The best 58 European History books

1
War and Peace

War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy
A Historical Novel on the Irrationality of Human Behavior in War
3.9 (19 ratings)

What's War and Peace about?

War and Peace (1869) is a novel that follows the lives of several aristocratic families during the French invasion of Russia and the Napoleonic Wars. It explores themes of love, war, politics, and the human condition, and is considered one of the great works of literature.

Who should read War and Peace?

  • Curious minds craving timeless wisdom
  • Eager explorers of Russia’s literary landscapes
  • Time travelers fond of the Napoleonic era

2
The WEIRDest People in the World

The WEIRDest People in the World

Joseph Henrich
How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous
4.1 (96 ratings)

What's The WEIRDest People in the World about?

The WEIRDest People in the World (2020) describes why Westerners think and behave so differently from most other people. It also explains how the policies of the Western Church in the realms of marriage and kinship have helped cultivate these odd cultural attributes, transforming the world and helping the West flourish in the process. 

Who should read The WEIRDest People in the World?

  • Anyone interested in the confluence of history, anthropology, culture, and economics
  • Westerners seeking a greater understanding of cross-cultural differences
  • Fans of experimental psychology

3
The Pope at War

The Pope at War

David I. Kertzer
The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler
4.4 (180 ratings)

What's The Pope at War about?

The Pope at War (2022) follows the first years of Eugenio Pacelli’s papacy. Based on documents released by the Vatican in 2020, the book reveals the never-before-told story of the pope’s secret negotiations with Hitler.

Who should read The Pope at War?

  • World War II history buffs
  • Students of Catholic history
  • Anyone interested in why good people do bad things

4
Upheaval

Upheaval

Jared Diamond
Turning Points for Nations in Crisis
4.3 (356 ratings)

What's Upheaval about?

Upheaval (2019) takes us through some of modern history’s biggest national crises to find out how each nation ended up in such trouble, and how they managed to get out of it. Looking at seven different nations, author Jared Diamond reveals how some of the same problems and solutions have emerged time and again, whether we’re looking at Chile and Indonesia in the 1970s, or Australia and Germany after WWII.

Who should read Upheaval?

  • History buffs
  • Students of political science
  • Globally minded individuals interested in world affairs

5
Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre

Charlotte Brontë
A Victorian Heroine’s Struggle for Self-Realization
4.6 (18 ratings)

What's Jane Eyre about?

Jane Eyre (1874) is an intense, intimate portrait of a young woman’s search to find her place in Victorian society without compromising her passionate ideals. It follows her as she navigates life’s obstacles – and her developing love for the mysterious Edward Rochester.

Who should read Jane Eyre?

  • Hopeless romantics who crave plot twists and turns
  • History lovers keen to get a window into life as a nineteenth-century governess
  • Fans of period dramas like Outlander and Bridgerton

6
The Origins of Totalitarianism

The Origins of Totalitarianism

Hannah Arendt
Hannah Arendt's landmark work about Europe's anti-Semitic and imperialist roots
4.6 (282 ratings)

What's The Origins of Totalitarianism about?

The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) is a landmark work by Hannah Arendt, in which she traces the anti-Semitic and imperialist roots of modern-day totalitarianism in Europe. Starting with the rise of the nation-state in the seventeenth century, Arendt reveals the prejudices and myths that empowered the Nazism and Stalinism of the early twentieth century, and that can lead to the erosion of free-thinking democracy. She also gives clear warning on how to avoid predatory totalitarian movements in the future.

Who should read The Origins of Totalitarianism?

  • Students of philosophy and political science
  • Anyone interested in how history can teach us about the present
  • People concerned about human rights

7
World Order

World Order

Henry Kissinger
Reflections on the Character of Nations and the Course of History
4.2 (117 ratings)

What's World Order about?

World Order (2014) is a guide to the complex mechanisms that have governed international relations throughout history. These blinks explain how different countries conceive of different world orders and how they are held in balance or brought into conflict.

Who should read World Order?

  • Anyone who wants to learn more about the intricacies of global politics
  • Students of political science, governance and international relations
  • Everyone with an interest in globalization and clashes of cultures

8
Bloodlands

Bloodlands

Timothy Snyder
Europe Between Hitler and Stalin
4.4 (127 ratings)

What's Bloodlands about?

In Bloodlands (2010), author Timothy Snyder tells the tragic story of the people caught in the crossfire between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. The victims of the “bloodlands,” or territories that after the war became the Eastern Bloc, were pushed and pulled by two ruthless powers and treated like pawns both before the conflict and afterward.

Who should read Bloodlands?

  • Historians with a particular interest in World War II
  • People interested in the modern history of Eastern Europe
  • Students of German or Russian history

9
Empire

Empire

Niall Ferguson
How Britain Made the Modern World
4.6 (243 ratings)

What's Empire about?

Empire (2003) offers a compelling overview of the highs and lows of the British Empire, from its late-to-the-game beginnings in the seventeenth century to its ultimate collapse in the twentieth century. Through the many disgraces and unparalleled achievements, you’ll learn how Great Britain came to control close to a quarter of the world, and how we’re still coming to terms with this legacy.

Who should read Empire?

  • History buffs
  • Anyone interested in the legacy of colonialism
  • People curious about the world economy

10
Ten Caesars

Ten Caesars

Barry Strauss
Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine
4.6 (78 ratings)

What's Ten Caesars about?

Ten Caesars (2019) charts the history of the Roman empire from its rise to its reinvention under the first Christian emperor in the fourth century AD. Along the way, it sheds light on the character and policies of the men who ruled it through years of triumphant expansion and catastrophic crises.

Who should read Ten Caesars?

  • History buffs
  • Classicists
  • Romanophiles

11
The Sleepwalkers

The Sleepwalkers

Christopher Clark
How Europe Went To War in 1914
4.6 (168 ratings)

What's The Sleepwalkers about?

Christopher Clark’s The Sleepwalkers takes a fresh look at the outbreak of the First World War, focusing on the alliances established among Europe’s nations in the years leading up to 1914. In his compelling and masterful account, Clark examines the decisions, both big and small, that led to the outbreak, and investigates the common belief that the war was an inevitability.

Who should read The Sleepwalkers?

  • Anyone who wants to learn more about the outbreak of the First World War
  • Anyone interested in European history and international relations
  • Anyone interested in how wars can start

12
The Nazi Conspiracy

The Nazi Conspiracy

Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill
4.6 (273 ratings)

What's The Nazi Conspiracy about?

The Nazi Conspiracy (2023) tells the thrilling true story of the first meeting between the leaders of the Allied forces during the height of World War II – and the top-secret Nazi plot that almost changed the course of history. Full of drama, twists, and political intrigue stretching all over the world, it shows how the three leaders – Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin – defied all odds, and arranged one of the most pivotal events in the entire war.

Who should read The Nazi Conspiracy?

  • World War II buffs looking for a deep exploration of one of the lesser-known developments of the war 
  • Armchair historians interested in the small events that changed the world
  • Anyone who loves political drama, intrigue, and a good spy story

13
Ukraine Crisis

Ukraine Crisis

Andrew Wilson
What It Means for the West
4.3 (666 ratings)

What's Ukraine Crisis about?

Ukraine Crisis (2014) addresses the peaceful protests and violent conflicts that have rocked Ukraine in recent years. This book take a look at the events surrounding the Maidan uprising, the Russian annexation of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in the Donbas. Importantly, the crisis is put into context not just for the future of Ukraine but also how it affects Russia, the European Union and the world.

Who should read Ukraine Crisis?

  • Students and professors of history or politics
  • People interested in contemporary history
  • Anyone curious about the power play between Russia and the West

14
The Twelve Caesars

The Twelve Caesars

Suetonius
A look into the triumphs and tragedies of the Roman Empire's first twelve emperors
4.5 (200 ratings)

What's The Twelve Caesars about?

The Twelve Caesars (121 CE) is one of the most colorful biographical works ever written. By turns opinionated, sensational, and dramatic, it documents the lives of the men who wielded absolute power in Rome after its transformation from a republic into an empire in 27 BCE. A one-time private secretary to one of those emperors, Hadrian, Suetonius was intimately familiar with court life. In the Twelve Caesars, he uses that knowledge to shed light on the highs and lows of the empire’s early years, as well as on the virtues and all-too-human failings of its supposedly divine rulers. 

Who should read The Twelve Caesars?

  • History buffs
  • Classicists
  • Fans of drama and intrigue

15
The Diary of a Young Girl

The Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank
The famous story of a Jewish girl who went into hiding during the Second World War
4.9 (101 ratings)

What's The Diary of a Young Girl about?

The Diary of a Young Girl (first published 1952; this edition 1977) tells the story of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who went into hiding with her family during the Second World War. It offers a remarkable portrait of a maturing young woman forced into an unbelievable situation but rising to the occasion. In her diary, Anne shares her thoughts and dreams, revealing a remarkable talent that was tragically taken from the world, along with millions of other lives during the Holocaust.

