A while ago I created a post about books we could all read now that the main series of the Green Ember has ended. Would you guys like a list of nonfiction works that I would recommend to read?
This book examines the dark side of the American Civil War. Many Americans tend to think of the Civil War was more glorious, and less awful, than it really was. The Civil War has been sanitized as millions of tourists flock to battlefields their perceptions of the war shaped by reenactors and movies that cannot simulate the mutilation, madness, chronic disease, advanced physical decay caused by combat, campaigning, and living in field encampments. In Living Hell, Adams tries a different tack, clustering the voices of myriad actual participants on the firing line or in the hospital ward to create a virtual historical reenactment. This really is one of my favorite, and one of the best historical works I have read. This book really brings to life the true horrors of war, that really need to be realtered as often as possible.
2) Fatal Colors by George Goodwin
This book is a political and military history of the War of the Roses up to the battle of Towton. If you followed a discussion on this site a few months ago about the best weapons for rabbits to employ in battle many of the ideas I presented came from this work. It’s a vary interesting work that explores the political issues that led to this conflict and a good overview of medieval battles.
Two none military history works that might be interesting:
3) Farmers and Fishermen by Daniel Vickers
This work analyzes and contrasts the economic roles of farmers and fisherman in early New England communities in Essex County Massachusetts. In the book, Vickers examines how a patriarchal system that relied on the unpaid labor of dependent sons transitioned gradually to an economic system in which these sons found work outside of the family farm. For fishermen, he explores the shift from client-patron economic relations to a free market system, noting the difficulties fishermen faced in achieving economic independence in both systems.
If you find this book interesting, Meetinghouse and Counting House by Frederick Barnes Tolles does much the same thing for colonial Pennsylvania
4) Witch Craze by Lyndal Roper
A good book for October, focuses on the century of witch trials in Germany between 1550 to 1650. Drawing on hundreds of original trial transcripts and other rare sources in four areas of Southern Germany, where most of the witches were executed, Lyndal Roper paints a vivid picture of their lives, families, and tribulations. She also explores the psychology of witch-hunting, explaining why it was mostly older women that were the victims of witch crazes, why they confessed to crimes, and how the depiction of witches in art and literature has influenced the characterization of elderly women in our own culture.
I will have a few more, later this week to finish off my suggestions.
If you would like to read something I am reading now and really beginning to like
1) The US Volunteers in the Southern Philippines by John Scott Reed
This work examines the Philippine-American War in the southern Christian regions of the Philippines, a region not heavily examined (outside the Moro Wars against the Muslims in the southern Philippines) with most attention in studying the war against the nationalists focuses on Luzon and Samar after 1901.
If you are interested in other aspects of the US Empire and its relation to other contemporary empires:
2) The Boxer Rebellion by David Silbey
This book studies the Boxer Rebellion, and its context, as well as the imperial coemption that took place during the China Relief Expedition that almost derailed the campaign to relieve the besieged legations in Peking
For those who have less of an interest in US history:
3) The Hessian Mercenary State by Charles W. Ingrao
This work studies Hesse-Cassel during the reign of Landgrave Frederick II, which coincided with the American War of Independence
4) Peasants into Frenchman by Eugen Weber
A good, but long (632 pages) and dense work that examines “how France underwent a veritable crisis of civilization in the early years of the French Republic as traditional attitudes and practices crumbled under the forces of modernization,” and how peasants became Frenchman.
If you find this interesting you can also look at E. P. Thompson’s Making of the English Working Class
5) King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild
A well written work that studies the exploitation of the Congo Free State by King Leopold II of Belgium between 1885 and 1908, as well as the large-scale atrocities committed during that period. For those who have read Hart of Darkness (or seen the move Apocalypse Now which takes its plot from Conrad) this is a good book for you as it provides the historical context for Conrad’s work.
6) Delivered From Evil by Robert Leckie
This is a popular and well written work on the Second World War, I like it and its an easy read.
I will have a few more suggestions tomorrow, and most will not be military history.
