I am a recent econ graduate and soon to be history master's program student. I am used to read average academic papers, 20-50 pages, and I know how to read them efficiently. However, it has been a great struggle for me for the last couple of months when I try to read some academic history books. I know that I will be doing lots of reading in the future so I want to do it efficiently. What are your suggestions on reading long academic books?
As a note, I am currently reading "Why Europe Grew Rich and Asia Did Not: Global Economic Divergence, 1600–1850" and I agree it is lighter than Hobsbawn.
Thank you!
There is always more to say, but the estimable u/sunagainstgold offered some excellent and hard-won advice on precisely this subject in a Monday Methods here a while back:
You might like to review that thread while you wait for fresh responses to your query.