Relatives are asking me about books to get me for Christmas - what non-fiction have people read this year that they'd recommend? Twentieth-century history foremost, but grateful for other subjects too. 📚🎄
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Blood in the Machine, by @bcmerchant.bsky.social, a nuanced history of resistance to tech not for its own sake, but for the unwelcome changes that owners of said tech are trying to force through.
If you haven't read them, Taylor Branch's magisterial "America in the Age of King" series. John D'Emilio's biography of Bayard Rustin; Rosalind Rosenberg's "Jane Crow" about Pauli Murray; Lilian Faderman's "Gay Revolution."
Testament of Youth, by Vera Brittain, 1933 - non-fiction about the impact of World War I on people of her generation, who came of age immediately before or during that War. She was a well-known writer in the 1930's, and the book is very well written.
For historians, I wd recommend Peter Brown's JOURNEYS OF THE MIND and also this one by Oswyn Murray, about how all history is contemporary history: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674297456
The Deluge by Adam Tooze which deals with the aftermath of WW1 and the rise of American hegemony. Given to me for Christmas last year and perhaps my rest read of 2024.
Some of my best reads from this year. A couple are fiction, but too good to exclude.
Excellent Cadavers, A Stille
The Plot Against America, Roth
Normandy. The Sailors' Story, Hewitt
Chapter of Accidents, Baron
From the City, From the Plough, Baron
Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad. Daniel Finkelstein
I research WW1/WW2 burials, read around their employment/background. Neil Hanson,"First Blitz", “A bit of a flutter, Popular gambling and British Society c. 1823-1961”, Mark Clapson, “Life in the Gardeners’ Bothy”, Arthur Hooper, “The Head Gardeners: Forgotten Heroes of Horticulture”, Toby Musgrave.
Despite myself I really enjoyed Max Hastings Op Biting this year. Also Ben Macintyre The Siege.
My ‘best ever’ recommendations always include Philippe Sands East West Street; Neil Sheehan A Bright Shining Lie; and Chris Wickham The Inheritance of Rome
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John Brown, Abolitionist by Davis S Reynolds
Just a phenomenal book
"A Peace to End All Peace" - David Fromkin
https://bsky.app/profile/drewmckevitt.bsky.social/post/3lc6trgcatk2i
An excellent and lively read.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadnought_(book)
Excellent Cadavers, A Stille
The Plot Against America, Roth
Normandy. The Sailors' Story, Hewitt
Chapter of Accidents, Baron
From the City, From the Plough, Baron
Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad. Daniel Finkelstein
Great podcast too #wehaveways
My ‘best ever’ recommendations always include Philippe Sands East West Street; Neil Sheehan A Bright Shining Lie; and Chris Wickham The Inheritance of Rome
Thanks - Bright Shining Lie and Inheritance look very interesting.