I finished A Country of Vast Designs. This was the first book I listened to on audio so I couldn’t take notes which made it harder to absorb. I’m not even sure I’ll review this book at the end of the year for that very reason. Overall I liked it, though Polk’s seeming obliviousness to how the war exacerbated slavery tensions was puzzling to me.

One thing I've seen mentioned a lot in various discussions of WW2 is the Japanese interservice rivalry, but I haven't been able to find a book specifically about this subject, which is kind of annoying since it seems like it would be very interesting. Do any of you know of a book like that?

I'm currently reading Japanese Destroyer Captain and I assume that will have at least some passing mentions of the relationship the IJN had with the IJA, but I'm really looking for a book that is focused on the rivalry instead of one that just mentions it in passing.

I know I’m only about 70 years late to the party but I just started Bruce Catton’s Army of the Potomac Trilogy and am really enjoying it so far. I picked up the Library of America’s re-release of it. If you’re a fan of what Rick Atkinson did with his WWII trilogy (and what he’s doing with his American Revolution Trilogy), you will enjoy!

Mark Peattie's *Sunburst: The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power, 1909-1941 gets cited on the /r/askhistorians threads about this.

This answer has a list of sources too: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/970sif/what_was_the_relationship_between_the_ija_and_the/

Finished The Western Front by Richard Holmes

>4.5/5 rounding down for Goodreads.

>Very good. Written alongside a documentary series so it is accessible. It is good at describing the details of the battles as well as broader analysis on things such as the conditions that led to trench warfare. Mostly focused on the British perspective but does have a good chapter on Verdun. Plenty of maps and photos that are pretty good in quality. Sometimes it mentions the historical debates about things like tactics or leadership, but this book is 20 years old now so views and scholarship have probably changed a bit since then. It does have a further reading list as well for each chapter but again it is an old book and will not have newer books on it. Overall I'd say it is a good place to start if you are interested in the Western Front of WWI.

>Sidenote - Holmes' Tommy: The British Soldier on the Western Front 1914-18 is very good but a lot longer and more indepth and I'd also recommend reading that if you are interested in WWI. His books 'Sahib: The British Soldier in India 1750-1914' and 'Redcoat: The British Soldier in the Age of Horse and Musket' are also very good.

Finished today The Zimmerman Telegram by Barbara Tuchman

>3/5. For a £1 Kindle book it was fine but I wouldn't recommend specifically seeking it out.

>OK from a story telling point of view but it is very old and there are probably newer and better books on the subject. For example her descriptions of the situation on the Western Front were pretty simplistic and bad. A lot of the book focuses on what was going on in Mexico as well as US-Mexico relations and US-Japanese relations prior to Zimmerman sending the telegram. These parts felt fine to me but I don't know a lot about the Americas or the Mexican revolution in this period so I probably won't have noticed anything wrong or any outdated historical views. Also a lot on the lives and feelings of the various diplomats, ambassadors and advisors.

On Kindle I've now started The Western Front: A History of the Great War, 1914-1918 by Nick Lloyd but it will probably take me a long time to read (I read his Hundred Days: The End of the Great War earlier this year and really liked it and would recomend it if into WWI). Physical I've started The Last Corsair: The Story of the Emden by Dan van der Vat which seems fine so far (40 pages in) and is rather shorter.

Can anyone recommend a non-fiction book set in the Middle Ages that features court intrigue? I’m not overly concerned about the specific time, place, or event. The ideal book would be somewhat zoomed-in so that I can familiarize myself with the parties and relationships. I’m also not concerned if the book is accused of glossing over debated specifics for the sake of framing the event and parties in a clear and compelling narrative. Thanks, All!

Hi all! I’m really getting into naval history, specifically in the Napoleonic Era but anything about the Age of Sail really! I’ll take any non fiction recommendations, but I’m always interested in lesser known stories.

I'm hesitantly excited about that. I saw the new release. There's been some good review of it going around too.

Have you checked out N. A. M. Rodger's stuff? I don't know a lot about the topic but he's written a lot on it, some of it pretty specialized.

Nelson’s Trafalgar: the Battle that Changed the World by Roy Adkins is a great read

Do you think “the western front by Nick Lloyd” that you are currently reading on kindle would be accessible for someone just starting to get into WWI history? My fiancé has expressed interest in learning more after watching the all quiet on the western front movie, but he’s not like a history “buff” per se

While it is very good based on what I've read so far I'd say no it isn't accessible. It's very indepth and heavy on the operational details (army movements, generals etc). I'd say The Western Front book by Richard Holmes I mentioned is probably more accessible. If books about WWI that aren't focused on the Western Front are ok then I'd say 'Short History of the First World War by Gary Sheffield' or 'The First World War by Hew Strachan' are good options (but Strachan has another book called First World War - Vol 1 To Arms which I'd avoid because it's like 1000 pages) .

You may find Jack Tar: Life in Nelson's Navy by Lesly and Roy Adkins interesting. It's an interesting look at the life aboard British Naval ships during the Napoleonic era and focuses on the regular seamen instead of the officers.

Does anyone know any books on english history between the battle of Hastings and the rise of the Plantagenets? Can't seem to find much on this period but I'm very interested

For those who've read both, what's the difference between Empire of Liberty and The Creation of the American Republic? Both are by Gordon Wood, and both seem to cover roughly the same era.

You might like The Last Duel by Eric Jager. It's not quite courtly intrigue but more chivalric politics. Its quite zoomed in to a particular event and the consequences thereof.

It was recently turner into a film by Rodley Scott. I prefer the book, especially if you get to read it without knowing what happens in the end.

The Anarchy period is covered off in a recent narrative history, The White Ship by Charles Spencer, which deals with the drowning of the Prince Regent in 1120.

You might like The Struggle for Mastery by David Carpenter, covers the period you're talking about in depth.

For one thing ,each book covers a different time period "Creation"covers 1776-1787,and "Empire" covers 1787-1815.Also "Empire of Liberty" is apart of the Oxford History of America series where Dr. Wood was selected to write on this period of time. "Creation of the American Republican" was a subject Wood chose himself.Personally I believe "Creation" is one of the best books written about this time , and I would definitely recommend to read first.

Hello, Looking to learn more about the Yugoslav wars and the surrounding period. Anyone got any (relatively easy to read) suggestions to read? Or a podcast would also be great!

Any recommendations on a book on Malcolm X?