Historical Non-Fiction Books

[cghipp]

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, Erik Larson
In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin, Erik Larson
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
Confederates in the Attic, Tony Horwitz
Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before, Tony Horwitz
Hiroshima, John Hersey
A Beautiful Mind, Sylvia Nasar
Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II's Most Dramatic Mission, Hampton Sides
The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography, Simon Singh
Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love, Dava Sobel
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West, Dee Brown
To Die Game: The Story of the Lowry Band, Indian Guerrillas of Reconstruction, William McKee Evans
In the Sewers of Lvov: A Heroic Story of Survival from the Holocaust, Robert Marshall

[jersysman]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Anything written by Antony Beevor.
Shelby Foote's Civil War Trilogy
A number of WWII books by Robert Leckie
Almost anything written by William Manchester
Ditto David McCullough
Ditto Barbara Tuchman

I remember Shelby Foote from Ken Burns' documentary on the Civil War. I didn't know he had written anything. I definitely will look into those.

[mediax]

A couple of WWII books I remember from years past:

The Colditz Story by Par Reid (inspired the BBC TV series)
Reach For The Sky by Paul Brickhill - the biography of Douglas Bader - is one of the most inspriring books I've ever read. Not just restricted to the war.

Ian

[LovesMacs]

Originally Posted by jersysman

I remember Shelby Foote from Ken Burns' documentary on the Civil War. I didn't know he had written anything. I definitely will look into those.

I want to second the recommendation for the Shelby Foote Civil War trilogy. I spent a few months reading through the books and they are well worth the time.

Foote has also written some novels. I haven't yet read any of them.

[BenG]

I enjoyed Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne.
I first heard about it on Fresh Air.
Listen to the interview and read an excerpt here:
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/20/136438...omanche-empire

[Gazella]

Originally Posted by BenG

I enjoyed Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne.
I first heard about it on Fresh Air.
Listen to the interview and read an excerpt here:
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/20/136438...omanche-empire

Thanks!

[Quexos]

Historical non fiction books are boring, that's why they invented historical fiction, to make it interesting instead
Fictions by Rutherfurd or Eco are pleasant to read whereas real events, pfff !

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Gazella20

I just finished reading Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Are there any good books that fits the genre.

When I answered before, I forgot the obvious reply -- Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit.

I read both of Hillenbrand's books. And Seabiscuit, in my opinion was better -- even though I am not particularly interested in horses, and not at all a sports fan.

Hillenbrand is an excellent writer, but, in addition, she's a real expert on horse-racing. I trust her there.

I recommend Unbroken. And yet, much of what's in Unbroken is just one person's memory of a time long ago. Much is undoubtedly true, but some of it is literally unbelievable. See: Zamperini’s War.

[Gazella]

Originally Posted by Quexos

Historical non fiction books are boring, that's why they invented historical fiction, to make it interesting instead
Fictions by Rutherfurd or Eco are pleasant to read whereas real events, pfff !

That is so not true
Even though I love reading historical fiction, I find historical non fiction books much more interesting to read

[Gazella]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

When I answered before, I forgot the obvious reply -- Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit.

I read both of Hillenbrand's books. And Seabiscuit, in my opinion was better -- even though I am not particularly interested in horses, and not at all a sports fan.

Hillenbrand is an excellent writer, but, in addition, she's a real expert on horse-racing. I trust her there.

I recommend Unbroken. And yet, much of what's in Unbroken is just one person's memory of a time long ago. Much is undoubtedly true, but some of it is literally unbelievable. See: Zamperini’s War.

Yes I've got to read Seabiscuit. I've read nothing but good reviews. I agree with you, Hillenbrand is indeed an excellent writer. Unbroken was very well written, there was never a dull moment.

[Gazella]

Just discovered Walter Lord's books. Anyone read any of his historical works?

[cghipp]

I have his "A Night to Remember" on deck but haven't actually read anything of his yet.

[Gazella]

Yes I got A Night to Remember yesterday after reading the reviews.

[Jozawun]

Originally Posted by cghipp

I have his "A Night to Remember" on deck but haven't actually read anything of his yet.

That's very droll

[cghipp]

Originally Posted by Jozawun

That's very droll

Ha ha - completely unintentional and only meant in the baseball sense, I promise. However, if I had thought of it I would be happy to claim it!