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Best History Books To Learn Basics

In today’s technological world, learning has never been more accessible. To make sense of the present world, you must be familiar with the chain of events that brought us to where we are today.

Our recommended list of books can help you resurrect forgotten history, and bring you up-to-date on some of the historical occurrences that have shaped our world.

Looking back on years of conflict, plague, and the rise and fall of civilizations, you’ll be wondering how we made it, even more so, how democracy succeeded dictatorship and subdued the power of despotic and kleptocratic rulers.  

History is messy but not ugly. The more you know about it, the more it makes sense in both an ancient and modern context.

Below are the ten great, best-selling history books to brush up your knowledge of history.

History Of The World Map by Map 

More than 140 detailed map in this book tells us the story of crucial episodes in world history, from the first human migrations out of Africa to the corners of the earth.

Clear organization of historical information will help you follow, step by step, the story of civilization through ancient, medieval, and modern times. However, not every page of the book consists of maps, as you may assume.

At some points in “History of the World Map by Map,” broad Introductions allows you to take a step back and reflect on past events, such as World War Two.

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The Spy and The Traitor 

Readers looking for a page-turning spy story, look no further. The Spy and the traitor is a fast-paced and fascinating biography of Russian-spy-turned-British Oleg Gordievsky.

This historical piece digs into the personal life of Gordievsky, who was the most significant British agent of the Cold War. Even if you’re not so into history books, you will find it hard to put this down.

The author, Ben Macintyre, is known for writing amazing books, which is yet another mind-blowing one.

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The Forgotten 500

 If you want to know about the untold story of the greatest rescue mission of World War II, when the OSS set out to recover more than 500 airmen trapped behind enemy lines.

The Forgotten 500 is the book to read. Although this story has never manifested for more than half a century due to political reasons, the full details of that unforgettable story of selflessness, loyalty, and altruism are now told for the first time.

It takes a “behind-the-scenes” view of the greatest rescue mission of World War II.

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Sapiens

A brief history of humankind. Yuval Noah Harari, a renowned historian, presents this groundbreaking narrative of humanity, evolution, and creation to us.

Sapiens explores how biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be human. Most books on history focus on either a historical or biological view, but Dr Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens breaks the ice with the appearance of modern cognition.

It examines the role of evolving humans in the global ecosystem and the rise of empires.

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The Boys in the Boat

This is the story of nine Americans and their epic quest for Gold at the Berlin’s 1936 Olympics. For those who love adventure stories, The Boys in the Boat is for you. It was an unrealistic mission from the very beginning.

With a team consisting of shipyard workers, farmers, and sons of loggers, the University of Washington’s crew team was not expected to defeat East Coast and Great Britain’s elite squad. They won and shocked the entire universe.

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The Storm Before the Storm

The storm before the storm takes a dig into the bloody battles and political machinations that led to the fall of the Roman Republic. Mike Duncan, known for his clear and engaging exposition, presents this fact-packed, humorous and entertaining book.

Are you craving answers to questions like What weakened the Roman Republic despite the ambition of the Caesars? You’ll find it in this book.

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The Warmth of Other Suns

In this epic, wonderfully written masterpiece, Isabel Wilkerson reveals one of the great unheard and untold stories of American history. She writes about the decades-long migration of black citizens who exited the South for Northern and Western regions in search of greener pastures.

It covers historical happenings from 1915 to 1970 that changed the face of America.

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The Accidental President

 Opening the first page of The Accidental President is like opening the door to Harry Truman’s office, where we sit and observe as world events unfold most realistically. A. J. Baime, master of storytelling, tells us about the utmost surprise, and transformational President.

He puts his pen to great use, recounting historical events that happened during those four months of Truman’s stay in office so that you come out with a more profound sense of history.

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Stamped from The Beginning

Stamped From The Beginning is a definitive history of racist ideas in America. Ibram X. Kendi tells the story of anti-black racist ideas and their tremendous power on the course of American history.

It reveals to us that racist views aren’t a product of ignorance or hatred; rather, created to justify deeply enriched discriminatory policies and racial inequities. You won’t be wasting your time if you’re reading this book.

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A Brief History of Time

 Written in a language that we all can understand, A Brief History of Time takes us on a journey of self-discovery. It gives answers to questions like: How did the universe begin? What made its start possible? Stephen Hawkings brings us nearer to the secrets of creation.

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Having a correct knowledge of various historical events is key to relevance, especially in the academic world, where you need to show your understanding of history at some point. Or what would you think of a man who doesn’t know anything about his country at all?

Our top-ten list of best history books challenges you to dig deep into Valley of knowledge, and what you’ll find is undiluted and interpreted historical events from the past to the present.  

Leave a comment. We want to know if you have read some of these selections of history books.

Amit Kumar

FreeEducator.com blog is managed by Amit Kumar. He and his team come from the Oxford, Stanford and Harvard. At FreeEducator, we strive to create the best admission platform so that international students can go to the best universities - regardless of financial circumstances. By applying with us, international students get unlimited support and unbiased advice to secure the best college offers overseas.

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