I have used Gemini to help with this pages formatting. I have cross-checked the accuracy of their descriptions before publishing this.

I have read all of these books. If I was to give my own review on a particular book, it would break the 200K character limit set by Rentry.
I don't have any interest in making a Goodreads account, or publishing reviews for a particular book. You like what you like.

Get a Kindle!

A Kindle gives you convenience, space and customization.
If you are an avid reader who travels often, reads at night, has limited storage space, and if you need larger text without glasses, get a Kindle!
That said, stick to physical books if love the smell of paper, enjoy displaying your collection and retain information better physically.


Dan's Reading List

This is Dan from FMHY, and these are the books I recommend reading. I'll preface this by saying I AM REALLY INTO HISTORY and this shows.

  • These are in alphabetical order.
  • Stars (โญ) denote entries that are particularly noteworthy or personal favorites.
  • Stars (โญ) with yellow text are my absolute favourites.

๐Ÿ“š Books

Ancient History

  • Agrippina: The Most Extraordinary Woman of the Roman World by Emma Southon โ€“ Biography of Agrippina the Younger, a prominent figure in the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
  • Alaric the Goth: An Outsider's History of the Fall of Rome by Douglas Boin โ€“ History of Alaric and the Visigoths and their role in the transformation of the Roman Empire.
  • โญ Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy โ€“ A comprehensive biography of Julius Caesar.
  • Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician by Anthony Everitt โ€“ Biography of the famed Roman statesman and orator.
  • The Cleopatras: The Three Queens Who Shaped the Roman World by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones โ€“ Explores the lives of several Egyptian queens named Cleopatra and their impact on the Roman world.
  • โญ The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon โ€“ The monumental classic detailing the collapse of the Roman Empire.
  • Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar by Tom Holland โ€“ Chronicles the Julio-Claudian emperors from Augustus to Nero.
  • The Early History of Rome by Livy โ€“ The foundational books of Livy's Ab Urbe Condita, covering Rome's mythical origins and early Republic.
  • โญ Emperors of Rome by Mary Beard โ€“ An exploration of Roman emperors, their power, and their portrayal.
  • โญ The Fall of Carthage by Adrian Goldsworthy โ€“ The definitive history of the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage.
  • From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire by Pierre Briant โ€“ A monumental history of the Persian Empire.
  • The Ghosts of Cannae by Robert L. O'Connell โ€“ An account of the Battle of Cannae and its impact on Rome.
  • Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs by Adrienne Mayor โ€“ Explores the history of ancient warfare and unconventional weapons.
  • The Horse, the Wheel, and Language by David W. Anthony โ€“ Investigates the origins of Indo-European languages and cultures through archaeology.
  • โญ How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower by Adrian Goldsworthy โ€“ Examines the complex factors contributing to the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
  • โญ In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire by Adrian Goldsworthy โ€“ Explores the lives and campaigns of Rome's greatest commanders.
  • Messalina by Honor Cargill-Martin โ€“ Biography of the Roman Empress Messalina, wife of Claudius.
  • Mortal Republic by Edward J. Watts โ€“ Chronicles the collapse of the Roman Republic.
  • โญ Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World by Adrian Goldsworthy โ€“ Examination of the period of relative peace and stability within the Empire.
  • The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates by Adrienne Mayor โ€“ Biography of Mithradates VI of Pontus, Rome's deadliest enemy.
  • Pox Romana by Colin Elliott โ€“ Examines the impact of plagues and disease on the Roman Empire.
  • The Rise of Rome by Anthony Everitt โ€“ Traces Rome's ascent from a small city-state to a dominant power.
  • Rome and Persia: The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry by Adrian Goldsworthy โ€“ Details the long conflict between the Roman and Persian empires.
  • โญ A Rome of One's Own by Emma Southon โ€“ Focuses on the roles and lives of women in Ancient Rome.
  • Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland โ€“ A narrative history of the fall of the Republic.
  • โญ SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard โ€“ A comprehensive history of Rome from its origins to AD 212.
  • The Storm Before the Storm by Mike Duncan โ€“ Details the tumultuous decades leading to the fall of the Roman Republic.
  • Ten Caesars by Barry Strauss โ€“ Profiles Roman emperors from Augustus to Constantine.
  • The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius โ€“ Classic biographies of twelve successive Roman emperors.
  • The War That Made the Roman Empire by Barry Strauss โ€“ Focuses on the pivotal conflict at Actium that led to the rise of Augustus.