Who should read The Diary of a Young Girl?

  • People interested in stories of life during wartime
  • Anyone who likes true stories of resilience and survival
  • Young women looking for inspirational figures

16
A Peace to End All Peace

A Peace to End All Peace

David Fromkin
The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and Creation of the Modern Middle East
4.5 (145 ratings)

What's A Peace to End All Peace about?

The Middle East today is a hotbed of violence and war. Whether the civil war in Syria or the intractable Arab-Israeli conflict, peace in the region seems a far-off dream. Yet how did the Middle East become so unstable? In A Peace to End All Peace (1989), you’ll learn that European colonial ambitions during World War I were the catalyst that led to today’s modern crises.

Who should read A Peace to End All Peace?

  • Anyone interested in understanding the Middle East
  • Political junkies
  • Students of history or international relations

17
Elizabeth the Queen

Elizabeth the Queen

Sally Bedell Smith
The Life of a Modern Monarch
3.9 (209 ratings)

What's Elizabeth the Queen about?

Elizabeth the Queen (2012) is a brisk yet in-depth exposé of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Tracing key moments in her life, big and small, lighthearted and tragic, it pulls back the curtain on a most singular figure. Elizabeth II was at once a woman who struggled to balance her roles as both mother and monarch; a leader who learned to embody dignity and diplomacy; and the calm epicenter of the drama that ever swirled around her closest relations.

Who should read Elizabeth the Queen?

  • Royal watchers and anglophiles
  • Americans interested in British politics
  • Biography lovers

18
The Cold War

The Cold War

Robert J. McMahon
A Very Short Introduction
4.6 (204 ratings)

What's The Cold War about?

The Cold War (2003) provides an overview of the conflict that defined the second half of the twentieth century. Beginning in the immediate aftermath of World War Two, it traces the Cold War’s development through the rest of the century, laying out its underlying causes and overall contours.

Who should read The Cold War?

  • History buffs
  • Students of military strategy and foreign relations 
  • Those who want to understand one of the twentieth century’s defining conflicts

19
The Forgotten 500

The Forgotten 500

Gregory A. Freeman
The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II
4.6 (183 ratings)

What's The Forgotten 500 about?

The Forgotten 500 (2007) tells the story of Allied airmen who were trapped behind enemy lines in World War II and the courageous citizens of Yugoslavia who risked everything to help them get home. For political reasons, the story remained classified for decades until the 1980s. But now, the events leading to the largest rescue operation of the war are available to us all.

Who should read The Forgotten 500?

  • Any and all who are interested in the Balkans or World War II history
  • Serbians and Americans looking to learn more about their nations’ past
  • Everyone who enjoys a riveting story about people overcoming overwhelming odds

20
Destiny Disrupted

Destiny Disrupted

Tamim Ansary
A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes
4.4 (97 ratings)

What's Destiny Disrupted about?

Destiny Disrupted (2009) tells history from an Islamic perspective. It begins before the emergence of Muhammad and Islam in the seventh century CE and ends with the decline of the Islamic empires in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. On this epic journey, Tamim Ansary describes the fascinating stories of great Muslim states, scholars and leaders – a perspective on history that is, unfortunately, widely unknown to most Westerners.

Who should read Destiny Disrupted?

  • Historians and students of religion
  • Westerners curious about the Islamic perspective on world history
  • Readers eager to learn more about Islamic culture and religion

21
Killing the Rising Sun

Killing the Rising Sun

Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
How America Vanquished World War II Japan
4.3 (73 ratings)

What's Killing the Rising Sun about?

Killing the Rising Sun (2016) tells the story of the Pacific War, which took place between 1941 and 1945, and its main belligerents, the United States and Japan. From the attack on Pearl Harbor to bloody invasions of Japan to the development of the world’s first atomic bomb, the book portrays the brutality of World War II from a US perspective, and describes how the war was eventually won.

Who should read Killing the Rising Sun?

  • Fans of world history and politics
  • Military enthusiasts
  • Anyone obsessed with or fascinated by the story of World War II

22
Dominion

Dominion

Tom Holland
How the Christian Revolution Remade the World
4.4 (70 ratings)

What's Dominion about?

Dominion (2021) is a grandiose look at the impact Christianity has had on the development of the Western mind. From its roots in antiquity to the pop singles of the twentieth century, the story follows the dramatic development of Christian thought over three thousand years.

