and reveals a depth to the WW1 narrative that we often do not discuss.
I recently finished Shirer’s work, and I’m currently working through Gibbon. I have to agree that they definitely belong on the list. Have you ever read John Julius Norwich’s work on Byzantium? I quite enjoyed it. It’s similar to Gibbon in some regards. I still need to work through the ancients. I have my GBWW set out though, and I’ve started with the Iliad/Odyssey.
I have not read it, but thanks for the tip. I will look into that work. I hope to return to the Iliad/Odyssey as well. I read it in high school but definitely did not appreciate it then.
This seems like a pretty conventional list. Good work all around. I'd swap some works around, like Xenophon's Hellenica rather than the Anabasis, given that it picks up right where Thucydides left off. Although I slightly disagree with the last one. While Shirer presents a very readable and accessible history, he's a bit too far outside of academia for my liking. While some may find that a good thing (especially with how academics are nowadays), I don't in this case because I consider Academia at that time to be in a relatively good state, understanding and embracing the ideas of Great Books and Ideas. Would've loved to see Theodor Mommsen or George Grote on here for their massive works on Rome and Greece respectively, laying the foundation for modern classical studies. But that's just my opinion. Loved the list and can't wait to see more.
Thanks Lewis. Totally agree that academia of a century ago was quite different than academia today. Grote and Mommsen certainly belong on some "greats" list, but the subjects of Rome and Greece are so competitive as to make it nearly impossible to choose one great historian without leaving out another. Thanks for your suggestions!
Do you know of any good books that give a broad overview of the history of the world? I didn't learn enough history when I was in school, and worry that my knowledge is lacking.
Another consideration could have been Barbara Tuchman's "The Guns of August" Its the story of the early days of WW1 when the severely underfunded, outmanned, and inexperienced British regiments defended the Belgian land from the Germans. It's written well and reveals a depth to the WW1 narrative that we often do not discuss.
Yes, that is a good one that certainly has some repute. Haven't read it yet, but it's definitely on the list of future reading.
The decline of the west by Oswald Spengler. Might be the pinacle work of macrohistory.
I recently finished Shirer’s work, and I’m currently working through Gibbon. I have to agree that they definitely belong on the list.
Have you ever read John Julius Norwich’s work on Byzantium? I quite enjoyed it. It’s similar to Gibbon in some regards.
I still need to work through the ancients. I have my GBWW set out though, and I’ve started with the Iliad/Odyssey.
I have not read it, but thanks for the tip. I will look into that work. I hope to return to the Iliad/Odyssey as well. I read it in high school but definitely did not appreciate it then.
Great list. Would you consider Arrian's Campaigns of Alexander to be worthy of this list also?
If I knew it, then possibly. I will check it out...always happy to find more good history reading.
This seems like a pretty conventional list. Good work all around. I'd swap some works around, like Xenophon's Hellenica rather than the Anabasis, given that it picks up right where Thucydides left off. Although I slightly disagree with the last one. While Shirer presents a very readable and accessible history, he's a bit too far outside of academia for my liking. While some may find that a good thing (especially with how academics are nowadays), I don't in this case because I consider Academia at that time to be in a relatively good state, understanding and embracing the ideas of Great Books and Ideas.
Would've loved to see Theodor Mommsen or George Grote on here for their massive works on Rome and Greece respectively, laying the foundation for modern classical studies. But that's just my opinion. Loved the list and can't wait to see more.
Thanks Lewis. Totally agree that academia of a century ago was quite different than academia today. Grote and Mommsen certainly belong on some "greats" list, but the subjects of Rome and Greece are so competitive as to make it nearly impossible to choose one great historian without leaving out another. Thanks for your suggestions!
Do you know of any good books that give a broad overview of the history of the world? I didn't learn enough history when I was in school, and worry that my knowledge is lacking.