The History Book Club discussion

That is great Don....we will be glad to have you join the conversation.

Hi folks, I'm currently reading Hugh Kennedy's book "The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam changed the World we live in". I am about half way through and so far it’s been a very enjoyable book, entertaining and full of interesting facts with an easy to read narrative, overall a well-presented history.

by Hugh Kennedy

I have another of his books that I will have to add to my reading list:

by Hugh Kennedy

At the moment I'm reading The Real History Behind the Templars. I have always run across convoluted stories of the Templars, I'm hoping this one can shed some light on the questions I have. :)

La-asia, thanks for sharing a book you are reading now. Be sure to let us know how you like it!

And thanks for including the link. We like to also include the author link (photo if possible) to help with the cross referencing. Here it is for you:

Jbunniii wrote: "I just started



last night. I'm only on page 40 but so far it is at the same high standard as its pre..."

Hi Jbunniii, it sounds like you are really enjoying your book, I smiled at your description that its; "like drinking a well-crafted cup of tea after a wild binge the night before" - great!

Elizabeth S wrote: "La-asia, thanks for sharing a book you are reading now. Be sure to let us know how you like it!

And thanks for including the link. We like to also include the author link (photo if possible) to ..."

Thank you Elizabeth! :)

La-asia wrote: "At the moment I'm reading The Real History Behind the Templars. I have always run across convoluted stories of the Templars, I'm hoping this one can shed some light on the questions I..."

Hi La-asia, I love books on the Knights Templars, my two favourites to date have been:

by Piers Paul Read

by John J. Robinson

I love the Claudius books.

Just saw there was a list of books about the Crusades over at Listopia.

Hi all, I am just picking up
by Andrew Wheatcroft.

I had started it before the holidays but it was on my Kindle and for some reason, I forgot about it for a bit! Quite an interesting read about the seige of Vienna.

I'm going to have to add Claudius the God to my list - loved I, Claudius but never picked up the second book.

Susanna wrote: "I love the Claudius books.

Just saw there was a list of books about the Crusades over at Listopia."

Yes, I started one at Regulo's request.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi folks, I'm currently reading Hugh Kennedy's book "The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam changed the World we live in". I am about half way through and so far it’s been a very enjoyab..."

Aussie Rick, I was going to tell you about Enemy at the Gate, but looks like you have read it already!

Do you have a favorite book on the Crusades or the Templars? I'm fascinated by them but haven't really read much beyond Warriors of God by James Reston.

Julie wrote: "Hi all, I am just picking up The Enemy at the Gate: Habsburgs, Ottomans, and the Battle for Europe by Andrew Wheatcroft. I had started it before the holidays but it was on my Kindle ..."

Hello Julie,

One of our group's requirements is that whenever we cite a book..we also add the book cover and the author's link.

Andrew Wheatcroft

These links allow the goodreads software to populate our site and the proper fields.

Thanks,

Bentley

Bentley - sorry about that. I'm still very new to all this!! I'll go and edit my post!

No problem Julie...we understand.

Started by the other night. Very interesting. "He" is almost always Thomas Cromwell.

Julie wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi folks, I'm currently reading Hugh Kennedy's book "The Great Arab Conquests: How the Spread of Islam changed the World we live in". I am about half way through and so far it..."

Hi Julie, I love books on the Crusade and Templars, you should duck across to the Crusade thread in Military History to have a look at some of the books discussed there. Another recent member, La-asia, also enjoys books on the Templars so she may also be able to offer a few good titles. My two favourites to date have been:

by Piers Paul Read

by John J. Robinson

Well I have come to the end of my book; "The Great Arab Crusades" and it has been an interesting and enjoyable trip with the author examining the rise and spread of Islam in the Middle East. I'd like to offer this from the final page of the book:

"In the final analysis, the success of the Muslim conquest was a result of the unstable and improverished nature of the whole post-Roman world into which they came, the hardiness and self-reliance of the Bedouin warriors and the inspiration and open quality of the new religion of Islam."

by Hugh Kennedy

I am now going to start one of my Christmas books; "Medic: Saving Lives - From Dunkirk to Afghanistan"

by John Nichol

Thank you for referencing Wolf Hall - one of my top 5 eras in history!

Best,
Linda Pagliuco

Susanna wrote: "Started by the other night. Very interesting. "He" is almost always Thomas Cromwell."

Susanna wrote: "Started by the other night. Very interesting. "He" is almost always Thomas Cromwell."

Susanna, I recently picked up Wolf Hall so I'm looking forward to reading it at some point this year. Apparently, it gives a more benevolent look at Cromwell than history has generally provided him. It should be very interesting.

I am finding it interesting so far, certainly.

I wonder how many people out there have the same problem that I have sometimes when it comes to picking what to read next. I can agonise for half-an-hour or more sometimes picking up one book and then another trying to work out which title I should or need to read. I had that problem today when trying to work out whether to go for "1800 Marengo and Hohenlinden" or "History of the Wars, books I-II". In the end I settled for "1800".

[image error] by Colonel George Armand Furse

by Procopius

I have the exact same problem, Aussie Rick!

Within the last week, I have started...

"Broadsides: The Age of Fighting Sail, 1775-1815" by Nathan Miller
"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien and
"Jefferson and Monticello: The Biography of a Builder" by Jack McLaughlin

by Nathan Miller

by Tim O'Brien

by Jack McLaughlin

by I have settled with "John Marshall: Definer of a Nation" by Jean Edward Smith.

by Jean Edward Smith

Joe wrote: "I have the exact same problem, Aussie Rick!

Within the last week, I have started...

"Broadsides: The Age of Fighting Sail, 1775-1815" by Nathan Miller
"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien and..."

Hi Joe, I figured that there must have been others out there afflicted with the same problem! The book "Broadsides" is a great book by the way, I'm sure you'll enjoy it when you get around to reading it.

by Nathan Miller

I usually settle it by reading several books at once. Sometimes too many!

Just finishing up with The Red Door, a mystery set in post WWI England. Ian Rutledge, the main character, has a form of PTSD.

(For some reason, I can't get the book image to post properly. Any advice appreciated.No longer a problem)
Charles Todd

Hello Linda...

Here is an explanation that Elizabeth posted to help out a group member (I have just inserted your book and also added the author photo after the author's link). So first, the book cover, then the author's link and/or photo; always preview and make last minute adjustments and then post.

For a book link, use the "add book/author" link that is just above the comment box. When you click on it, it brings up a box where you can search by either book title or author name. You'll get a list of search results and you can pick which one to add. At the bottom of the box are two radio buttons to select whether you want a text link or the cover shown. (For this group, we prefer the cover if available.) After getting the book link in, if you click on "add book/author" again, it should still show your search results. If you select the "author" tab, it will automatically show the authors that match those search results. Again, at the bottom select whether you want a text link or picture.

When you are done, try the "(preview)" link under the comment box next to the "post" button. It will show you what your comment looks like and you can check your work. For your book you referenced, it should look like this:

Anita Diamant

Also, you can edit your own posts to adjust a page number if you choose. Underneath your own posted comments, there is a link "edit" that will allow you to fix things.

Hope this helps! Let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks so much, Bentley! That's such a cool feature!
Bentley wrote: "Hello Linda...

Here is an explanation that Elizabeth posted to help out a group member (I have just inserted your book and also added the author photo after the author's link). So first, the book..."

It really is. It cross pollinates the fields across our site so that you can find out where else (which threads) other conversations are going on regarding the author and book; but it gives helpful links to a vast amount of other information. When you do an add like above; many fields are populated automatically.

I am currently reading Colors of the Mountain by Da Chen.
Da Chen It is a fascinating autobiography about the childhood of a boy who is a member of the outcast former landlord family in China during the Cultural Revolution. Written with humor and pathos, it is an inspiring read.

Also, I have started two other books: ,

and

I have just started a book on Polk.

I've decide to try Procopius's 'History of the Wars: Books I-II', and so far its been surprisingly good although I am only up to page 54.

byProcopius

Don wrote: "I have just started a book on Polk.
"

Hi..Don good attempt at adding bookcover and photo...if there is no photo as can frequently be the case..just add the author's link


Walter R. Borneman

I hope this is the right thread as I didn't know where to put this post, but figured this was the best spot to let readers know of a new release in the UK that may interest those fans of the French Foreign Legion and Beau Geste:

[image error] by Martin Windrow

Publishers blurb:
"Ever since the 1920s the popular legend of the French Foreign Legion has been formed by P.C. Wren's novel Beau Geste - a world of remote forts, warrior tribes, and desperate men of all nationalities enlisting under pseudonyms to fight and die under the desert sun. As with all cliches, the reality is far richer and more surprising than this. In this book Martin Windrow describes desert battles and famous last stands in gripping detail - but he also shows exactly what the Foreign Legion were doing in North Africa in the first place. He explains how French colonial methods there actually had their roots in the jungles of Vietnam, and how the political pressures that kept the empire expanding can be traced to battles on the streets of Paris itself. His description of the Berber tribesmen of Morocco also reveals some disturbing modern parallels: the formidable guerrillas of the 1920s were inspired by an Islamic fundamentalist who was adept at using the world's media to further his cause. Martin Windrow's previous book THE LAST VALLEY received fabulous reviews across the English-speaking world. As a follow-up this unique book, which is the first to examine the 'golden age' of the Foreign Legion in such detail, is bound to follow suit."

