The History Book Club discussion

Woo hoo! by Paul Scott

Alisa, I read Water for Elephants and loved it from start to finish. I have some of her other works in my never ending TBR pile.

by Sara Gruen

Alisa wrote: "Dipping into nonfiction at the moment, just started this and it seems very good so far. Anyone else read this or other works by the author?
by [authorimage:Sar..."

Teri, good to know. I am hit or miss with works listed on the NYT best seller list but this one seems like a winner so far.

Diane wrote: "I enjoyed my last book, but decided for a change of pace and period:

[bookcover:Hunting Eichmann: How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down the World's Most Notorious Nazi|4778436..."

I would be interested on your thought on this book Diane as it is my main area of interest.

With ISIS dominating news I thought it was a about time to learn about them. After having a look at the books on the subject I decided on ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror by Michael Weiss

by Michael Weiss (no photo)

Synopsis:
Initially dismissed by US President Barack Obama, along with other fledgling terrorist groups, as a “jayvee squad” compared to al-Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has shocked the world by conquering massive territories in both countries and promising to create a vast new Muslim caliphate that observes the strict dictates of Sharia law.

In ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror, American journalist Michael Weiss and Syrian analyst Hassan Hassan explain how these violent extremists evolved from a nearly defeated Iraqi insurgent group into a jihadi army of international volunteers who behead Western hostages in slickly produced videos and have conquered territory equal to the size of Great Britain. Beginning with the early days of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the founder of ISIS’s first incarnation as “al-Qaeda in Iraq,” Weiss and Hassan explain who the key players are—from their elusive leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to the former Saddam Baathists in their ranks—where they come from, how the movement has attracted both local and global support, and where their financing comes from.

Political and military maneuvering by the United States, Iraq, Iran, and Syria have all fueled ISIS’s astonishing and explosive expansion. Drawing on original interviews with former US military officials and current ISIS fighters, the authors also reveal the internecine struggles within the movement itself, as well as ISIS’s bloody hatred of Shiite Muslims, which is generating another sectarian war in the region. Just like the one the US thought it had stopped in 2011 in Iraq. Past is prologue and America’s legacy in the Middle East is sowing a new generation of terror.

I just started my annual summer reading binge. Of the five books I started with this week, here are 4 that are history-related and well worth reading:

All the Light We Cannot See

I recently finished this, and it was amazing. I don't think it would disappoint anyone in this group as it is historical fiction of the highest quality. It is definitely one of my favorite books of all time, so move it to the top of your to-read list!

by Anthony Doerr

The Fifth Column

I just finished this play about the Spanish Civil War. Short and sweet, it is nothing spectacular, but worth reading for historical interest and for Hemingway's clever dialogue.

by Ernest Hemingway

A Separate Peace

I am currently 3/4 of the way through this novel about students in an American boarding school during WW2. It gets off to a slow start, but gets more interesting as you go. The characters are hilarious. Knowles writes some of the best descriptive writing you'll find anywhere. There are so moments in the middle that get to the heart of a young man's experience during the war. I can't wait to finish it tomorrow morning as we start off the Readathon!

by John Knowles

Freedom and Power

I am gradually working my way through this compilation of speeches and essays by Lord Acton. The first selection in here is an inspirational reminder of why we study history. There are so many great quotations in here from Acton and others (there are several gems hidden in the footnotes too). The first essay, at the very least, is a must-read for history lovers, and an ebook edition is available for free at Mises.org. Sometimes books that are more academic in nature turn out to be bigger adventures than the fun reads. For me, this is one of them.

by John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton

David Axelrod Believer

Wow Douglas.

Roberto - hi - don't forget to add the citation like Douglas did above you.


by David Axelrod (no photo)

I've started another book about World War II:

by Stephan Talty

Great Diane - check back and let us know how you liked it - good job with the citation too.

