A Human History Reading List
An idea Lory and I have talked about is “There is a book for that.” It would be a big job, but we would have book recommendations ready for all sorts of needs. Carrying that idea a little further, would be providing a handful of choices. We haven’t gotten to our idea, but we have kind of gone a little way there. They weren’t all quite recommendations, but we have put together lists of books on creativity, gratitude, and mothers.
I read an interesting New Yorker article by Maya Jasanoff about books that attempt to “synthesize world history” leading to a review of a new book, The World: A Family History of Humanity by Simon Sebag Montefiore.
Here are the books that Jasanoff highlighted:
The Outline of History by H.G. Wells
Study of History by Arnold Toynbee
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
The World: A Family History of Humanity by Simon Sebag Montefiore
I know of Wells and Toynbee and am vaguely aware of the books. I think I own Diamond’s book but haven’t read it. He has other books I want to read. I bought Sapiens in an airport but have never gotten around to reading it. I must have slept on the flight.
If this is an idea that interests you, I’m thinking this is a pretty good list. If you read or have read these books let us know at twosides2thestory@yahoo.com
Here is a link to the article: