Veeky Forums book thread: Siege of Malta edition

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should add that to the OP for next time btw

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Which one of these should I read next Veeky Forums?

this one

Don't have that one yet

What are some essential Buddhist texts to read? So far I've seen Conze's Heart and Diamond Sutras recommended but was wondering if anyone else had some input.

Also does Keay's India: A History go over the history of Buddha/Buddhism?

Also what's a good book on the Conquistadors and their conquest of the Aztecs/Incans?

Like how casual they look while being executed.

The events taking place are hardcore, but period art is distinctly bored-looking

Oh no we're being repressed. That sucks.

I'm the architect user with the history hobby. I updated my chart and clarified that it is an overview of historical books of periods that I have an interest on. These books were recommended to me here on Veeky Forums or I've seen in the different threads and caught my interest.

This is my attempt at gathering the best (or more recommended reading) books on different topics per Veeky Forums users. Not every book is the best source nor perfect, so I am more than happy to update my chart to reflect books with better sources or authors. Also, I am continuously looking for more topics and books that are recommended reading. I am very open to check out other periods in history that are of be it an overview of periods or niche topics that have interesting books.

Add this one to the list

impressive

Cool, thanks for this.

What are some good books on early to mid 20th century culture?

I'd suggest throwing in a General African History book if you're going to keep the category you've got there. As it is right now, it's pretty much exclusively focused on the Congo when it comes to Africa.

Recommendations I'd have (that aren't already listed) are:
>The Fortunes of Africa: A 5,000-Year History of Wealth, Greed, and Endeavor by Martin Meredith.
A general introductory source for African history. Though it's a bit more Eurocentric than I was hoping, it's overall pretty good and it's got a section of recommended further reading at the end for every subject it mentions.

>The Cuban Intervention in Angola, 1965-1991: From Che Guevara to Cuito Cuanavale by Edward George. cabinda.net/The-Cuban-Intervention-in-Angola.pdf
This one looks at the Cubans in Angola, which is a pretty unique perspective that we don't normally see with African conflicts. Though obviously the focus of the book is on the Cubans, it's decidedly more focused on the MPLA/FAPLA than most other resources I've seen on the Angolan Civil War, which tend to be focused on the South Africans.

>The Ethiopian Revolution: War in the Horn of Africa by Gebru Tareke. 2009.
This is a very in-depth look at the Ethiopian revolution from 1974 to the '90s. It spends half the book explaining the clusterfuck that was Ethiopia at the time, including the militaries of the respective sides, and then it discusses the major military actions of the period - namely, the 1977 war with Somalia and a series of decisive engagements with the rebels.

BNW revisited - Alduous Hulxey
What is history - E H Carr

From my personal collection.

For WW2, consider breaking up your list for a wider scope. How I'd format it is
>one or two general histories
>General histories for important fronts like the Eastern Front or Pacific
>more detailed histories of specific battles or campaigns like Crimea, Midway, or Normandy
>more specifically focused overviews like Von Hardesty's Red Phoenix Rising (an overview of the Soviet Air Force in WW2)
>maybe even political histories like Eri Hotta's Japan 1941 to explain the political buildup to war

Shouldn't Tom Hollands book be at Rome-Medieval instead of post war Africa, seeing that it mostly deal with the rise of Islam?

Can you provide me with your summary and thoughts on the book?

I'll check these out! I would like more Africa and Asia history overviews; for me personally, I am looking for 20th century Chinese history with emphasis on the revolution.

But on the topic of Africa, there is a book on the colonisation of Liberia by freed slaves. I forget the book but I had a feeling it was revisionist/SJW pop history rather than non-biased and well sourced. Do you know about this book and if so, what are your thoughts?

Very nice improvement

I would do so if I had more books, I did so for WWI but I also don't want too many WWII books on here cause that period can get a chart easily on its own due to the scale and various topics that encompass it. I want to add overviews at most and perhaps interesting battles or topics if you have any reccs.

I was thinking of doing so but I ran out of space and thought it would go a bit well with current world topics even though it it a book about Islamic history. I'll move it once I get more books. But yeah, this chart is a WIP.

Just finished it a few days ago so it's still fresh in my head. It's a fantastic book and it gives a great overview of American society, politics, and military during this time period. It's long, clocking in at around 855 pages and can feel dense at times so it'll take you awhile to finish but once you start getting into it it's really good history. The author does tend to have a bit of a pro-Whig bias but it's nothing too bad. Does a good job painting a picture of the influential men of that time, again it does paint the Whigs in a more favorable light it's nothing to make you throw the book out over. Although it will make you hate President Tyler for ruining the Whigs agenda. At the end of the book I wanted to read more about this time period and I'm currently on A Country of Vast Designs, one already on your list.

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I have about 30 feet of history books, I will post some pics later if i get the chance as its too dark now and the pics i have are quite old. Might be some there you havent seen before that pique your interest. Heres a Roman end section pic thats actually from this year.

Nice, I'll add it to the list. I felt the same way when I read Destiny of the Republic. I had no idea who James Garfield really was other than a month long president. By the end, it had me rooting for Garfield, and fascinated by the US during the Gilded Age.

Does the book cover commoner daily life or more about the government? I'm just wondering cause I watched Gangs of New York and if there are books about that period that don't necessarily revolve about the gangs but the average Joe.

