Oh, good timing! I was recently reading 1493 (hopefully that passes muster around here), and the chapters on 16th century China made me realize that I know very little of Chinese history outside the broad strokes and also that it sounds fascinating. My local bookstore had only one book of Chinese-specific history (The Shortest History of China, by Linda Javin), which struck me as maybe a good outline but I’d love something big and detailed. Anyone have any recs?

Similarly, anyone know any books on Dutch history written in English? Specifically of the VOC or 80 Years War eras. 👀

Hi! I've been looking for ideas for my research paper, and I'm currently interested in WW2 and post-WW2, particularly the Japanese occupation and war crimes of the Japanese soldiers. So, I came across comfort women and I'd like to read more about this, preferably primary sources. I did my research on comfort women but I usually only found primary accounts and secondary sources on Korean/Japanese/Chinese comfort women, so I was wondering if there'd be sources on comfort women from Southeast Asia (Malaysia and Brunei). Perhaps trials or any sources that can provide me more insight on comfort women from Southeast Asia? To reiterate, I'm still unsure on what to do but I am interested in researching more about comfort women from Southeast Asia and perhaps have a more specific idea on what to work on later. Can anyone guide me? Sorry it's all over the place. Appreciate the help in advance! :)

I finished reading The Greek Revolution: 1821 and the Making of Modern Europe by Mark Mazower (2021), and have to say I not impressed.

I will note that I know absolutely nothing about the Greek Revolution (or Greek history, for that matter), so it may be my own fault for diving in like this, but I felt why not. I have read stuff by Mazower before (I really liked his Hitler's Empire: How the Nazis Ruled Europe (2009), for example), and know he's a leading historian of Greece, but I felt the book was a little disjointed. It starts talking about the early revolutionary group and how it led the initial uprising, but it just kind of happens without warning, no real build up. And then he discusses internal conflict, but it's never really clear why. Locations are also a little scattered, and suddenly the Egyptians are invading, and he mentions it's a cause celebre in Europe, with a little explanation but not enough in my view to justify why it was so important. The subheading of "the making of modern Europe" also didn't really show through, but I believe he was talking about one of the first nation-states, but it wasn't really clear. Maybe if I had some background it would help, but I was lost early in, and that also admittedly clouded my reading as I went along.

If anyone else has read it I'm curious to hear if I'm way off base here, as I certainly hope to be. Not often I finish a book feeling like this.

I've been doing some research on migration into Australia during the Cold War, and I have to say that White Russians, Red Peril by Shiela Fitzpatrick (2021) has been one of the best reads regarding the immediate period after World War 2. Fitzpatrick provides some excellent research into the journeys Russians took to get into Australia as Displaced peoples, as well as the conditions they faced not only during these journeys but also the conditions and selection processes put into place by Australia. Fitzpatrick makes great use of personal accounts from Russians during the period to highlight specific issues they faced getting to and establishing themselves in Australia. The writing is also very digestible, allowing for an interesting read. Overall, White Russians, Red Peril is an excellent read regarding the Displaced persons era of Australian migration history.

Any good one or two volume thorough work on WWI air combat?

Looking for a book on Habsburgs - Just finished the ottomans by Marc David Baer and really enjoyed it. Would love something similar in scope on the Habsburg Empire.

Sometimes I like to read what I call airport pulp paperbacks. I like the ones that have to do with spies, cops, detective things like that. Do you have any recommendations for very well written books in that genre? Preferably ones that are a series.

Hello,

Looking for books on the history of the Levant area, specifically about the history/culture/people surrounding the execution of Jesus. I'd like to know more about the Pharisees and their relationship with Roman occupiers. Specifically how the law was navigated.

Thanks