Top 10 History Books

England has seen its fair share of change and upheaval over the centuries, which is something you’ll find out all about when you read this comprehensive cataloguing of the country and its inhabitants. Robert Tombs offers his take on the often stoic people of England and their stories that stretch back to the beginning of recorded history.

The influences of the Roman Empire are still in evidence all around us and this book by Mary Beard looks back at the very beginning of an era that lasted some 1600 years. Detailing its legend with stories like Romulus and Remus and analyzing the birth of Rome from its humble beginnings, readers get to work through over a millennium of historical events and learn about how the Romans conquered over 4 million square kilometers of land, defeating and ‘civilizing’ country after country from Syria to Spain in the process.

For centuries, it has been believed that prior to Columbus arriving, the Americas were sparsely populated lands, home to primitive tribes. However, there seems to be much evidence that suggests this could have been wildly inaccurate. Charles C Mann’s work highlights scientific, archaeological and historical data that shows the the Aztecs as being an advanced race that created cities surpassing the scale of those seen in Europe centuries later.

If you’re looking to work you way through some of the most memorable history books in existence, then this book by William L Shirer, an international correspondent from the US who experienced the second world war first hand, has to be in your list. Recognized with a National Book Award, the Rise and Fall of the 3rd Reich looks in detail into how it came to pass that Hitler almost achieved his goal of world domination, only to fall at the most critical point.

Another of the world’s most notorious figures is Genghis Khan, who is famed for his invasions into Europe from Asia. King of the Mongols, Khan and his breathtaking, but often macabre exploits are regaled expertly by Jacob Abbott who offers a broad view of this most tumultuous of periods of human history.

Whist Winston Churchill is undoubtedly most well known for being instrumental in turning the tide against the Nazis in World War 2, there were many other sides to the great man. A seasoned writer and painter, Churchill once channeled his literary skills into travel writing, which can be seen in his book – My African Journey.

Speak to any given American citizen about the country they live in and you’ll likely hear much about the glory that is the USA, but as with most great nations, greatness is often built on the suffering of others. This fact is expertly illustrated by Howard Zinn, as he delves into the litany of tales of exploitation and manipulation that have plagued America’s past, as well as shedding light on a corrupt political system controlled by society’s elite.

There is perhaps no more poignant an account of World War 2 than that provided by Anne Frank, a 13 year old girl needing to go into hiding to escape the Nazi’s clutches. Hers is a tense tale of hunger, terrible living conditions and the constant threat of being found by the Germans and it’s one that is known worldwide, even leading to the creation of museum in her honour in the centre of Amsterdam.

History doesn’t necessarily have to be in the dim and distant past to captivate, which is evidenced by this fantastic book by Michael Burleigh. Much has happened in just the last 20 years, with the war with Iraq, the Twin Towers disaster in New York to America’s first black President being just a few of the most notable events.

The last history book on our list takes us back some 1,500 years into the Dark Ages, after the end of the Roman Empire. As the rest of the known world was being fought over by the Visigoths, the Hun and the Vandals, the Emerald Isle was viewed as a haven for scholars and saints. This allowed much of the religious and classical heritage to be saved and enjoyed by many today.