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World History Books That Illuminate History Around You

Our past can tell us so much about the present and the future. World history books help us to understand our world by providing context to how we arrived where we are today.

The best world history books are accessible and comprehensive, guiding readers through important events of the past and drawing connections to causes and effects throughout history.

Take a journey along the Silk Road, walk the streets of colonial America, or fight in the Wars of the Roses. History books give us the opportunity to experience another time and place through the power of reading. 

No matter what era or area you’re interested in, we’ve put together this collection of world history books to satisfy your curiosity and wanderlust. 

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Twelve Years a Slave
Twelve Years a Slave
by Solomon Northup
Case Closed
Case Closed
by Gerald Posner
Arctic Homestead
Arctic Homestead
by Norma Cobb, Charles W. Sasser
Agent Jack
Agent Jack
by Robert Hutton
Appalachian Mountain Girl
Appalachian Mountain Girl
by Rhoda Bailey Warren
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How to Survive in Medieval England
How to Survive in Medieval England
by Toni Mount
Death Sentence
Death Sentence
by Jerry Bledsoe
Love Lies
Love Lies
by Amanda Lamb
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
by William L. Shirer
The Collapse of the Third Republic
The Collapse of the Third Republic
by William L. Shirer
Washington's Immortals
Washington's Immortals
by Patrick K. O'Donnell
The Westies
The Westies
by T. J. English
Red Road from Stalingrad
Red Road from Stalingrad
by Mansur Abdulin, Artem Drabkin
The Gift of Black Folk
The Gift of Black Folk
by W. E. B. Du Bois
The Fall of Japan
The Fall of Japan
by William Craig
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Slouching Towards Bethlehem
Slouching Towards Bethlehem
by Joan Didion
The Far Shore
The Far Shore
by Edward Ellsberg
Life at the Dakota
Life at the Dakota
by Stephen Birmingham
Alive
Alive
by Piers Paul Read
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A Night to Remember
A Night to Remember
by Walter Lord
Crazy Horse and Custer
Crazy Horse and Custer
by Stephen E. Ambrose
The Souls of Black Folk
The Souls of Black Folk
by W. E. B. Du Bois
The Harvest Gypsies
The Harvest Gypsies
by John Steinbeck, Charles Wollenberg
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great
by Philip Freeman
The Grandes Dames
The Grandes Dames
by Stephen Birmingham
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A Thousand Days
A Thousand Days
by Arthur M. Schlesinger
Not in Your Lifetime
Not in Your Lifetime
by Anthony Summers
In the Wake of Madness
In the Wake of Madness
by Joan Druett
Up from Slavery
Up from Slavery
by Booker T. Washington
Answers to Questions You've Never Asked
Answers to Questions You've Never Asked
by Joseph Pisenti
Among Schoolchildren
Among Schoolchildren
by Tracy Kidder
Papa Hemingway
Papa Hemingway
by A. E. Hotchner
The Last Madam
The Last Madam
by Chris Wiltz
Black Hawk Down
Black Hawk Down
by Mark Bowden
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12, 20 & 5
12, 20 & 5
by John A. Parrish
Sherman's March
Sherman's March
by Burke Davis
A Time to Stand
A Time to Stand
by Walter Lord
Fiber Craft Heritage
Fiber Craft Heritage
by Doris Fischer
A Warrior of the People
A Warrior of the People
by Joe Starita
Find Me Unafraid
Find Me Unafraid
by Kennedy Odede, Jessica Posner
Thank You for Voting
Thank You for Voting
by Erin Geiger Smith
Letters on Ethics
Letters on Ethics
by Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Margaret Graver, A. A. Long
The Pocket Stoic
The Pocket Stoic
by John Sellars
Dr. Seuss Goes to War
Dr. Seuss Goes to War
by Richard H. Minear, Theodor Seuss Geisel, Art Spiegelman
Ninja
Ninja
by Stephen Turnbull
The Secret History of the World
The Secret History of the World
by Mark Booth
High, Wide and Lonesome
High, Wide and Lonesome
by Hal Borland
The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History
The Myth of the Lost Cause and Civil War History
by Gary W. Gallagher, Alan T. Nolan
Crown & Sceptre
Crown & Sceptre
by Tracy Borman
Tell Me How It Ends
Tell Me How It Ends
by Valeria Luiselli
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The best world history books are both informative and interesting, they tell stories from history using factual information as well as intriguing writing and world building. Some examples of great and captivating world history books include Marilyn French’s From Eve to Dawn: A History of Women in the World and Terence McLaughlin’s Dirt. 

Which history books are considered “must-read” is completely dependent on your interests! If you’ve always found yourself interested in English history and monarchs, you must read Phil Carradice’s Bloody Mary or Rebellion Against Henry VII. If you’re fascinated by countercultural and secretive movements then you simply must read Mark Booth’s The Secret History of the World.