Here are my suggestions for nonfiction books, these are not in any particular order:
For those who are interested in what I am studying:
1) A War of Fronter and Empire by David Silbey by undergrad advisor
This is one of the most recent military histories of the Philippine-American War and provides a good overview of the conflict
2) Blood of Government by Paul A Kramer
A more challenging book this book deals with the use and importance of race in the development of the American colonial state in the Philippines, and how Americans and Filipinos used race as a tool for their own ends
Some of my favorite history works
3) Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson
This is the definitive one volume history of the Civil War and is a must for students of that war or anyone with a casual interest in that time era
4) The Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauff
This is the definitive one volume history of the Revolution and is from the same series as McPherson’s book and is a good starting point for those interested in the Revolutionary period
5) Tales from a Revolution by James D. Rice
For those who may be interested in a earlier revolution, this work looks at a little studied, yet very important, event in US history, Bacons’ Rebellion
6) A Spirited Resistance by Gregory Evans Dowd
This work studies the failed resistance of the Delaware, Shawnee, Cherokee, and Creek nations to Anglo-American settler colonialism. I really recommend this book its very good, and can be very sad.
I'd love a list! I'm thinking of nonfiction books I've enjoyed... most of them aren't really narrative or story-based, but they're good.
-Spaceman by Mike Massimino: this one is more story-based; it's a bit technical at times, but always very engaging and interesting, at least if you're into spaceflight and such. A couple instances of mild language, but overall an intriguing and inspiring read.
-Carrying the Fire by Michael Collins: a fascinating memoir (Collins was the Command Module Pilot on Apollo 11), similar to the one above, but lengthier, more technical, and more adult in reading level and some of the content.
-The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom: not easy stuff to read, but very, very important.
So, those are the only ones that come to mind that follow more or less single storylines. I remember a readaloud my family did years ago called Snow Treasure (I think) about Norwegian (I think?) kids smuggling treasury gold out of reach of the Nazi occupation in the early days of WWII... I think that one might have been fictionalized in its particulars though.
The rest here are all theology or apologetics (the defense of the Christian faith) to some extent.
-Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: every Christian should read this at some point if they can. Some of Lewis' most key work. Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton is similar (he influenced Lewis, and Rich Mullins, whom I'll mention later); Chesterton's writing is amazing, but I haven't had time to read all of it yet.
-Tactics by Greg Koukl: an excellent introduction to apologetics, and good logical thinking in general.
-Mind Your Faith by David Horner: I'm still reading this one, but it's very good. Aimed at helping Christian college students hold their faith through college.
-How to be a Perfect Christian by the Babylon Bee. The Bee is a Christian satire news site, and their book combines their wit and sarcasm to not only make jokes about the peculiarities of Christian culture, but also point out some of the nonbiblical ideas and mentalities that many people tend to take too seriously within the modern church. Don't take it too literally, it's all satire.
-Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson: this is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to (or does) write stories, make music, art, or anything creative. If you're familiar with Andrew, it reads as if he's really saying it. Very good stuff on creativity, community, and life in general.
-Wrestling with Angels by Carolyn Arends: this memoir is more spiritual than creative, but it does involve both, and it's very well-written.
-The World as I Remember It by Rich Mullins. I don't think this is still in print, but if you can find any of Rich's writings, I can almost guarantee it's worth reading and thinking about. He was a strong influence upon Andrew Peterson (and indeed many other Christian artists) and it shows very clearly.
@TGEFanForever 13 subjects! Wow, that's a lot. 2020 does just keep bringing the heat in about every way, doesn't it? I'll be praying for you, and, well, everything.😐
Has anyone read or seen "Hunger Games?" My two sisters, and I are currently reading them. My sister is on the second book, and my other sister and I are on the first book.
I’ve read all three! It took a lot of convincing my parents but they caved after I pleaded non stop... There really good! Really sad 😞 but good! I was mad because my fav character died, then the other did, then the other, well that’s a story.... so be careful not to get too attached to the characters or you will find yourself mourning for days... 😭
I'm not really into nonfiction unless it teaches something, but I have a few favorites. My top favorite is related to writing and I recommend it for everyone who's interesting in being an author. It's called Plot vs. Character by Jeff Gerke. Some other interesting instructional books are any Uncle Eric books by Richard Maybury like Whatever Happened to Justice, and the The Fallacy Detective by the Bluedorn brothers.