Who should read Dominion?

  • Lovers of broad-sweep history
  • Those looking for an insouciant take on European history
  • Anyone who thinks they know what Christianity is all about

23
Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Simon Sebag Montefiore
The Biography
4.1 (94 ratings)

What's Jerusalem about?

Jerusalem (2011) tells the story of a city considered holy by three of the world’s major religions, and which is central to some of the greatest conflicts in human history. These blinks detail the history of Jerusalem, the near-constant battles it has inspired and the fundamental role it has played in shaping humankind over the course of millennia.

Who should read Jerusalem?

  • Anyone interested in theology, history and war
  • Jews, Christians and Muslims
  • Anyone interested in the crucial precursors to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East

24
The Happiest Man on Earth

The Happiest Man on Earth

Eddie Jaku
The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor
4.8 (388 ratings)

What's The Happiest Man on Earth about?

The Happiest Man on Earth (2020) is the true story of one man, who survived inconceivable horrors during the Holocaust, and afterward made it his mission to change the world for the better. Eddie Jaku saw first-hand how a Fascist regime could spark anti-Semitic hatred, and turn former friends and neighbors into killers. In talking about what happened, he shares how love and kindness helped him to survive one of the worst atrocities in human history.

Who should read The Happiest Man on Earth?

  • History buffs interested in the Holocaust and fascism
  • Memoir-lovers excited to hear the story of an extraordinary man
  • People who want to learn more about surviving complex trauma

25
The Nightingale

The Nightingale

Kristin Hannah
A Novel
4.9 (22 ratings)

What's The Nightingale about?

The Nightingale (2015) is a historical novel telling the often-neglected story of those left behind when soldiers go off to war. Set in northwestern France during World War II and told through the eyes of two sisters, this sweeping saga reveals the hidden horrors, and heroism, of the survivors.

Who should read The Nightingale?

  • Historical fiction buffs looking for a well-told tale from a new angle
  • Literature lovers craving epic stories of survival
  • Anyone interested in the true costs of war on all fronts

26
The Gates of Europe

The Gates of Europe

Serhii Plokhy
A History of Ukraine
4.3 (265 ratings)

What's The Gates of Europe about?

The Gates of Europe (2015) offers a compelling overview of the history of Ukraine, a nation which lies between the East and the West. Due to this unique geographic position, Ukraine has been fought over and subjugated by a long line of imperial forces throughout history. Indeed, the history of Ukraine is one of the most important facets in the history of Europe.

Who should read The Gates of Europe?

  • History buffs
  • People curious about Russian-Ukrainian relations
  • Anyone interested in democracy

27
Powers and Thrones

Powers and Thrones

Dan Jones
A New History of the Middle Ages
4.6 (312 ratings)

What's Powers and Thrones about?

Powers and Thrones (2021) is a comprehensive history of the Middle Ages. Tracing time from the fall of the western Roman Empire to the Protestant Reformation, these blinks reveal how forces such as global networks, climate change, mass migration, pandemics, and technological innovation, as well as political leaders, the clergy, and knights, shaped the medieval world.

Who should read Powers and Thrones?

  • History nerds fascinated by the Middle Ages
  • Anyone curious about the history of pandemics
  • Sociologists, archeologists, and political scientists

28
The Black Jacobins

The Black Jacobins

C.L.R. James
Toussaint L’Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution
4.6 (67 ratings)

What's The Black Jacobins about?

The Black Jacobins (1938) traces the remarkable history of the revolution in the French colony of San Domingo (modern day Haiti). It describes the events that helped the revolution become the first successful slave rebellion in history.

In particular, The Black Jacobins views the events through the prism of the revolution’s greatest figure, Toussaint L’Ouverture. It shows how he, a former slave who was inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, successfully defeated the European empires and helped to destroy the brutal practice of slavery in San Domingo.

Who should read The Black Jacobins?

  • Students of history and postcolonial studies
  • Anyone who wants to understand why people revolt
  • Anyone interested in how political ideas can change the world

29
The Anglo-Saxons

The Anglo-Saxons

Marc Morris
The Roots of England
4.7 (193 ratings)

What's The Anglo-Saxons about?

The Anglo-Saxons (2021) is a history of the Germanic warriors and settlers whose arrival in Britain in the sixth century changed the course of the island’s history. Beginning with the collapse of Roman rule, it charts the rise of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, their conversion to Christianity, and the gradual unification of the country that became known as England. Along the way, it sheds light on the development of England’s language, culture, cities, and political and religious institutions. 

