What if your personal library could contain the best history books ever written?
Thomas Jefferson’s library at Monticello once numbered perhaps as many as 10,000 volumes. It was the largest personal collection of books in the United States of the Founding Era.
When the British burned the Capitol in 1814, Jefferson offered to sell his library to the government, providing a core of new reference materials for the representatives of the still young republic. Concerning the scope of the materials offered, of which 6500 volumes were eventually purchased, Jefferson commented, “there is in fact no subject to which a member of Congress may not have occasion to refer.” (Read more about Jefferson’s library here: Library of Congress.)
Of course, most of us do not have reason or occasion to amass a library of 6500, let alone 10,000 volumes. But wouldn’t it be great to have the books your really need?
What if you could build a history library of only the most essential texts, which would allow you to research any important historical topic and provide you with a gateway into the vast store of human knowledge about the past?
As my own collection of history books approaches the 2000-volume mark, I’ve decided to share my list of top ten books on four different crucial historical topics, for a total of only 40 books.
This includes my top ten books on each of these four topics:
- History of America
- History of Europe
- Ancient History
- The History of the Middle East
You don’t have to scour libraries and bookstores, and spend thousands. I’ve done that! Take advantage of my groundwork, and build a great library with only forty. Over the next weeks, I’ll be sharing with my mailing list subscribers which 40 books out of my 2000 book library I would save if there were a fire in my house!
Don’t miss it! The first issue of this four-part series, I cannot live without books!–an exclusive e-zine series for Powell History mailing list subscribers, comes out this weekend. Be sure to join the Powell History Mailing List to get your recommendations, learn about Powell History products, and receive special offers for current and upcoming courses.
Thanks for this series. I am enjoying it, and so are a lot of used book stores, I suspect!
One request: Can you recommend a book or books to learn about Canadian history? I realize it’s not nearly as important an area as the four you’re concentrating on in your series, but I thought that as a former Canadian you might have some tips for us still up here and looking to improve our knowledge of our country’s history.
Mark, if you’re still looking for Canadian history (and it’s been two years so maybe you’re not), I would recommend Francis Parkman’s History of the French in North America. He is an extremely thorough and objective researcher, interesting as a narrator, and at times almost poetic in his writing style. I enjoyed it far more than Parkman’s better-known Oregon Trail. The series gave me a good understanding of the savage mind, of the differences between French and English culture and how that affected Canadian v. American history, and of the motivations and character of some of Canada’s historical figures.
Sorry Mark. I don’t know of any yet. I can say that I have *seen*, but not used a series called the “World’s Best Histories.” J. Castell Hopkins has a title in it about Canada. Here’s a link. Since this title was published in 1910, I suspect it will be quite good. In fact I just picked up a copy before writing you the link. There weren’t many out there!
Thanks! I’ll check that out.
If I remember to look when I get home (I’m not at home) I’ll have to recommend the book I used in a Canadian History Class I took at Marian University, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It was an excellent class, don’t let anyone tell you different, early Canadian history is all too important and without it North America would never be the same. Many American’s underestimates its importance and write off Canada as an extension of the US, but for those historians willing to look into its history, WOW is all I can say. If you step across the border and check out a true Canadian History book section, you’ll notice how important the War of 1812 was to them, some of the best books about it were written by Canadians. “The Invasion of Canada and Flames Across the Border” by Pierre Berton. I too am interested in Candian History, my mothers side is of French Canadian Ancestry, which sparked the interest.
Hi, I was wondering if there was any way I could see the list of 40 books. I just found your site today, and signed up for your mailing list. However, I’m not sure if there’s a way for me to access this list or not.
Thanks,
Sean
Sean:
It’s not yet in an easily distributable form. However, I intend to publish it as a PDF pamphlet some time soon. When I do, I’ll mail it to all my mailing list members.
Best,
Scott
Like Sean, I have just signed up for your mailing list and would like to get a copy of the pdf if you have one.
Regards,
Josh
I too am interested in seeing this list!
I just subscribed to your mailing list, mainly to see your list of recommended history books. Is the list available to send to me?
One set of books on American history I would recommend is Chronicles of America, put out by Yale University back around 1920. It’s a set of 56 volumes (it also comes in a 50 volume set, not sure what is missing from that version) by many different authors. I discovered the series at a library in Fort Lewis, WA, when I was in the Army back in 1983-1987. I only read one of the volumes, and I’ve been looking for the series ever since then, because the one I read was so good. It was The Old Merchant Marine: A Chronicle of American Ships and Sailors, and narrated the history of shipping magnates like John Hancock. It was fascinating. Anyway, I found the series (after finally remembering the title of it) on used book sites, and while it isn’t cheap, it’s worth it to get pre-Politically Correct history. A list of 50 of the volumes in the series is at this website:
http://www.ejpublishing.com/chronamerica.htm
Chuck:
I’m sorry. Although I had intended to produce a comprehensive list at some point, and I did send out a bunch of separate lists, the project to bring it all together is on hold. Maybe this summer.
Thanks for the Yale series recommendation. Amazingly, I’ve only read one of them myself, the book by George Wrong on the French and Indian Wars. I liked it. I’m definitely interested in others on that list, so I appreciate hearing about it from you.
Best,
Scott Powell