From List Muse:
1. A Study of History by Arnold J. Toynbee
Arnold Toynbee’s A Study of History is his magnum opus. In it he analyses the rise and fall of all 26 of the great world civilizations; whereas, previous historians had mainly concentrated on the West. Toynbee traces general themes focusing on the genesis, growth, and disintegration of civilizations; whereas, previous historians had mainly concentrated on the West. Toynbee traces general themes focusing on the genesis, growth, and disintegration of civilizations. Arnold was one of the most influential historians of the 20th century but due perhaps to his spiritual and religious outlook, that pervades much of his work, he has lost popularity.
2. The Making of the English Working Class by E. P. Thompson
This book transformed our understanding of English social history. Thompson revealed how working class people were not merely victims of history, moved by powerful forces outside of themselves, but were also active in creating their own culture and future, during the degradation of the industrial revolution.
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6. Plagues and Peoples by William H. McNeill
William McNeill’s Plagues and Peoples theorises about the impact disease has had on human history. He examines the influence plagues may have had on various events, such as the development of Chinese civilisation, the renaissance and the downfall of the Roman Empire.
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12. The Origins of The Second World War by A.J.P. Taylor
The Origins of the Second World War is a history book by A.J.P. Taylor. In it he looks at the causes of World War II. It was controversial at the time for holding all sides to account for the outbreak of war, but has since been recognised as a classic.
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20. Battle Cry of Freedom by James M. McPherson
James McPherson’s classic account of the Civil War era focusses not just on the war but the lead up too. Another fundamental theme is the many interpretations of liberty, as both sides believed they were fighting for the freedoms won in the Revolution. Battle Cry of Freedom won the Pulitzer prize and was included on the Modern Library’s best 100 nonfiction books of the 20th Century.
. . . .
27. The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman
The Pulitzer Prize winning, The Guns of August, by Barbara W. Tuchman, is focussed on the first month of World War I. Tuchman explains in detail the events that led to the war. The book was featured in the Modern Library’s Top 100 nonfiction books of the 20th Century.
Link to the rest at List Muse
PG notes that any lists like these invariably reflect the listmaker’s point of view. PG notes only one book by John Keegan, listed as number 81, which he believes should be ranked much higher, along with several other Keegan books. PG would also add several other works by Barbara Tuchman.
However, there are many excellent books on the list and, if you don’t mind reading physical books, most are available used at low prices.
Really? No Will and Ariel Dumont? No Winston Churchill? Hardly worth considering, then.
This struck me as a rather odd list, a mix of true classics with titles that mostly tells us about the list author’s political biases.
Toynbee, at number one, is a book that was pretty much being treated as a joke when I read it 50 years ago and I don’t think much has changed (or that a change is called for). There are plenty of good books in the list but also plenty that mainly illustrate the potentially deleterious effects of an historian’s ideological commitments.
“Battle Cry of Freedom” is by far the best book about the civil war I have ever read. It is much less a military history and much more a political history. Cannot recommend it enough.