Who should read The Anglo-Saxons?

  • History buffs 
  • Anglophiles 
  • Medievalists

30
Endurance

Endurance

Alfred Lansing
Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
4.7 (245 ratings)

What's Endurance about?

Endurance (1959) is the epic saga of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s expedition across the Antarctic continent on foot – a journey that became a race against time, the elements, and the harshest climate on earth to rescue his crew.

Who should read Endurance?

  • Leaders longing for real-world examples of extraordinary ability
  • History buffs craving a front-row seat to the action
  • Adventure lovers seeking their next armchair thrill ride

31
The Mosquito Bowl

The Mosquito Bowl

Buzz Bissinger
A Game of Life and Death in World War II

What's The Mosquito Bowl about?

The Mosquito Bowl (2022) tells the story of American football stars going to war and playing one more game when they get there. It details a nation divided by bigotry but united by sport and a common enemy.

Who should read The Mosquito Bowl?

  • History buffs
  • World War II aficionados
  • College football fans

32
The Plantagenets

The Plantagenets

Dan Jones
The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England
4.5 (173 ratings)

What's The Plantagenets about?

The Plantagenets (2012) is a rollicking history of eight generations of English royal rule. From the Crusades through the signing of Magna Carta and up to the start of the Hundred Years’ War, the House of Plantagenet ruled during some of the most thrilling times of English history.

Who should read The Plantagenets?

  • Lovers of high drama and intrigue
  • Game of Thrones fans
  • Medieval history fanatics

33
The Square and the Tower

The Square and the Tower

Niall Ferguson
Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook
4.3 (54 ratings)

What's The Square and the Tower about?

Our networked lives are often seen as a product of the recent past. After all, didn’t the internet, social media, globalized trade and international terrorist networks first emerge in the late twentieth century? Renowned historian Niall Ferguson begs to differ. Providing a sweeping overview of Western history, from the birth of the printing press to the election of Donald Trump, The Square and the Tower (2018) offers a compelling argument that networks have been a key driver of historical change for a very long time and will only become more important in the future.

Who should read The Square and the Tower?

  • History buffs who love grand theories about the past
  • Anyone who’s befuddled by recent political events
  • Social media professionals keen to learn how networks can change the world

34
A Woman of No Importance

A Woman of No Importance

Sonia Purnell
The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II
4.7 (81 ratings)

What's A Woman of No Importance about?

A Woman of No Importance (2019) sheds light on the shadowy world of wartime espionage and the career of one of the Allies’ most effective spies in the battle against Nazi Germany – Virginia Hall. In these blinks, we’ll follow Virginia from her Maryland home to the jazz clubs of interwar Paris and the warren-like streets of Lyon, the city in which she learned her trade. Along the way, you’ll discover how the “limping lady” dodged Gestapo agents, martialled the French resistance and revolutionized spycraft.

Who should read A Woman of No Importance?

  • Adventure addicts 
  • History buffs 
  • Francophiles 

35
Figuring

Figuring

Maria Popova
An exploration of the surprising connections between historical figures
4.1 (68 ratings)

What's Figuring about?

Figuring (2019) traces the intricate web that connects important figures from human history, from German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and inventor Nikola Tesla to America’s first female astronomer Maria Mitchell and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. These blinks pick up the tapestry of these different lives, trace the impact that they had on the course of history, and reveal the secret driving force that unites them all.

Who should read Figuring?

  • Voracious readers across all genres
  • Poets who love science
  • Scientists who love poetry

36
Why The West Rules – For Now

Why The West Rules – For Now

Ian Morris
The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future
4.4 (70 ratings)

What's Why The West Rules – For Now about?

Why The West Rules – For Now (2010) is a treatise on Western rule. It examines what “the West” is and how its current dominance came about. Starting with the earliest development of humankind, it rules out racist genetic beliefs and theories of cultural superiority. It describes how East and West have been locked neck and neck in a race for advancement up to the present day. And, of course, it goes on to address the question: will the West’s dominance last?

Who should read Why The West Rules – For Now?

  • Anyone wondering why or if the West rules – and what “the West” is
  • Historians and archaeologists
  • Politicians and those interested in politics

37
River of the Gods

River of the Gods

Candice Millard
Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile
4.2 (19 ratings)

What's River of the Gods about?

