I'm less and less impressed with Bernard and David Bachrach's Warfare in Medieval Europe. It's not bad, but I'm just really not enjoying reading it. The book takes a thematic rather than chronological approach to its subject, which I totally endorse but it's a hard way to write a book and so far they haven't been brilliant about tracing a clear line of reasoning or narrative through the chapter I'm reading. I just find reading it a bit of a slog without a ton of detail (it doesn't help that it's really early medieval focused) and with occasional vague straw men thrown up to make a point. It's mostly fine, but it just doesn't offer me a lot that I don't already know and it's kind of a slog to read so I'm not sure if I'm going to keep going. I may set it aside for a while and try it again later. Work has me stressed and I can be a lot less forgiving of a book when I'm stressed and tired. A more relaxed self might enjoy it more.

Anyone know any good histories of the internet, or histories of the digital revolution from the 1950s to today? Preferably something not too technical.

I've been posting quite a bit in the Thursday threads on the panel sub but not a lot here, so a few recommends from me from what I've read over the summer:

1. City of Virtues: Nanjing in an Age of Utopian Visions by Chuck Wooldridge (2016) – Part urban, part political and part cultural history, exploring how various 'rulers' of Nanjing (if you will) attempted to impress their titular 'utopian visions' upon Nanjing and in turn use it as a model for China as a whole, using appeals to its past, constructing buildings or simply writing descriptive poetry. This takes the form of five case studies of sorts – the Qianlong emperor's southern tours of 1751-78; local elite activity in the 1830s and 40s; Taiping rule from 1853-64; the post-Taiping reconstruction under Zeng Guofan from 1864-78; and local elite activity in the 1880s and 1890s.
2. Treason by the Book by Jonathan Spence (2001) – A narrative account of the investigation into the Zeng Jing conspiracy against the Yongzheng emperor in 1728, and the subsequent debates over the legacy of the late Lü Liuliang, Zeng's main intellectual influence. Spence's flair for crafting immersive narratives shines through as always, and it's actually a very interesting look at both the operation of the imperial state and the depth of Han-Manchu hostility even at a time that can be thought of as the Qing golden age.
3. China Upside Down: Society, Currency and Ideologies, 1808-1856 by Man-Houng Lin (2004) – One half an economic history looking at China's integration into the global economy in the nineteenth century (don't trust the subtitle, by the way: this book covers events well into the 1880s) and the resultant silver-copper coin crisis, the other an intellectual history looking at the development of Confucian statecraft thought in relation to the crisis. Personally, I'd give the purely intellectual chapters (4-7) a pass and focus on the economic chapters (1-3) and the crossover (8) but if the evolution of statecraft thought is your thing then maybe 4-7 won't be as dull.

I've been looking for a few books in particular:

• Welsh history preferably pre-1066 and post 876
• Culture of Gwynedd
• Any sources on druidic/pagan religion of post-christianity

My local library and Barnes and Nobles doesn't much of anything on Welsh history so it's been quite the struggle!

I'm looking for a general overview of human civilization.

Obligatory recommendation for Bob Woodward's newly released book Fear on the first year and a half of the Trump presidency. Recent history it may be, but it is an absolutely fascinating (and terrifying) look inside the pandemonium that is the Trump White House...and excellently sourced, too (as Woodward's work tends to be). It explores the various actors (both internal and external) trying to control White House operations (as well as the president's actions) with varying degrees of success. Haven't finished it yet (I'm on chapter 4), but so far it's been an excellent read.

I'd really like to know more about daily life around the time of the Black Death, and more about the Black Death itself (its spread, its impact etc), so I'd really love some recommendations on that.

Hello all. I am looking for a book (or books) detailing the diet and/or what was grown/foraged by pre-columbian New Englanders (this is not a hard cutoff, I would be interested in areas surrounding New England as well.)

Thanks in advance!

Looking for some books on the French Revolution. Historical Fiction/Fiction based on truth. Really just looking for a fun read, nothing serious.

Does anyone know of any books comparing sermons preached leading up to the Revolutionary War to the ones leading up to Civil War, specifically from the Confederacy?

I would love to know if anyone knows of historical fiction about Oliver Cromwell (especially his involvement in Ireland). I've searched for awhile but so far haven't come across anything. Thanks so much, love this community!

I’m trying to learn about Egyptian history and mythology, what books should I read? [They can be fictional]

Could anyone recommend a good diplomatic history of modern Europe? One that focuses on the different Great Powers (UK, France, Russia, Prussia/Germany, maybe Italy and the Ottoman Empire) and their interactions with each other? My knowledge of diplomacy, treaties, etc. is pretty cursory unfortunately.