History is Not Boring discussion
What history are you reading in January 2008?
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still reading the books I have been Stonewall Jackson. It has been hard to read while driving to visit family for the holidays. I am close to finishing though.
Still have a book mark in The River of Doubt. I've gotten 5 books for Christmas and are attacking these for now.
Still on Herodotus and Catton. I'm just slow at the moment.
Two books:Gertrude Bell by Georgina Howell, and because I think her portrayal of British involvement in Iraq is overly positive I'm rereading Inventing Iraq by Toby Dodge for a little balance.
Still slugging away at the Indian adoption/slave complex. Happy New Year to All!
I'm going to read Team of Rivals, Catherine the Great, Queen Victoria, Jackson, Bloody Mary, The Great Harry, and The Rose Without A Thorn in 2008.
I am about to read 'Big Questions in History.' It is edited by Harriet Swain and features Big questions in history and answers by scholars.
On the long commute to and from work, I'm listening to Gore Vidal's Inventing a Nation, thoroughly enjoying his take on the American founding fathers. I also like the way he relates past attitudes and events to current ones.
Has anyone read any of Barrack Obama's books? I read his autobiography in December, which I found to very insightful into who he is as a person. He wrote it before he was involved in running for office so I believe it captures more of a non-spin view of him.
The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople-- Jonathan PhillipsLittle Britches-- Ralph Moody
Israel and Revelation-- Eric Voegelin
History of the Work of Redemption-- Jonathan Edwards
I started The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin a couple of weeks ago and have been reading it off and on--it's interesting. Talks about how history has "folkerized" (?)Benjamin Franklin and turned him into this ideal image of an American that he really wasn't.I also picked up Thomas Jefferson: Author of America by Christopher Hitchens. For some reason, even though I think Hitchens seems like a big fat jerk--I still enjoy his writing.
I've also got Guns, Germs & Steel by Jared Diamond getting dusty on the shelf. My boyfriend finished it last Fall and I've been meaning to get to it ever since.
And finally Villa & Zapata by Frank McLynn is on my list since I love all stories pertaining to the Mexican Revolution.
And now I'm seeing books that others are reading that I want to check out! How does one go about getting a job that pays you for reading? Only things you wanna read I mean.
Hi, Newbie here. I want to go back to the project I started last summer but got interrupted: American Literature, Norton Anthology. I left off at Herman Melville and will pick up with the 1860's at Emily Dickinson. Alongside that I'm reading the corresponding an American History textbook to put the works in context of what was happening, political, environmental, cultural. I guess I want to put together as much as possible the world the writers were writing in, for example what music did an author listen to, etc.
Norton's includes a lot of the authors I've already read or know of, but reading the works in context of world events at the time broadens the landscape of the writing in
a profound way, at times changing the meaning
of the texts. I wonder for example if certain people like Emily Dickinson ever met Harriet Beecher Stowe? I think at one time they lived very near each other.
Anyway...
Boring? Try it and see.
Beverly, what an amazing adventure you are on! Oh how I would love to undertake such a project. You must share your insights with us and have you ever thought about writing a book about your findings?
The thing that I most appreciate and enjoy about this website is how many interesting people there are out there who read about the most fascinating things - the Mexican Revolution? Very cool, Shelly.
I read Obama's autobiography a couple of years ago, and I have the Audacity of Hope, but I just haven't gotten to it yet (there's just too many other things to read right now).I'm from Chicago though, so he's been on my radar for a few years now. I really enjoyed his autobiography (the name is escaping me - something like "??? from my father").
As for what history I'm reading, I was working my way through Jean Plaidy's novels from William the Conqueror to Victoria, but I've taken a break after Elizabeth I to read some other stuff. After I read a book, I usually supplemented my reading with a segment from a non-fiction book or two. She seems to have researched her books very well because the story doesn't really stray from the non-fiction I read afterwards.
Mod
Currently reading, 1912: Wilson,Roosevelt,Taft and Debs, The Election that Changed the Country.
Right now, I am reading three history books:
- BIG HISTORY by Cynthia Stokes Brown
- AMERICA'S WOMEN (400 YEARS OF DOLLS, DRUDGES, HELPMATES, AND HEROINES) by Gail Collins
- NIXON AND KISSINGER by Robert Dallek
I don't think I've updated my goodreads booklist with these yet, though. I'll do that soon.