History is Not Boring discussion
What history are you reading Feb. 2008?
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I am currently reading the Execution of Private Slovik. Once I am through with that I will be returning to my books on the Romanovs, and the Russian revolution.
In the middle of The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb by Gar Alperovitz (my word... is this a long one!), starting Downfall: the End of the Imperial Japanese Army by Robert Frank. I've got bombs on the brain... which may account for my "most significant" comment.
Lisa, can you recommend any books about the Russian Rev or Lenin in particular? I've always been intrigued by the Russian Rev but it's not really my area of expertise so I'd be interested to know what you've found.
Lisa, Russian history is my favorite history topic, and I've read quite a bit about the Romanovs. They are one of the most interesting families to me, because they were also the last royal family to rule Russia. I would also be interested in any books that you might recommend on the Russian Revolution, since I really haven't read anything where that was the primary theme.
Pandora:Team of Rivals is on my "to read" list, and I am eager to read it within the next month or so. How are you liking it so far?
I am reading " A New Illustrated History of WWII." There are a ton of unreleased photos in there of both the Allied and Axis troops and leaders. Very interesting look into the war and its effects on the world.
Lisa and Sera, I know you guys didn't really mention this, but I read 2 books/ biographies based on Russian soldiers during WWII you might be interested in. The first is War of the Rats. It's about the Russian Army's top sniper. I think this was made into a movie w/ Ed Harris called Enemy at the Gates. My favorite was Night Witches. It's a bio about the female Russian pilots who tormented the German troops mostly at night. There were so many female aces! It wasn't too dry of a read either! I wanted to read some more Russian war history, but never looked into it. I am part Russian so I always wanted to look more into its history, but just really never knew where to start.
Dina, those books you mentioned sound unique and quite interesting. I am 100% Ukrainian, so not Russian, but very interested in that history since the Ukraine was part of the the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union for so long.Have you ever read Peter the Great. It's a very long biography, but in my top 10 favorite books. It will give you a tremendous historical perspective on Russia, and the man himself makes for fascinating reading. Also, a more recently published book, The King, The Kaiser and the Czar gives a great perspective on the three European rulers, who were all cousins (Queen Victoria was their grandmother) and how their familial ties played a part in the outbreak of WWI. The book is based on letters that the boys, and later men, exchanged. It is very interesting to see the connections among these three and their countries.
For historical fiction, Russka is another great read and one of my top five favorites. Another very long book, but it provides a sweeping historical account of the country.
If anyone else has good reads for Russian history, please let us know. Looks like we have some enthusiasts here.
I just finished "Kinloch: Missouri's First Black Town." It's mostly pictures, but a fascinating book about a community that few Americans -- even Missourians -- know about. The pictures and newspaper clippings provide a fascinating narrative, though I would have like more prose.
Thank you Sera! I believe I've been told I am Ukrainian as well, one of my grandfather's family was from Kiev. That is Ukrainian right? I am mostly Italian and brought up with Italian culture, and unfortunately don't know much about the Russian/Ukrainian side.
"Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow. I very thorough book about one of the least recognized genius's the world has ever known.
I'm reading Young Stalin by Simon Sebaq Montefiore. There's a great deal of new data presented here regarding Stalin's early life/stimuli which gives us a better idea of his transformation into the tyrant he became. Make no mistake however, this book is not an excercise in apologetics.
I am currently reading "Wordsworth" by Juliet Barker. I enjoy history and feel that though events in history have helped to shape modern life it is the people behind the events that have truly shaped our modern world. Not only the people behind events, but every day people from all walks of life.
i read about the silly things about political in indonesia, there's too many i think
I'm reading not a history of a person but of all of us. Mapping Human History Discovering the Past Through Our Genes is an intriguing look at how we're all related because our genes can be traced back to one common female ancestor.
Right now, I'm reading a biography on Christopher Columbus (Admiral of the Ocean Sea: A Life of Christopher Columbus), I just got finished reading a biography of Abigail Adams (Abigail Adams: An American Woman). I'm also reading two books on Lincoln: The Republican and the Radical and Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney.
I am now reading 1776 by David McCullough. I have wanted to read more if his works ever since reading John Adams. I have Truman waiting for my next read. McCullough's presents intriguing novels where even what should be mundane holds me spellbound.
I have read them both. They are great books. I think his book "Truman" may have helped revive the former president's image with historians.
I have now added more David McCullough books to my real to-read list which is much easier to take to the bookstore than my virtual list!
Don't forget that John Adams is on HBO soon, as a mini-series. I can't wait to see it!
I've been meaning to read David McCullough's John Adams for a while now - the posts here have motivated me to try and get it this weekend. Right now, I'm reading Thucydides's History of the Peloponessian War - it's quite interesting, but my version (translated by Walter Blanco) has very few maps. I like to know what's going on, so am proceeding at a glacial pace.
I had started reading Chekov as part of my 50 books in 2008 challenge but my daughter brought home "An Hour Before Daylight" Memories of a Rural Boyhood by Jimmy Carter so I switched.
I admire him and am looking forward to his view of events that lead him to the presidency. In the first few pages he's mentioned an African Methodist Episcopal Bishop William Decker Johnson as a leading community leader in post reconstruction rural Georgia who motivated him. I continue reading this book.
I also am very interested in Russian history but have only read the major novelists. Of course they wrote a lot of political history in those novels. I will definitely check this post and look at some of those references when I'm done with my current pile of books.
oops-this should have been on the march post
I admire him and am looking forward to his view of events that lead him to the presidency. In the first few pages he's mentioned an African Methodist Episcopal Bishop William Decker Johnson as a leading community leader in post reconstruction rural Georgia who motivated him. I continue reading this book.
I also am very interested in Russian history but have only read the major novelists. Of course they wrote a lot of political history in those novels. I will definitely check this post and look at some of those references when I'm done with my current pile of books.
oops-this should have been on the march post
I am reading Team of Rivals: the political genius of Abraham Lincoln.