River of the Gods (2022) follows two audacious individuals as they search for the source of the world’s longest river. At the time, this was a question of mythical proportions, and one which would consume and break the men sent to answer it.

Who should read River of the Gods?

  • History buffs
  • Travel lovers
  • Anyone who grew up with navigation apps on their smartphone

38
Say Nothing

Say Nothing

Patrick Keefe
A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
4.2 (40 ratings)

What's Say Nothing about?

Say Nothing (2018) explores a shocking true story of murder during the Northern Ireland Conflict. These blinks are a compelling meditation on one of the darkest chapters of Irish history, and shine a light on some of the key figures in the conflict as well as the period’s most notorious atrocities.

Who should read Say Nothing?

  • History buffs looking for fresh insights
  • True crime enthusiasts
  • Avid news readers interested in international relations

39
Dark Towers

Dark Towers

David Enrich
Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and an Epic Trail of Destruction
4.4 (82 ratings)

What's Dark Towers about?

Dark Towers (2020) is a heavily researched look into the ignominious rise and devastating fall of Deutsche Bank. Over the course of 150 years, the bank helped build the American railroad system, funded Nazi genocide, schmoozed Russian oligarchs, and had a hand in the election of President Donald Trump. When Deutsche executive Bill Broeksmit killed himself in 2014, he came to symbolize the destructive power of the bank’s institutional greed.

Who should read Dark Towers?

  • People who work in finance
  • Anyone still mad about the government’s Wall Street bailout
  • Stock market watchers

40
Ordinary Men

Ordinary Men

Christopher R. Browning
Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland
4.6 (19 ratings)

What's Ordinary Men about?

Ordinary Men (1992) tells the disturbing tale of how a group of men went from “ordinary” to brutal, hardened killers executing the Nazi mission during the Holocaust. It examines in detail the evolution of these men’s attitudes, from the beginning when most experienced disgust at the gruesome tasks they were asked to carry out, through to the end when almost all had become accustomed to the cruelty and some even came to delight in it. Above all, it is a warning and a reminder of what humanity is capable of in its darkest moments.

Who should read Ordinary Men?

  • World War II and Holocaust historians
  • Survivors of the Holocaust and their relatives and ancestors
  • Anyone who thinks themselves incapable of acts of cruelty

41
The Spy and the Traitor

The Spy and the Traitor

Ben Macintyre
The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
4.6 (87 ratings)

What's The Spy and the Traitor about?

The Spy and the Traitor (2018) details the real-life spy story of Oleg Gordievsky, the Soviet double-agent whose efforts contributed to the end of the Cold War. These blinks trace Gordievsky’s progress through the KGB and his years spying for MI6, the British secret service, before his final daring escape to the West.

Who should read The Spy and the Traitor?

  • Fans of espionage and spy stories
  • History buffs looking for a fresh perspective on the Cold War
  • Political science nerds who want to see realpolitik in action

42
A Spy Among Friends

A Spy Among Friends

Ben Macintyre
Philby and the Great Betrayal
4.2 (45 ratings)

What's A Spy Among Friends about?

A Spy Among Friends (2014) details the life of Kim Philby, a highly respected operative who rose through the ranks of the British secret services during World War II and the Cold War. Though a seeming paragon of British values, he actually spent his career working as a double agent for the Russians.

Who should read A Spy Among Friends?

  • Fans of John Le Carré and other spy novelists
  • People interested in the history of the Cold War
  • Espionage enthusiasts and would-be spies

43
Agent Sonya

Agent Sonya

Ben Macintyre
Moscow’s Most Daring Wartime Spy
4.5 (55 ratings)

What's Agent Sonya about?

Agent Sonya (2020) is the biography of a respectable housewife, who also just happened to be one of Soviet intelligence’s most intrepid and high-ranking spies. The book traces the life of Ursula Kuczynski, code-name Sonya, from her birth in Berlin, through her radicalization as a communist and her career as a spy who both foiled the Nazis and arguably kicked off the Cold War.

Who should read Agent Sonya?

  • World War II history buffs
  • Espionage enthusiasts
  • Anyone who loves the thrill and suspense of a good spy story

44
All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days

All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days

Rebecca Donner
The True Story of the American Woman at the Heart of the German Resistance to Hitler
4.6 (152 ratings)

What's All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days about?

All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days (2021) offers a deeply intimate look at individuals who risked their lives by establishing an anti-Nazi resistance movement in Germany. With years of research, and access to letters and declassified documents, this is a detailed story about people who have often been overlooked in the fight against fascism.

