Started Conrad Totman's The Collapse of the Tokugawa Bakufu for a cover-to-cover read-through. I've read large chunks of it already over the last five years, but it's been a while, and it has a deserved reputation as one of the driest books on the subject: all 481 pages. It's also one of the most essential, a month to month survey of everything the shogunate was doing from 1862 to its fall in 1868.

But I have a secret weapon! Luck smiled on me, and my university library's copy was gifted to us by the late Professor Harold Bolitho, who was the other big authority on the late shogunate, and one of the wittiest writers in the field, with a definite style and a tendency to skewer other academics in a rather entertaining fashion. I noticed immediately this book is covered in pencilled notes and yes, they're Bolitho's! He very much valued Totman's work, but he's writing away in the margins all through, registering his disagreements and his agreements, all in a pretty entertaining manner. He even wrote a five page summary and review of the book in the back blank pages.

Southern Honor went in the can last night. Had the pleasant experience of getting lost in his case study in the final chapter, then realizing that I got it already so keeping tabs on which person was which when half of them have the same name wasn't vital.

Hopped straight over to Stampp's The Peculiar Institution, because I've heard that the very beginning is a very good place to start. He opens up by being as polite as one can be to UB Phillips while really laying into him.

I finished reading William of Malmesbury's Gesta Regum this week and it is a great feeling! Its the first chronicle I read front to back and even though I can only use a small fraction of the Information gained by the read through for my master's thesis it was still absolutely worth it. So many anecdotes.

Hi, I'm looking for intro level suggestions on first nations history in the Canadian prairies. So Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, more focused on precolonial/pretreaty era. Thanks in advanced!

Can anyone recommend me books on 12th/13th century English history (and perhaps a quality biography of King John)? Thanks!

What are some books you would recommend on Alcohol History? I would like to focus on its Ancient origins and society impacts (such as who drank what based on gender, ethnicity, or political beliefs.) Thanks.

Does anyone know of a good book on the Emperor Julian? Gibbon has excited my curiosity about him.

Starting Sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark as a recommendation by the sidebar. It's the first in my series of books to understand circumstances leading up to WWI, the interwar period (Mark Mazower's Dark Continent, and post-war Europe (Tony Jundt's Post War). I'm not interested in the military history as much as the social, political, and economic history that set the stage for the military conflicts. I might add another pre-WWI book though. Any suggestions?

Hello all, apologies in advance for how broad and vague this request is, I'm aware it's not the typical askhistorians post but I couldn't find a more relevant subreddit. I'm preparing for a job application in international relations/diplomacy, which includes an hour interview testing your knowledge on certain topics. On of the listed topics is history (that's right, just history) so I am looking for recommendations.

Obviously "history" is a bit vague, so for context here are the other topics: European integration, security policy, international relations, trade policy, economics, press and culture, consular affairs, budget affairs, human rights, asylum and migration, environment and climate, and international legal affairs.

If anyone can think of historical books that are related to one or more of the above topics, especially books that draw a line from key historical events to our modern world, and ones that are quite broad (i.e. suitable for non-historians, that explain context), I would be so appreciative of your help. Really, any and all tips highly welcome! Thanks everyone (and apologies if this is bad askhistorians rediquette)

I've recently been reading Ghost on the Throne, a book on the collapse of Alexander the Great's empire following his death. It's quite fascinating to see how the wars of succession really began.

On the matter of looking for books, does anyone know any good books on animals in Ancient Egypt besides Divine Creatures (I've already got it on my wishlist).