I feel like my knowledge of human history is very focused on the past several hundred years. I'm looking for five books (or less) that will take me through the most important periods of human history. I am looking for something that will provide historical facts rather than analysis (I often see through the biases of the author and I'd rather save myself from their opinions). I'm not opposed to textbooks as long as they aren't too dull to handle.
Thanks for your help.
Ok, two things.
First, every work of history has inherent biases. Just deciding what to tell you about, and what not to tell you about. Even a book specifically about the working class in the US in the mid-1880s could focus on the effects of the extremely harsh winter of 1886, leaving out discussion of the Haymarket bombing in Chicago. So you really should not go into any history book thinking "This one better not have biases," and you should definitely not read anything and come away thinking "That was a perfectly objective and unbiased book." If ever you think that, you just didn't notice.
Second, you should, with what I've just said in mind, narrow your request so someone can help you. My specialty is the history of science, so what you're asking for is what we call an arrows-to-atoms general survey. You might want a broad study of war and international relations, of trends in culture and art, the development of increasingly complex governmental and economic systems, something that focuses on the lives of the lower classes, a general survey on the roles of women in various societies, an overview of history through the growth and conflict between various religions, or any of a number of other perspectives. I am a fan of Europe Between the Oceans, which covers European history through the lens of the landscape, focusing on its role in shaping history.
My liking it doesn't make it a definitive text, nor does it mean I think you'd find it interesting or particularly informative. I just think it's good.
Talk a bit about what interests you, what you'd like to know more about, and people can point you towards the right works. If you were interested in law and legal codes, I know a great work on the rise of city police forces in the medieval era. If, on the other hand, you are more interested in warfare, that would mean pointing you towards a book about the Crusades in the same period.
I want to double-down on what /u/mizzamir wrote but add something to the bias:
Realize what you mean when you say "Human History". Such a thing doesn't quite exist, unless you are getting into the field of Global History, which is quite theoretical. Just think how often we think along the lines of watershed moments only in the Western World: French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, Crusades,...
It often happens that you read a book on "World" history, but have kept yourself to events in Europe and North America without even noticing it. What may be helpful is to diversify your "Human History" spectrum and then try to get further back in history without losing focus on China or the Ottoman Empire (for example).
These are all great places to start and are cornerstones of the Global History school of thought. But again, they are meta-histories so do be careful.
Have fun!