Some of my Favorite Nonfiction
Explore a curated list of must-read nonfiction books that inspire, educate, and captivate. Discover top recommendations for thought-provoking reads across genres.
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History of Britain, A - Volume I
by Simon Schama
Simon Schama's magesterial new book encompasses over 1,500 years of Britain's history, from the first Roman invasions to the early seventeenth century, and the extraordinary reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Schama, the author of the highly acclaimed Citizens and The Embarrassment of Riches, is one of the most popular and celebrated historians of our day, and in this magnificent work he brings history to dramatic life with a wealth of stories and vivid, colorful detail, reanimating familiar figures and events and drawing them skillfully into a powerful and compelling narrative. Schama's perspective moves from the birth of civilization to the Norman Conquest; through the religious wars and turbulance of the Middle Ages to the sovereignties of Henry II, Richard I and King John; through the outbreak of the Black Death, which destroyed nearly half of Europe's population, through the reign of Edward I and the growth of national identity in Wales and Scotland, to the intricate conflicts of the Tudors and the clash between Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Driven by the drama of the stories themselves but exploring at the same time a network of interconnected themes--the formation of a nation state, the cyclical nature of power, the struggles between the oppressors and the oppressed--this is a superbly readable and illuminating account of a great nation, and its extraordinary history.
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History of Britain, A - Volume II
by Simon Schama
The second installment of Schama's epic three-part history of Britain is a complete chronicle of the eventful years from 1603 to 1776. 150 color photos. 10 color maps.
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A History of Britain - Volume III
by Simon Schama
The compelling opening words to The Fate of Empire set the tone and agenda for the final stage of Simon Schama's epic voyage around Britain, her people and past. Spanning two centuries, crossing the breadth of the empire, and covering a vast expanse of topics -- from the birth of feminism to the fate of freedom -- he explores the forces that shaped British culture and character, from 1776 to 2000. The story opens on the eve of a bloody revolution, but not a British one. The French Revolution never actually crossed the Channel, though its spirit of fiery defiance and Romantic idealism did, sparking off a round of radical revolts and reforms that gathered momentum over the coming century -- from the Irish Rebellion to the Chartist Petition. If the British Empire helped to make Britain stable and rich, did it live up to its promise to help the ruled as well as the rulers? The Fate of Empire makes stops at celebrations, like the Great Exhibition, and catastrophes, like the Irish potato famine and the Indian Mutiny. Amidst the military and economic shocks and traumas of the twentieth century, and through the voices of Churchill, Orwell, and H.G. Wells, Schama asks the question that still haunts the British -- is the immense weight of British history a blessing or a curse or a millstone around the neck of the future?
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Book
How the Irish Saved Civilization
by Thomas Cahill
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A book in the best tradition of popular history—the untold story of Ireland's role in maintaining Western culture while the Dark Ages settled on Europe. • The perfect St. Patrick's Day gift! Every year millions of Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but they may not be aware of how great an influence St. Patrick was on the subsequent history of civilization. Not only did he bring Christianity to Ireland, he instilled a sense of literacy and learning that would create the conditions that allowed Ireland to become "the isle of saints and scholars"—and thus preserve Western culture while Europe was being overrun by barbarians. In this entertaining and compelling narrative, Thomas Cahill tells the story of how Europe evolved from the classical age of Rome to the medieval era. Without Ireland, the transition could not have taken place. Not only did Irish monks and scribes maintain the very record of Western civilization -- copying manuscripts of Greek and Latin writers, both pagan and Christian, while libraries and learning on the continent were forever lost—they brought their uniquely Irish world-view to the task. As Cahill delightfully illustrates, so much of the liveliness we associate with medieval culture has its roots in Ireland. When the seeds of culture were replanted on the European continent, it was from Ireland that they were germinated. In the tradition of Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror, How The Irish Saved Civilization reconstructs an era that few know about but which is central to understanding our past and our cultural heritage. But it conveys its knowledge with a winking wit that aptly captures the sensibility of the unsung Irish who relaunched civilization.
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