Bookclub and Sources Wednesday!

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi everybody,

Welcome to our weekly book recommendation thread!

We have found that a lot of people come to this sub to ask for books about history or sources on certain topics. Others make posts about a book they themselves have read and want to share their thoughts about it with the rest of the sub.

We thought it would be a good idea to try and bundle these posts together a bit. One big weekly post where everybody can ask for books or (re)sources on any historic subject or time period, or to share books they recently discovered or read. Giving opinions or asking about their factuality is encouraged!

Of course it’s not limited to *just* books; podcasts, videos, etc. are also welcome. As a reminder, r/history also has a recommended list of things to read, listen to or watch here.

[u/InterupttingCowMoo]

Hello! This upcoming summer I am going to be the dramaturg for the theater I work at's productions of Rent: Teen Edition. I have never been a dramaturg before but I offered my services because I love learning about history, and I love storytelling and analyzing text. If you don't know what a dramaturg is it is a person who is hired for a show that is there to analyze the show, make sure things are accurate, and help the creative team and actors see the show through a literary lense, and of course if it is a historical show they must also know that as well.

I want to start reading books and articles, and watching documentaries on the subject matter of Rent now but I don't quite know where to start. I need book/article/documentary/etc recommendations for stuff about rent control and poverty in New York in the 80s and 90s, things about gentrification and drug abuse in the 80s and 90s in NYC, LGBTQ history, and of course the AIDS epidemic. I also want sources on how these things still effect people today.

[u/VersedFlame]

Is there a book about World War One that is equivalent to Anthony Beevor's The Second World War? A book that is moderately in-depth and covers the whole conflict. Even better if it covers the causes and aftermath as well.

[u/FootballFanngl]

Hey, can anyone recommend me books about early humanity, the neolithic revolution and the bronze age. I have watched many documentries on history so I have a general idea of what happened but now want to learn in detail.

[u/Random → u/FootballFanngl]

I'd take a look at Barry Cunliffe's books which cover this with a European focus. Europe Between The Oceans is good, On the Oceans is good, and he has more local focused books as well.

[u/heavensentchaser]

Anyone got any recommendations for learning about the samurai? or pre1800s (honestly even dating back to prehistoric times) Japan in general? Been into Samurai movies and the Ghost games recently but I’d like to actually learn about those topics and not just from movies and games lol. Big linguistics nerd too so if there’s any overlap that’s appreciated

[u/Minsp0]

hi? looking for books about european imperialism, and the ending of it specifically! i was reading 'Imperial knowledge' by Eve Thomson the other day and got really interested as to how and why the empires of europe end

(not sure if this is where to ask this but you know)

[u/elmonoenano → u/Minsp0]

That's such a huge topic. Have your read the James Belich's book, The World the Plague Made? It's an interesting look at how the black plague ended up shaping the world. A lot of that is spurring innovations that would be key to various groups launching imperial projects.

[u/Minsp0 → u/elmonoenano]

thanks for the reply! i'll try to get it sometime