I have ten history an historical biography books that I own in front of me. These books were bought live at bookstores or thrift stores. I can't tell if they're trustworthy. I'll list them, and if you have any ideas, let me know.
Notes:
Some of them are just old. Newer texts may be better. The question is whether they're good enough for personal, not professional, use.
I didn't just boredly grab all my history books to bring to you. I have some ones that are definitely good, like some Pulitzer winners. These are ones that are less clearly good.
Books on Leftist History
The Life of Lenin, Louis Fischer: I got this at a thrift store cheap, so there was no need to question whether it was good. The main issue is that it's old, and may be out of date. A factor, like I mentioned, is that it doesn't have to be perfect or for professionals. I'm just a regular dude.
Stalin: A Political Biography, Isaac Deustcher: Exactly same situation as above.
The CNT in the Spanish Revolution, Jose Peirats: I bought this on a trip to Manhattan in a leftist bookstore. I don't know anything about it, but it seems to be a promotion of the CNT by someone involved with it. That doesn't mean it's badhistory, but if it is, I'll donate it.
Anarcho-syndicalism in the 20th Century: Exactly same situation as above, subbing "CNT" for "anarchism-syndicalism".
Sacco & Vanzetti: The Men, the Murders, and the Judgment of Mankind, Bruce Watson: I bought this at a library bookstore. It'd be cool to read if it weren't actively badhistory.
Che: A Revolutionary Life, Jon Lee Anderson: Ths book is different. I already read it years ago, and loved it. But I don't remember it well. If it's bad, a good critical review would be good.
Latin American History
The History of Latin America: Collision of Cultures, Marshall C. Eakin: I bought this book because it was in the small Latin America section at B&N. I don't remember what any research I might have done on it pulled up.
Cuba: A New History, Richard Gott: I'm tempted not to even add this one. Same story as above, except I do remember pulling go info and being satisfied, but I don't remember why. It's also published by Yale University Press. Something insidious would have to be wrong with the book for me to donate it, but I've seen it happen before, and I will if so.
The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression, Amity Shlaes: I don't know anything about this book. I got it at the thrift store. The chosen reviews are odd in source.
The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South, John W. Blassingame: Unless the back of the book is making a factual lie, this book sounds important. The only question is whether the scholarship moved away from it significantly.
A lot of the times, I ask for book recommendations, and it takes me years if I ever do read them. This thread will have much more immediate effects. I will donate the badhistory to my local Goodwill if there are any.
Thank you! c:
Cuba: A New History, Richard Gott
I've read it before. Good introduction, but not academic level in terms of analysis. Gott is a journalist and he wrote it as an accessible introduction to Cuban history.
For what it is meant to be, it's pretty good. It should only serve as a basic jumping off point though.
If you're interested in digging deeper, here are a few reading recommendations from a historian specializing in 20th century Cuba.