I cannot believe I have never read this book as well as I like WWII/military history. With the 71st anniversary of D Day on Saturday last, I thought it was about time. So far I am loving it.

by Cornelius Ryan

just started The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome by Susan Wise Bauer

Struggling to find time for this...

by Robert Tressell

@Saeed......don't forget the book citations as noted below.


by Susan Wise Bauer

@K.......if there is no photo of the author, the avatar is not necessary, just the author link, followed by "no photo" as such:

by Robert Tressell(no photo)

Just started the Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa:

by Constance B. Hilliard (no photo)

Just started this one and it's turning out to be quite interesting. Wine, high end auctions, the Forbes', and Thomas Jefferson. Why's not to love?
by Benjamin Wallace

Oh no, its another obscure topic for Alisa!!! Love it.

Jill, I can't resist! :-D

Alisa wrote: "Just started this one and it's turning out to be quite interesting. Wine, high end auctions, the Forbes', and Thomas Jefferson. Why's not to love?
[bookcover:The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery..."

What a great read added to the ole TBR with gusto.

by Paula Hawkins

I ride the train every day, it speaks to me (evil laughter)

Ty wrote: "Just started the Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa:

by Constance B. Hilliard (no photo)"

Interesting... What kind of things should we know about within this subject ? Oral poetry ? Arabian science ? There is not much I can picture.

Just started by Daniel James Brown

I'm reading "1920" which is a real eye opener about the "roaring" 20's as well as "Demon's Brood"...

I am now reading by Erik Larson

I recently started reading The Scramble for Africa by Thomas Pakenham. It covers the period from 1876 to 1912, when England, France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy raced to form or expand their colonies in Africa. During this 35 year period, European involvement in the "dark continent" expanded from a handful of coastal colonies to nearly complete "ownership."

It's a great read so far. I like that the author has divided the book into digestible chapters of about 20 pages each, providing just enough historical background to keep the reader oriented. And in a refreshing contrast to many history books, this one has plenty of maps - almost every chapter has a useful one.

The author has a subtle dry wit which he deploys to great effect in the chapters covering the more farcical episodes, such as the French takeover of Tunisia in 1881. Highly readable and enjoyable so far (I'm on about page 125 out of 700).

I have ordered a used copy of the (apparently out of print) title by the same author, The Boer War, and have also moved two other books on Africa to higher priority in my to-read pile: Diamonds, Gold, and War: The British, the Boers, and the Making of South Africa and The Fate of Africa: A History of the Continent Since Independence, both by Martin Meredith.

and by Thomas Pakenham

and by Martin Meredith

That is going on my tbr list right now. I have read the book noted below and enjoyed it, so I know that I like this author. Thanks for the tip.

by Thomas Pakenham

Dimitri wrote: "Ty wrote: "Just started the Intellectual Traditions of Pre-Colonial Africa:

by Constance B. Hilliard (no ph..."

The book has a nice diversity; a number of poems, songs, epics, prophecies, and general oral traditions. They also have samples of written science and mathematical traditions and even include things like a list of medicinal plants from Botswana so it really runs the gambit.

Staying on the Paris theme, just started reading this and have to say it is quite gruesome and hairy so far. Eek!
by David King (no photo)

I read that last year, Alisa. It is really rather strange and reads like fiction which it is not. I thought it was interesting and worth the read.

Cracked into this one this week. Heard him speak and got my book autographed by the author - always fun to do that. Good stuff so far.

by David Brooks

by Denis Ashton Warner

I am reading up on all the conflicts preceeding WWI before August 4. Hopefully there will be time to read Pakenham's the Boer War.

Alisa wrote: "Just started this one and it's turning out to be quite interesting. Wine, high end auctions, the Forbes', and Thomas Jefferson. Why's not to love?
[bookcover:The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery..."