Susanna wrote: "I usually settle it by reading several books at once. Sometimes too many!"

I know exactly what you all mean. I have been trying to catch up/finish A. Lincoln and No Ordinary Time but I got a copy of another book that looks SO good! It's called The Vertigo Years and is about the period before WWI. I noticed I kept getting very distracted reading No Ordinary Time because I was questioning this and that - so I thought it would be a good precursor to Keegan. I started it and it is really interesting already. I am like a kid in a candy store!

(Didn't know if I had to post the groups books as well as my newly mentioned one).

Philipp Blom
John Keegan

Have started Alberto Angela's . Very interesting so far.

I got Vertigo Years last Christmas, and it was excellent. I hope you enjoy it, Niki.

Niki wrote: "Susanna wrote: "I usually settle it by reading several books at once. Sometimes too many!"

I know exactly what you all mean. I have been trying to catch up/finish A. Lincoln and No Ordinary Time ..."

You did OK Niki...but hurry up and catch up...I am getting lonely on the No Ordinary Time thread. (smile)

If you see a book cover that has no image..then add the book link which will show you a visual of the title and then add the author's link...I usually place a space in between and place the word by in front of the author's link; however A. Lincoln does have a book cover..surprised you did not see it.

Like this:


Ronald C. White Jr.

I started listening to this Thomas L. Friedman on my commute home from work. I had previously read , Thomas L. Friedman and I really enjoyed it. His latest book doesn't disappoint either. This guy really gets it! I just find books on CD to be so relaxing that I need to ensure that I don't nod off while driving.

Both great books Sera..read them awhile ago.

I am reading Just starting the battle of Waterloo so should be finished soon. Just finished audio book The first 4 discs are pretty interesting, the fifth gets preachy.

Wow, Patricrk. Really interesting stuff you are reading.

Thanks for including the book & author links. By the way, if there isn't an author picture, we usually just show the link, like this:

Robert Harvey

Hi Patricrk..let me echo what Elizabeth just said. I just finished giving a lesson on the very same thing in message 141.

Matthew Bogdanos

These are the books NPR is recommending for this week:

T.C. Boyle

Jonathan Dee

Patti Smith

Sadie Jones

Here is the NPR article which reviews all of the above:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

Here is NPR's Hardcover NonFiction list:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

Elizabeth Gilbert

[image error] John Heilemann

Greg Mortenson

Christopher McDougall

Mitch Albom

Malcolm Gladwell

[image error] Daniel H. Pink

Robert Crumb

Nicholas D. Kristof

Julia Child

[image error] Atul Gawande

Malcolm Gladwell

[image error] Sarah Palin

Andre Agassi

Steven D. Levitt

I got a little too far ahead on the Jefferson Book so I stopped by Books-a-Million today and thought I slip this in before going any further.



Herbert Asbury

Good idea Jim

I've just started reading "The Bloody White Baron" by James Palmer. I'm a bit worried that after reading Procopius's excellent "History of the Wars: Books I-II" that I might feel let down by my current book, does anyone else suffer from that problem?

by James Palmer

by Procopius

I have been drawn back to Procopius and have started the second volume, Books III-IV, The Vandalic War. I don't usually read two books at the same time but I felt I had to get back to Procopius.

[image error] by Procopius

I've been on a Tudor history tangent inflamed by watching the television Tudor series (an excellent production. The audio university course on Henry VIII available commercially and from many libraries is really quite riveting and informative, a good supplement to the TV series.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with Gladys Temperly and in particular her Henry VII. Originally published in 1904, it's now available as a free ebook.
Henry VII by Gladys Temperley

I've also been intrigued by the controversy in Ireland and so found pdf downloads of the Ryan Report. While I don't usually read too many primary sources, this is surprisingly interesting with lots of historical background about the development of industrial schools in Ireland. It's pretty long, though, about 2600 pages and often more than Dickensian.

Childhood Matters: Report of the National Commission of Inquiry Into the Prevention of Child Abuse.

I'm also about to start
[image error] American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

Just finished the historical novel , by . It's the current Booker Prize winner, and a very interesting novel about Thomas Cromwell.

In non-fiction I'm still reading by James Shapiro, which is quite interesting.

On deck: probably by Alberto Angela.

Hi Susanna, the book "A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome" looks interesting, I'd be interested to hear your final views on the book. I'm currently reading a biography on the Confederate commander A. P. Hill by William Hassler.


by William Woods Hassler