Medieval History

  • โญ 1453: The Holy War for Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West by Roger Crowley โ€“ Chronicles the dramatic siege and fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks.
  • The Anglo-Saxons by Marc Morris โ€“ Comprehensive history of Anglo-Saxon England from its origins to the Norman Conquest.
  • The Battle of Hastings by Jim Bradbury โ€“ Detailed account of the pivotal battle of 1066.
  • โญ Crusaders by Dan Jones โ€“ Focuses on the religious wars of the Crusades.
  • The Dark Queens by Shelley Puhak โ€“ The story of rival Merovingian queens, Brunhilda and Fredegund.
  • A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman โ€“ A vivid depiction of 14th-century Europe, a period of crisis and upheaval.
  • Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages by Janina Ramirez โ€“ Reclaims the stories of influential women written out of medieval history.
  • The Greatest Knight by Thomas Asbridge โ€“ Biography of William Marshal, a prominent English knight.
  • โญ Henry V: The Arrow and the Crown by Dan Jones โ€“ Biography exploring the life and reign of King Henry V.
  • The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages by Chris Wickham โ€“ History of Europe in the early Middle Ages.
  • The Plantagenets by Dan Jones โ€“ A history of the warrior kings who created England.
  • โญ Powers and Thrones by Dan Jones โ€“ A broad history of the Middle Ages.
  • The Verge by Patrick Wyman โ€“ Examines the transition period of 1490-1530 (Reformation, Renaissance).
  • A World Lit Only By Fire by William Manchester โ€“ A sweeping portrayal of the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.

Modern History & Contemporary Issues

  • The Abyss: The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 by Max Hastings โ€“ Detailed account of the standoff that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
  • All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days by Rebecca Donner โ€“ True story of Mildred Harnack, an American in the German resistance to Hitler.
  • Blossoms in the Wind: Human Legacies of the Kamikaze by M. G. Sheftall โ€“ Explores the stories and motivations of Japanese Kamikaze pilots.
  • The British Are Coming by Rick Atkinson โ€“ The first volume in a trilogy about the American Revolution.
  • Catherine de' Medici by Leonie Frieda โ€“ Biography of the influential 16th-century French queen.
  • The Chrysanthemum and the Sword by Ruth Benedict โ€“ Classic anthropological study of Japanese culture.
  • Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee by Jang Jin-sung โ€“ A North Korean defector's account of life inside the regime.
  • Destiny Disrupted by Tamim Ansary โ€“ A history of the world from an Islamic perspective.
  • Empires of the Sea by Roger Crowley โ€“ Chronicles the naval struggle between the Ottomans and Christian Europe.
  • The End is Always Near by Dan Carlin โ€“ Explores historical societal collapses and connects them to contemporary threats.
  • โญ Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing โ€“ The definitive story of survival, leadership, and resilience in the Antarctic.
  • โญ Ghost Wars by Steve Coll โ€“ The secret history of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden leading up to 9/11.
  • Ghosts of the Tsunami by Richard Lloyd Parry โ€“ Account of the aftermath of the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.
  • The Great Successor by Anna Fifield โ€“ Biography of North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
  • โญ Hero of Two Worlds by Mike Duncan โ€“ Biography of the Marquis de Lafayette.
  • Hiroshima by John Hersey โ€“ Landmark journalism detailing the experiences of atomic bomb survivors.
  • โญ Hitler (Hubris & Nemesis) by Ian Kershaw โ€“ A comprehensive two-volume biography.
  • How The Word Is Passed by Clint Smith โ€“ Examines the legacy of slavery in America.
  • Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler by Robert Gellately โ€“ Comparative study of the 20th century's most destructive dictators.
  • The Longest Winter by Alex Kershaw โ€“ Account of the Battle of the Bulge focusing on a decorated American platoon.
  • Napoleon by Andrew Roberts โ€“ Comprehensive biography of Napoleon Bonaparte.
  • A New World Begins by Jeremy D. Popkin โ€“ Detailed narrative of the French Revolution.
  • Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick โ€“ Lives in North Korea told through the stories of defectors.
  • โญ On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder โ€“ Twenty lessons from the 20th century on recognizing and resisting tyranny.
  • The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro โ€“ Monumental biography of Robert Moses and the shaping of New York City.
  • โญ The Radium Girls by Kate Moore โ€“ True story of women in the 1920s poisoned by radium work and their fight for justice.
  • The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang โ€“ The definitive history of the massacre in Nanjing during WWII.
  • โญ The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer โ€“ Classic account of Nazi Germany.
  • Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky โ€“ Explores the profound impact of salt on civilization.
  • โญ Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe โ€“ Investigates a murder during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
  • Sea of Glory by Nathaniel Philbrick โ€“ Chronicles the U.S. Exploring Expedition (1838-1842).
  • The Shortest History of Japan by Curtis Anderson โ€“ Concise overview of Japan's history.
  • โญ The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre โ€“ The thrilling true story of KGB agent Oleg Gordievsky.
  • โญ Stalingrad by Antony Beevor โ€“ The harrowing and definitive account of the turning point of WWII.
  • โญ Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, 1945-1975 by Max Hastings โ€“ Comprehensive account of the Vietnam War.
  • Works by Alison Weir โ€“ Recommended for biographies on English royalty (The Six Wives of Henry VIII) and historical fiction.

Big History & Anthropology

  • Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari โ€“ Explores the future of humanity and the pursuit of divinity.
  • โญ The Lessons of History by Will & Ariel Durant โ€“ A concise survey of human history to understand the context.
  • โญ Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari โ€“ Sweeping overview of human history from the Stone Age to the present.

