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Ge's avatar

Not often I see someone else who has read John. J Stephan, but his work on the Russian Far East is definitely interesting and in a style that is very readable. If you liked that one, try another of his, "The Russian Fascists: Tragedy and Farce in Exile, 1925-1945". Very focused on the goings-on in Manchukuo in that time period with some...colourful White emigres, something that is mostly forgotten now. (Though it was written way before the Soviet archives opened up more, which changes some stories)

Eleanor's avatar

The Succession to Mohammed by Madelung;

Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean;

The Edwardian Crisis, Powell

The Origins of the First World War, Joll

The Long Road to the Industrial Revolution, Van Zanden

These were probably the most enjoyable five

H.D. Miller's avatar

Back when I still taught Ancient history I used Syme's book. It explains the collapse of the Republic better than any other book I'd read. Also, just very well written.

Jim Crosby's avatar

Got through 24 books this year (hopefully 25 as I finish the Fagles Odyssey in the next few days), I think a record for my adult life.

Favorites included Dune, Sorel’s “Reflections on Violence,” a collection of Balzac’s short stories, “Inside Hitler’s High Command” by Geoffrey Megargee, “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt, and “Hitler’s War Poets” by Jay W. Baird.

Gym+Fritz's avatar

Looking back over the last few years, it’s hard to say what has really happened, much less understand why. The seven step process of “Agents of Change” offers an interesting insight.

Brendan's avatar

I'm off X now but I've always appreciated your realism about Canada

Kevin's avatar

I always look forward to your reading lists. My own reading fell off a little this year but some highlights were:

Godfather of the Kremlin, Paul Klebnikov

Provoked, Scott Horton

The Normans in the South, John Julius Norwich

Adolf Hitler, John Toland

Stalin's War, Sean McMeekin

Plagues and Peoples, William H McNeill

That last one I got from you Nemets

annademo's avatar

I'm about to start reading "Always with Honor" by General Wrangel. My father was a Kuban Cossack.