The book is long enough that it covers both, politics takes the forefront but a lot of the book is dedicated to the evolving life of the average American during this time period and how they were effected by the changing cultural and economic forces. Early on they talk about the life of the yeoman farmer and what attracted them to come to America and later they talk about how society changed and people became unhappy with the life their ancestors came to America for and what they did to stake their own claim. It also has a small part that I found rather effectively explains why America didn't turn to socialism during industrialization. And Destiny of the Republic is definitely on my to-read list, I've only heard good things about it

For sure. Whatever you recommend. I like what the user with the African book recommendations did, providing a mini summary of said book It will not only be of use to me but other Anons lurking this thread (which is how I began getting these books).

sorry if that was a little incoherent I have been drinking

Can do that, gotta shoot for now though as work beckons regrettably.

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I'm interested in reading Vanished Kingdoms.

Is it any good? How was it?

You can't go wrong with A Night to Remember and The Night Lives on by Walter Lord as "base" books for reading about Titanic!

Do people prefer to have descriptions of the books on Veeky Forums charts or no?

I wish someone would make a more Veeky Forums oriented version of this.

>tfw you can tell a book is written by females
Reading the first book on that list and there's constantly little quips about our "modern ideas" and shit and that's not what I want from a history book. I just want the facts, not a shoe-horned in dig at "muh nahtzeeeeees" 25 pages in

Otherwise, seems bready gud

what's the biggest difference between these two? Why choose one over the other?

Posting this so I can post my meme that goes along with it

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the 2nd list is just an expansion on the 1st list with more recommendations if you wanted to go deeper

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cool, thanks for these

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I prefer descriptions on Veeky Forums charts because I want to know why it's being recommended or the general tone of the book and what's included.

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>Be Maltese
>Malta gets mentioned on Veeky Forums

t-t-t-thanks OP!

currently reading 'The House of Medici: Its rise and fall' after my recent trip to Florence

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bump

What is THE best, most compelling and entertaining Veeky Forums-related book?

That depends, what part of history are you most interested in, user?

Rome/WW1

Destiny of the Republic if I have to be objective. It's about 200 pages, reads like a novel but with good sources. I knew nothing of James Garfield and was thrown into the Gilded Age following Garfield's beginnings to his unexpected election, while delving into the thoughts of Guiteau (who is this frustrating and autistic madman), the frustrations of Bell and doctors to treat Garfield as he is dying and being held back by Doctor (literally his name) Bliss who wanted all glory for curing Garfield, and the fall from power of Roscoe Conkling by pretty much quitting his post in a form of tantrum expecting his fellow politicians and voters to beg for his return only for it to backfire in his face. It is worth checking out.

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Bump

>What are some essential Buddhist texts to read?

For Hinayana

Tripitaka
Jataka Tales
Dhammapada

For Mahayana

Prajnaparamita sutras
Mulamadhyamakakarika
Bodhisattvacaryavatara

For Vajrayana

Guhyasamaja
Hevajra
Cakrasamvara
Kalacakra
The Dohakosas and Caryagiti of Mahasiddhas

Vajrayana (Tibet)

Bardo Thodol
Milarepa Songs
Tsongkhapa's Works

>Also does Keay's India: A History go over the history of Buddha/Buddhism?

Better go with books dealing with history of Buddhism only.

Johnson Robinson. The Buddhist Religion. A Historical Introduction.

David Snellgrove. Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. Indian Buddhists And Their Successors.

Geoffrey Samuel. The Origins of Yoga and Tantra. Indic Religions To The Thirteenth Century.

mega.nz/#F!8yoXVK7A!TC52QPsBJcfjDyVVsy06wA

You should if possible make a list of works on fascism not related to Nazism.

If LOTR is going to be there so should Moby Dick and/or Carel by Merville.

thanks a lot man

Just started Shelby Foote's Civil War narrative. An oldie but goodie.

Picked up The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by Shirer today on the cheap. I know it's not very academic and he has problems with his analysis but is it still worth reading if I'm generally interested in the subject and recognize it's flaws?

Pretty great book desu, it covers the Austro-Hungarian military in a lot of detail and says a lot related to nationalism and broader developments in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The author is a beautiful writer too.

I wrote a review on it ( hubpages.com/literature/A-Beautiful-and-Complex-Book-Review-of-Beyond-Nationalism-A-Social-and-Political-History-of-the-Habsburg-Officer-Corps ) which has an amazon link, but that's just for the normies, its for free at FreeBookSport ( freebookspot.es/Comments.aspx?Element_ID=729367 )

I'm in need of books on the 1870s to 1890s
Specifically on America and the middle east, military related would be nice

Sure, its very readable and gives you a general picture of nazi politics.

>tfw Byzaboo

I'm torn, which one is better: American Ulysses or Grant by Ron Chernow?

Got these three at a book depot for 28 bucks. Thoughts?

Where does one go AFTER the Romans?

To their rightful successors, of course.

....so Finland?

Exactly.

I couldn't find pic related anywhere. Does someone have a download link?

so you know the meme too? Think you can give me the full story? I only got a rough outline

Medieval Europe and/or Islamic Middle East

you could also read into Ancient China after Rome

>Ancient China
aside from silk road, gun powder, the Mongols and eventual Black Plague, how did China influence Europe and the modern world?

Are there any lists/recommendations for Medieval-Colonial England?

Can any of you fucking losers recommend me a book/books/authors about Napoleon/French revolution? It dawned me that i literally know nothing about the period, and i only know the name of 1 battle because ABBA made a song.

second

I’m that guy and that’s the Napoleon book I got today. Haven’t read it yet but it’s a suggestion 4u nonetheless.

>rome
>eastern rome takes the flag when western rome falls
>Imperial Russia takes the flag when eastern rome falls
>Imperial russia implodes
>Finland becomes rightful heir of Imperial Russia when reds take over