Who should read All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days?

  • Fans of real-world espionage stories
  • People curious about life in WWII-era Germany
  • History buffs

45
This Blessed Plot

This Blessed Plot

Hugo Young
Britain and Europe From Churchill to Blair
4.1 (33 ratings)

What's This Blessed Plot about?

Nowadays, it’s common knowledge that Britain sees itself as distinct from the rest of Europe. For instance, they use the pound instead of the euro and do not take part in the EU free travel zone. But how did Britain’s relationship with Europe end up like this? That’s what This Blessed Plot (1998) is all about. It explains that, since WWII, Britain has had a conflicted relationship with the European project, filled with negotiations and exemptions. With the “Brexit” now on everyone’s mind, find out more about this complicated history and what it might be able to tell us about Britain’s future.

Who should read This Blessed Plot?

  • Anyone interested in the “Brexit” referendum
  • Political junkies
  • Students of modern European history

46
Flash Crash

Flash Crash

Liam Vaughan
A Trading Savant, a Global Manhunt, and the Most Mysterious Market Crash in History
4.6 (69 ratings)

What's Flash Crash about?

Flash Crash (2020) tells the story of the “Hound of Hounslow,” Navinder Singh Sarao, a British man accused of triggering the sudden and dramatic stock market crash of 2010. This is a detailed and fast-paced tale of global fraud and quixotic dreams.

Who should read Flash Crash?

  • Those with an interest in financial fraud and daring swindles 
  • Fans of gripping investigative journalism
  • Anyone who follows global finance

47
Bedtime Biography: Stasiland

Bedtime Biography: Stasiland

Anna Funder
Scenes From Behind the Berlin Wall
4.6 (276 ratings)

What's Bedtime Biography: Stasiland about?

Read to you by Karen Cass.

In East Germany, a spy agency called the Stasi built the most sophisticated surveillance network the world has ever seen. For almost 30 years, East Germans were confined physically by the Berlin Wall, but the Stasi’s network of spies and informers was responsible for keeping them in check mentally. It’s hard to imagine what everyday life is like for victims of a surveillance state. Stasiland is their story.

Who should read Bedtime Biography: Stasiland?

  • Cold War buffs
  • People interested in true-life espionage
  • History fans

48
Letter to the American Church

Letter to the American Church

Eric Metaxas
A Call for Christians and Church Leaders to Learn From the Past
3.9 (19 ratings)

What's Letter to the American Church about?

Letter to the American Church (2022) is part cautionary tale, part call-to-action to churches in America. It challenges Christians to speak up and be more involved in shaping the state of the country, even if that means getting political.

Who should read Letter to the American Church ?

  • Christians interested in politics
  • Lutheran scholars
  • Church leaders

49
The Congo from Leopold to Kabila

The Congo from Leopold to Kabila

Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja
A People’s History
4.4 (69 ratings)

What's The Congo from Leopold to Kabila about?

The Congo from Leopold to Kabila (2002) is the history of the Congolese democratic movement in the twentieth century. The history begins with Belgian colonial rule, working its way through Mobutu’s reign of terror, before looking at the Congo Wars and concluding with the prolific unrest still rampant at the turn of the century. This survey illuminates how exploitative external interests and internal weaknesses have hampered the Congolese democratic movement and proposes how it might still advance.

Who should read The Congo from Leopold to Kabila?

  • Curious minds interested in Congolese history and its democracy movement
  • Students of colonial and postcolonial history
  • Africans and non-Africans seeking African history as told from an insider perspective

50
Russian Roulette

Russian Roulette

Michael Isikoff and David Corn
The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump
4.1 (47 ratings)

What's Russian Roulette about?

Russian Roulette (2018) relates the results of an investigation by two journalists into the Russian interference in the 2016 American presidential election. These include details on Trump’s business ties to Russia, the Russian connections of his campaign team, the Russian hacking of Democratic institutions, the disinformation campaigns on social media and what Russian intelligence might have gathered to compromise Trump. The blinks also tell how the American intelligence community and the Obama administration reacted to the Russian hacking.

Who should read Russian Roulette?

  • News junkies interested in the 2016 US presidential election
  • Concerned citizens who want to know more about Trump’s ties to Russia
  • Students of politics seeking an explanation for why Trump won

51
Bedtime Biography: Queen of Fashion

Bedtime Biography: Queen of Fashion

Caroline Weber
What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution
4.5 (53 ratings)

What's Bedtime Biography: Queen of Fashion about?