Last two military history books:
1) Living Hell by Michael C C Adems
This book examines the dark side of the American Civil War. Many Americans tend to think of the Civil War was more glorious, and less awful, than it really was. The Civil War has been sanitized as millions of tourists flock to battlefields their perceptions of the war shaped by reenactors and movies that cannot simulate the mutilation, madness, chronic disease, advanced physical decay caused by combat, campaigning, and living in field encampments. In Living Hell, Adams tries a different tack, clustering the voices of myriad actual participants on the firing line or in the hospital ward to create a virtual historical reenactment. This really is one of my favorite, and one of the best historical works I have read. This book really brings to life the true horrors of war, that really need to be realtered as often as possible.
2) Fatal Colors by George Goodwin
This book is a political and military history of the War of the Roses up to the battle of Towton. If you followed a discussion on this site a few months ago about the best weapons for rabbits to employ in battle many of the ideas I presented came from this work. It’s a vary interesting work that explores the political issues that led to this conflict and a good overview of medieval battles.
Two none military history works that might be interesting:
3) Farmers and Fishermen by Daniel Vickers
This work analyzes and contrasts the economic roles of farmers and fisherman in early New England communities in Essex County Massachusetts. In the book, Vickers examines how a patriarchal system that relied on the unpaid labor of dependent sons transitioned gradually to an economic system in which these sons found work outside of the family farm. For fishermen, he explores the shift from client-patron economic relations to a free market system, noting the difficulties fishermen faced in achieving economic independence in both systems.
If you find this book interesting, Meetinghouse and Counting House by Frederick Barnes Tolles does much the same thing for colonial Pennsylvania
4) Witch Craze by Lyndal Roper
A good book for October, focuses on the century of witch trials in Germany between 1550 to 1650. Drawing on hundreds of original trial transcripts and other rare sources in four areas of Southern Germany, where most of the witches were executed, Lyndal Roper paints a vivid picture of their lives, families, and tribulations. She also explores the psychology of witch-hunting, explaining why it was mostly older women that were the victims of witch crazes, why they confessed to crimes, and how the depiction of witches in art and literature has influenced the characterization of elderly women in our own culture.
I will have a few more, later this week to finish off my suggestions.
More books:
If you would like to read something I am reading now and really beginning to like
1) The US Volunteers in the Southern Philippines by John Scott Reed
This work examines the Philippine-American War in the southern Christian regions of the Philippines, a region not heavily examined (outside the Moro Wars against the Muslims in the southern Philippines) with most attention in studying the war against the nationalists focuses on Luzon and Samar after 1901.
If you are interested in other aspects of the US Empire and its relation to other contemporary empires:
2) The Boxer Rebellion by David Silbey
This book studies the Boxer Rebellion, and its context, as well as the imperial coemption that took place during the China Relief Expedition that almost derailed the campaign to relieve the besieged legations in Peking
For those who have less of an interest in US history:
3) The Hessian Mercenary State by Charles W. Ingrao
This work studies Hesse-Cassel during the reign of Landgrave Frederick II, which coincided with the American War of Independence
4) Peasants into Frenchman by Eugen Weber
A good, but long (632 pages) and dense work that examines “how France underwent a veritable crisis of civilization in the early years of the French Republic as traditional attitudes and practices crumbled under the forces of modernization,” and how peasants became Frenchman.
If you find this interesting you can also look at E. P. Thompson’s Making of the English Working Class
5) King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild
A well written work that studies the exploitation of the Congo Free State by King Leopold II of Belgium between 1885 and 1908, as well as the large-scale atrocities committed during that period. For those who have read Hart of Darkness (or seen the move Apocalypse Now which takes its plot from Conrad) this is a good book for you as it provides the historical context for Conrad’s work.
6) Delivered From Evil by Robert Leckie
This is a popular and well written work on the Second World War, I like it and its an easy read.
I will have a few more suggestions tomorrow, and most will not be military history.
