Compact yet detailed history books \ stacker news ~history

1471 sats \ 13 comments \ @Fabs 18 Jan history

I've started taking up reading and would like to add some shorter books in the mix, since I've chosen to start with a few pretty thick ones already.

Books which dig into specific historic timelines like the VOC or books about early human history, something interesting.

I'd like to emphasize the words compact and detailed, books around 150 - 200 pages.

Thanks in advance, cowboy :)

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40 sats \ 1 reply \ @Turnspit_Dog 18 Jan

Not exactly compact, but easily digestible.

How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Signal312 18 Jan

Wow, this sounds super interesting! It's going on my list.

22 sats \ 2 replies \ @nullcount 18 Jan

Bro is in here asking for books recs every other day. How about you finish one first lol

30 sats \ 1 reply \ @Fabs OP 18 Jan

I did yesterday, and started a new book today.

How about you fuck-off back to wherever you came from, "lol".

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @SatsCats 18 Jan

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @DiedOnTitan 19 Jan

Start with the foundation of classical history: Herodotus and Thucydides.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 19 Jan

Ohh boy have I found some crispy gems, at least I hope so.

I'll see when I've read them.

0 sats \ 5 replies \ @SatsCats 18 Jan

Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall was a good read.

It is not necessarily about early humans but some good concepts on forming country boundaries.

0 sats \ 4 replies \ @Fabs OP 18 Jan

Is it me or is it a struggle to find books that write about a specific episode of history?

Just now found a book which fits the above "want"; "Magellan, The first circumnavigation of the earth".

Any other books like these you know of?

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @elvismercury 18 Jan

Define specific episode a bit more and I might have some. Magellan's trip is pretty clear, but what would be some others? Like, "the space race", would that be an example? Is "the cultural revolution" too broad?

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Fabs OP 18 Jan

Hm, history from before our time until around the year 1900, but sectioned in smaller books that delve into a specific timeframe.

Books that delve into specific happenings like the exploration and exploitation of the Inca's and Aztec's by Cortéz and the other fella, or something akin to Magellan's trip.

Books that take the specific topics visited by books like Harari's "Sapiens" and delve deeper into these.

It's history-specific books which I find difficult to find something to my liking, for many are books that write about many topics in broad line - like Harari's "Sapiens".

110 sats \ 1 reply \ @Coyote_Cosmico 18 Jan

Since you asked about this specifically, I got the goods for you:

The "other fella" who conquered the Inca was Francisco Pizarro (the 2nd cousin of Cortez).

Without getting into original sources, the most readable book about these events is The Last Days of The Incas by Kim MacQuarie.

It's an absolutely epic story. One of the most richly documented and mind blowing accounts of a clash of civilizations we've got, imo.

I can't recommend this one enough, though it's not as short as you're asking for, ~500 pages.

Bonus - here's a photo I took of Pizarro:

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fabs OP 18 Jan

Yo! That's epic man!

500 pages is quite hefty though... I think it'll wander onto my list for a later read-through.

You sound convincing about the book, anything that's akin to the above, but on the shorter side?

Doesn't have to be about the Inca's per se.