Narrated by Marston York

Music by Federico Coderoni

Queen of Fashion (2006) unveils the untold ways in which Marie Antoinette, with her iconoclastic sense of fashion and rebellious nature, challenged the status quo of 18th century French court. Expressing herself through daring originality, her story reveals a great deal about the revolutionary politics that make up the history of both fashion and France.

Who should read Bedtime Biography: Queen of Fashion?

  • Fashionistas wanting to know more about the link between power and clothing
  • Francophiles obsessed with Marie Antoinette
  • History students interested in the French Revolution

52
The Light of Days

The Light of Days

Judy Batalion
The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos
4.6 (74 ratings)

What's The Light of Days about?

The Light of Days (2021) tells the thrilling and harrowing story of the Jewish women in Nazi-occupied Poland who served as resistance fighters during World War II. These women took up arms in ghetto uprisings and served as important couriers on dangerous missions to transport guns and supplies across a hostile territory.

Who should read The Light of Days?

  • History buffs
  • Anyone interested in forgotten World War II stories
  • People who are inspired by fearless women

53
The Secret Barrister

The Secret Barrister

The Secret Barrister
Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken
4.2 (25 ratings)

What's The Secret Barrister about?

The Secret Barrister (2019) takes a behind-the-scenes look at the often chaotic and frighteningly disorganized world of England and Wales’ criminal justice system. As revealed by an experienced criminal barrister, the current system is woefully underfunded and suffering from a lack of resources, yet is also under threat from proposed reforms that would impose further cuts. However, there are some reasonable ways for the system to improve.

Who should read The Secret Barrister?

  • Students of law and ethics
  • Fans of true crime
  • Advocates for prison reform

54
Fake Law

Fake Law

The Secret Barrister
The Truth About Justice in an Age of Lies
4.7 (30 ratings)

What's Fake Law about?

Fake Law (2020) examines the truth behind some of Britain’s most infamous crimes and criminal trials. Packed with insights into how the law really works, these blinks explore the disconnect between the reality of the justice system, and how it’s portrayed in the media.

Who should read Fake Law?

  • True crime fans
  • Law students looking for a fresh perspective
  • Anyone interested in current affairs

55
One of Us

One of Us

Åsne Seierstad
The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway

What's One of Us about?

One of Us (2015) tells the story of Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian terrorist who killed 77 people on July 22, 2011. Beginning with Breivik’s personal life and detailing the development of his extremist political views and his planning of the massacre, these blinks give you an unflinching look into the mind of the man who carried out this devastating and senseless attack.

Who should read One of Us?

  • Those curious about the most tragic day in recent Norwegian history
  • People hoping to gain insight into the mind of a terrorist
  • Anyone interested in how dangerous poor police work can be

56
Nine Pints

Nine Pints

Rose George
A Journey Through the Money, Medicine, and Mysteries of Blood
4.4 (38 ratings)

What's Nine Pints about?

Nine Pints (2018) explores the rich but neglected story of blood. Taking a panoramic view and approaching the subject from multiple angles, Rose George looks into the science of blood and details some of the institutions, businesses and taboos that have arisen around this vital fluid.

Who should read Nine Pints?

  • Armchair doctors fascinated by medical science
  • Anyone not clued up on the brilliance of blood
  • Squeamish souls who need to face their fears

57
Wagnerism

Wagnerism

Alex Ross
Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music
4.5 (62 ratings)

What's Wagnerism about?

Wagnerism (2020) chronicles how the works of Richard Wagner have influenced thinkers in the years since his death. Exploring the multitude of ways in which people have interpreted his music, it looks beyond his artistic legacy to his political influence – most of all on the Nazi party.

Who should read Wagnerism?

  • Classical music fans who want to broaden their knowledge
  • Historians interested in the role of music and culture
  • Politics enthusiasts who want to explore the history of ideas

58
The Full Catastrophe

The Full Catastrophe

James Angelos
Travels Among the New Greek Ruins

What's The Full Catastrophe about?

The Full Catastrophe (2015) takes you beyond the headlines on the Greek debt crisis to discover how citizens in Greece and beyond have survived it. Through real-life interviews with people in mountain villages, tourist resorts and in the capital city of Athens, the author lays bare the effects of government budget cuts, austerity policies and endemic corruption.

Who should read The Full Catastrophe?

  • People interested in international politics or European policy
  • Anyone who wants to understand the Greek debt crisis
  • Economists or students of economics examining the effects of austerity

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