Have added it to my TBR list (which is getting longer every day - thanks GR's!!!). The topic may give some vigor to a storyline i've been mulling over for my current WIP...hmmmm

Five Lieutenants by James Carl Nelson

I'm a quarter into the book and Nelsons done great telling the story of the five lieutenants, so far two, who commissioned right out of Harvard. Not only five but 11,000 from Harvard fought. They have learned and experienced so much they can't make sense of the war. The regular officers are not fit and cannot lead with a 20th century mindset. The Harvard junior officers don't want promotions, only respect and end the war. The story is full of quotes, letters, and diaries. Nelsons has constructed a great story of Harvard men in world war I.

Glad to see you jumping right in, Malcolm.....but don't forget the book citations which should look like this:

by James Carl Nelson (no photo)

Just starting: by Charles Kurzman

by Wim Klinkert (no photo)

There is no "Big Book" about the Netherlands in 14-18 yet, but this "the Neutral Netherlands: the First World War 1914-1918" is one of the best substitutes yet. It focusses on the reality of a neutrality policy as seen by 9 main actors: Queen Wilhelmina, the Chief of Staff, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs etc. Touches on a lot of high-level issues as a result. Wim Klinkert is one of the best Dutch military historians.

In the middle of:

by Finn Fuglestad (no photo)

by Terry Jones

I was hoping to see some of the Monty Python humor in the narrative, but so far it's a bit dry.

I love the Monty Python gang but maybe they did better as a group than on their own.

by M.M. Kaye

Buddy read for August. I love it so far.

Donna wrote: "Just started by [author:Daniel James Brow..."

Wow I loved that book. The reign of top collegiate rowing teams still has a stronghold in the Montlake cut.

Just finished by Timothy Egan. GREAT book.

Diverting into historical fiction at the moment, just started by Paula McLain.

The Paris Wife has been on my tbr pile for some time. I hope it's good.

by Paula McLain

Teri a bit too early to tell but so far so good. I think it helps if you are a fan of Ernest Hemingway.
Ernest Hemingway

I'm reading Hidden History; The Secret Origins of WWI by Gerry Docherty and Jim Macgregor and Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey. The former is interesting and the latter is a lot of fun.

Jerry....don't forget your book citations as noted below. Thanks!!

by Gerry Docherty (no photo)

by Richard Kadrey

Just started:

by Frederic Wehrey (no photo)

Diamonds, Gold, and War: The British, the Boers, and the Making of South Africa by Martin Meredith. I'm about halfway through so far. It's a pretty good complement to the South Africa/Rhodesia sections of Thomas Pakenham's The Scramble for Africa, which covers the same period (1870s to early 1900s).

The two books have different emphasis.

Pakenham:

* 680 pages of main text, of which ~200 are on South Africa and Rhodesia.
* Political focus is on London: Prime Ministers Disraeli and Gladstone, and the Colonial and Foreign Offices
* Has much more battle coverage: a chapter each to the key skirmishes preceding the (second) Boer War, namely Isandlwana and Majuba
* Mining and economy are a backdrop, not a focus
* Many good maps, almost sufficient to read it without looking for supplementary maps on the web.

Meredith:

* 526 pages of main text, but with a much larger font than Pakenham's
* Not much about London, political focus is domestic, primarily Cape Colony and Transvaal
* Very perfunctory mention of Isandlwana and Majuba (a paragraph or two each). I haven't reached the Boer War yet; I expect this will be covered in some detail since "War" is in the title of the book.
* Good coverage of diamond and gold mines, and the financial machinations of the main players such as Cecil Rhodes.
* Only one map, covering all of southern Africa, spanning two pages with the center of the map falling into the crease. Close to useless. I would be more irritated by this if I hadn't already obtained a good mental picture of the geography, partly through Pakenham's book.

Both are worth reading, but if I were to choose only one, it would be Pakenham's easily. He's an excellent writer and the narrative just flows, across the whole continent of Africa and the home capitals of the colonizing powers. Meredith's writing is competent but unexciting, and even at the longer page count (compared with the South Africa portions of Pakenham's), I feel like he is omitting some important details that were covered by Pakenham.

by Martin Meredith
by Thomas Pakenham