Crime & True Crime

  • Five Families by Selwyn Raab โ€“ Definitive history of the New York Mafia's rise and decline.
  • Tokyo Vice by Jake Adelstein โ€“ Memoir of an American reporter covering organized crime in Tokyo.
  • Yakuza by David E. Kaplan and Alec Dubro โ€“ Investigation into the history and operations of the Japanese criminal underworld.

Science, Psychology & Natural History

  • โญ Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert Sapolsky โ€“ Understand your biology and the influences behind human action.
  • โญ The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb โ€“ Understand risk, luck, and the limits of prediction.
  • โญ The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan โ€“ A defense of scientific thinking to question the truth.
  • The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte โ€“ Chronicles the evolution and extinction of dinosaurs.
  • โญ Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman โ€“ An exploration of intuition and reason to audit your logic.
  • โญ Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker โ€“ Explores the critical science of sleep and dreams.

Philosophy & Self-Development

  • โญ The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness by Epictetus โ€“ A modern interpretation of Stoic teachings for a virtuous life. GET THE SHARON LEBELL INTERPRETATION
  • Courage Is Calling by Ryan Holiday โ€“ Explores the virtue of courage through historical examples.
  • โญ The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman โ€“ 366 daily meditations for practical application.
  • Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday โ€“ Argues for the role of self-control in achieving a virtuous life.
  • โญ Discourses, Fragments, Handbook by Epictetus โ€“ The essential collection of lectures and maxims from the Stoic teacher.
  • Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday โ€“ Explores the dangers of ego and how to manage it.
  • โญ The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene โ€“ Decodes human behavior to help you understand people.
  • โญ Letters from a Stoic by Seneca โ€“ Timeless wisdom on living a virtuous and tranquil life from a Roman statesman.
  • โญ Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl โ€“ A psychiatrist's memoir and guide to finding your why.
  • โญ Meditations by Marcus Aurelius โ€“ Classic Stoic writings on how to control your reaction.
  • โญ The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday โ€“ A framework for turning obstacles into advantages.
  • Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday โ€“ Explores the concept of justice and righteousness as the final and most important virtue.
  • โญ Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday โ€“ The importance of inner peace in a chaotic world.
  • Wisdom Takes Work by Ryan Holiday โ€“ Explores the final cardinal virtue of wisdom, drawing on ancient philosophy to guide modern life.

Historical Fiction

  • โญ Catch-22 by Joseph Heller โ€“ A satirical war novel set during World War II.
  • โญ The Essex Dogs Trilogy by Dan Jones (Essex Dogs, Wolves of Winter, Marigold) โ€“ A gritty series set during the Hundred Years' War.
  • House of Lilies: The Dynasty That Made Medieval France by Katerina Dunne โ€“ Explores the Capetian dynasty.
  • โญ I, Claudius by Robert Graves โ€“ The classic fictional autobiography of the Roman Emperor Claudius.
  • Pachinko by Min Jin Lee โ€“ A multi-generational saga of a Korean family living in Japan.
  • The Shardlake Series by C.J. Sansom โ€“ Historical mystery series set during the reign of Henry VIII.
  • Shogun by James Clavell โ€“ An epic saga of feudal Japan.

Science Fiction & Fantasy

  • Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse โ€“ Epic fantasy inspired by the civilizations of the Pre-Columbian Americas.
  • Dune by Frank Herbert โ€“ The landmark science fiction epic set on the desert planet Arrakis.
  • โญ Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman โ€“ LitRPG/portal fantasy known for dark humor and action. AUDIOBOOK IS BETTER! ๐ŸŽง
  • โญ The First Law World by Joe Abercrombie โ€“ Includes The First Law trilogy and Age of Madness trilogy; grimdark fantasy.
  • โญ Mistborn Saga by Brandon Sanderson โ€“ Epic fantasy famous for its unique magic system based on metals.
  • The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss โ€“ Beautifully written fantasy following the life of the arcanist Kvothe.
  • Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir โ€“ A lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this science fiction thriller.
  • Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown โ€“ Sci-fi series following Darrow's quest for revolution across the solar system.
  • The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne โ€“ Norse-inspired fantasy set in a world broken by the gods.
  • A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin โ€“ The epic fantasy series known for its political intrigue and grim realism.
  • โญ The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson โ€“ A massive epic fantasy series known for its intricate world-building.
  • โญ The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan โ€“ Epic fantasy known for intricate world-building and magic systems.

Hobbies & Reference

  • โญ The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman โ€“ The definitive book on why designs fail or succeed, focusing on usability.
  • The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science by J. Kenji Lรณpez-Alt โ€“ A massive guide explaining the science behind cooking techniques.
  • Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat โ€“ Explores the four fundamental elements of good cooking.
  • โญ Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training by Mark Rippetoe โ€“ The foundational text for strength training mechanics.
  • โญ The World Atlas of Coffee by James Hoffmann โ€“ Comprehensive guide to coffee origins, brewing, and tasting.
Edit

Pub: 15 May 2025 16:25 UTC

Edit: 30 Nov 2025 14:37 UTC

Views: 1250