Here are my suggestions for nonfiction books, these are not in any particular order:
For those who are interested in what I am studying:
1) A War of Fronter and Empire by David Silbey by undergrad advisor
This is one of the most recent military histories of the Philippine-American War and provides a good overview of the conflict
2) Blood of Government by Paul A Kramer
A more challenging book this book deals with the use and importance of race in the development of the American colonial state in the Philippines, and how Americans and Filipinos used race as a tool for their own ends
Some of my favorite history works
3) Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson
This is the definitive one volume history of the Civil War and is a must for students of that war or anyone with a casual interest in that time era
4) The Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauff
This is the definitive one volume history of the Revolution and is from the same series as McPherson’s book and is a good starting point for those interested in the Revolutionary period
5) Tales from a Revolution by James D. Rice
For those who may be interested in a earlier revolution, this work looks at a little studied, yet very important, event in US history, Bacons’ Rebellion
6) A Spirited Resistance by Gregory Evans Dowd
This work studies the failed resistance of the Delaware, Shawnee, Cherokee, and Creek nations to Anglo-American settler colonialism. I really recommend this book its very good, and can be very sad.
I will have some more suggestions later.
Evidence not Seen is a really good missionary story... can't remember who wrote it but its one of K.A.P. favorites...
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller...
Don't read much non-fiction.....
Since there is some interest I will put up a list here over the weekend when I get back home from doing research at Carlisle
I'd love a list! I'm thinking of nonfiction books I've enjoyed... most of them aren't really narrative or story-based, but they're good.
-Spaceman by Mike Massimino: this one is more story-based; it's a bit technical at times, but always very engaging and interesting, at least if you're into spaceflight and such. A couple instances of mild language, but overall an intriguing and inspiring read.
-Carrying the Fire by Michael Collins: a fascinating memoir (Collins was the Command Module Pilot on Apollo 11), similar to the one above, but lengthier, more technical, and more adult in reading level and some of the content.
-The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom: not easy stuff to read, but very, very important.
So, those are the only ones that come to mind that follow more or less single storylines. I remember a readaloud my family did years ago called Snow Treasure (I think) about Norwegian (I think?) kids smuggling treasury gold out of reach of the Nazi occupation in the early days of WWII... I think that one might have been fictionalized in its particulars though.
The rest here are all theology or apologetics (the defense of the Christian faith) to some extent.
-Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: every Christian should read this at some point if they can. Some of Lewis' most key work. Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton is similar (he influenced Lewis, and Rich Mullins, whom I'll mention later); Chesterton's writing is amazing, but I haven't had time to read all of it yet.
-Tactics by Greg Koukl: an excellent introduction to apologetics, and good logical thinking in general.
-Mind Your Faith by David Horner: I'm still reading this one, but it's very good. Aimed at helping Christian college students hold their faith through college.
-How to be a Perfect Christian by the Babylon Bee. The Bee is a Christian satire news site, and their book combines their wit and sarcasm to not only make jokes about the peculiarities of Christian culture, but also point out some of the nonbiblical ideas and mentalities that many people tend to take too seriously within the modern church. Don't take it too literally, it's all satire.
-Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson: this is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to (or does) write stories, make music, art, or anything creative. If you're familiar with Andrew, it reads as if he's really saying it. Very good stuff on creativity, community, and life in general.
-Wrestling with Angels by Carolyn Arends: this memoir is more spiritual than creative, but it does involve both, and it's very well-written.
-The World as I Remember It by Rich Mullins. I don't think this is still in print, but if you can find any of Rich's writings, I can almost guarantee it's worth reading and thinking about. He was a strong influence upon Andrew Peterson (and indeed many other Christian artists) and it shows very clearly.
That's all I've got for now. Cheers!
Has anyone read or seen "Hunger Games?" My two sisters, and I are currently reading them. My sister is on the second book, and my other sister and I are on the first book.
Has anyone read "Secret Service Dogs: Heroes who protect the president?" That's a good book.
Here's some more:
Rome Sweet home by Scott Han
Parallel Journeys by Eleanor Ayer
I’d love a list! I actually don’t really like nonfiction books, but I’m down! (I really only read fantasy but I would definitely expand what I read)
I'm not really into nonfiction unless it teaches something, but I have a few favorites. My top favorite is related to writing and I recommend it for everyone who's interesting in being an author. It's called Plot vs. Character by Jeff Gerke. Some other interesting instructional books are any Uncle Eric books by Richard Maybury like Whatever Happened to Justice, and the The Fallacy Detective by the Bluedorn brothers.