I'm reasonably sure the one I read was Hitler by Ian Kershaw. It focuses quite a lot on his rise to power which in my opinion is just as interesting as any of the events during the war. It's an absolutely fascinating read.

Antony Beevor is a very qualified historian who has written a number of great books over the past few decades. His works on Stalingrad and the Battle of Berlin are wonderful examples of well-written, intelligent military history.

Atkinson's Liberation Trilogy is for sure just about as solid a treatment on the US experience in the ETO as one could ask for.

While Ian W. Toll is doing equally wonderful work with his Pacific War trilogy, starting with Pacific Crucible.

The First Team series by Lundstrom is also a must read for anyone interested in naval aviation, or who watched the old "Ba-Ba Black sheep" series. It chronicles USN fighter squadrons from Pearl Harbor through to success in the bloody cauldron of Guadalcanal.