So I just finished an excellent book by Tim Blanning titled Pursuit of Glory covering years 1648-1815. I liked the writing style (still academic but enjoyable to read to layman). I also enjoyed the breadth of the book from agriculture, transport to courts to hunting etc.
Could anyone recommend a similar book covering period say 1348-1648 or 1484 to 1815?
Well—Blanning's book is part of the Penguin History of Europe, so the preceding volume (Mark Greengrass' Christendom Destroyed, which covers 1517–1648) might be useful. Unfortunately the volume preceding that, which seems to have Anthony Grafton as its intended author, hasn't been written. Unfortunately I don't know of any other reliable book covering the period to a layman. That said, the Handbook of European History, 1400-1600 in two volumes (v.1: Structures and Assertions; v.2: Visions, Programs, Outcomes) is readable and thorough, but it is quite comprehensive and the cost might be prohibitive.