8 ms·

I never could get into history in school, but I love the idea of looking at history through the lens of one particular item and find it more interesting. I kno

I never could get into history in school, but I love the idea of looking at history through the lens of one particular item and find it more interesting. I know of (https://www.amazon.com/Debt-Updated-Expanded-First-Years/dp/B015F0BBFW https://www.amazon.com/Debt-Updated-Expanded-First-Years/dp/...). Any others that people here would recommend?

plemer 7y ago
Mark Kurlansky has a few, Salt being the most well known.
minimuffins 7y ago
https://amazon.com/dp/0140092331 https://amazon.com/dp/0140092331 Sidney Mintz, Sweetness and Power
munificent 7y ago
You would love "A History of the World in Six Glasses".
groktor 7y ago
you should read some of Giles Milton's books: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29386.Nathaniel_s_Nutmeg https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29386.Nathaniel_s_Nutmeg and https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/411475.White_Gold https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/411475.White_Gold are good ones to start with
carrozo 7y ago
My favourite of this genre - Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099268701/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Dux5DbDCXTWR6 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099268701/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_...
- Shebanator 7y ago
  This is one of my favorites as well!
wwsculley 7y ago
You would love this book: At Home by Bill Bryson (https://www.amazon.com/At-Home-Short-History-Private/dp/0767919394 https://www.amazon.com/At-Home-Short-History-Private/dp/0767...) It explores history through the lens of everyday objects in the home (even fixtures like windows, and spaces like your foyer) A little slow to start, but then it never stops entertaining
- telesilla 7y ago
  Add to the list the list everything else by Bill Bryson and you'll not put your kindle down for months.
- hnick 7y ago
  Your comment and the Amazon preview just made a sale here. Thanks for pointing it out.
rstupek 7y ago
This was an interesting read https://www.amazon.com/Salt-World-History-Mark-Kurlansky/dp/0142001619 https://www.amazon.com/Salt-World-History-Mark-Kurlansky/dp/...
pseudolus 7y ago
"A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World" by William Bernstein provides a sweeping overview of world trade - including spices [0]. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Splendid-Exchange-Trade-Shaped-World/dp/0871139790/ref=asc_df_0871139790/ https://www.amazon.com/Splendid-Exchange-Trade-Shaped-World/...
jayalpha 7y ago
This is in my opinion the best book about modern history. You can easily catch up with stuff you missed: https://www.amazon.de/Rise-Fall-Great-Powers/dp/0679720197 https://www.amazon.de/Rise-Fall-Great-Powers/dp/0679720197 This book was written in 1989 and was already skeptical about the stability of the soviet union and also thought what might happen to Ukraine if the the USSR disintegrates (attracted to EU/EC).
tim333 7y ago
While not exactly one item, Sapiens looks at history from the perspective of human shared fictions and is a good read https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B00ICN066A https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B00ICN066A

plemer 7y ago

Mark Kurlansky has a few, Salt being the most well known.

minimuffins 7y ago

https://amazon.com/dp/0140092331 https://amazon.com/dp/0140092331 Sidney Mintz, Sweetness and Power

munificent 7y ago

You would love "A History of the World in Six Glasses".

groktor 7y ago

you should read some of Giles Milton's books: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29386.Nathaniel_s_Nutmeg https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29386.Nathaniel_s_Nutmeg and https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/411475.White_Gold https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/411475.White_Gold are good ones to start with

carrozo 7y ago

My favourite of this genre - Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099268701/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Dux5DbDCXTWR6 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099268701/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_...

Shebanator 7y ago
This is one of my favorites as well!

wwsculley 7y ago

You would love this book: At Home by Bill Bryson (https://www.amazon.com/At-Home-Short-History-Private/dp/0767919394 https://www.amazon.com/At-Home-Short-History-Private/dp/0767...) It explores history through the lens of everyday objects in the home (even fixtures like windows, and spaces like your foyer) A little slow to start, but then it never stops entertaining

telesilla 7y ago
Add to the list the list everything else by Bill Bryson and you'll not put your kindle down for months.
hnick 7y ago
Your comment and the Amazon preview just made a sale here. Thanks for pointing it out.

rstupek 7y ago

This was an interesting read https://www.amazon.com/Salt-World-History-Mark-Kurlansky/dp/0142001619 https://www.amazon.com/Salt-World-History-Mark-Kurlansky/dp/...

pseudolus 7y ago

"A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World" by William Bernstein provides a sweeping overview of world trade - including spices [0]. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Splendid-Exchange-Trade-Shaped-World/dp/0871139790/ref=asc_df_0871139790/ https://www.amazon.com/Splendid-Exchange-Trade-Shaped-World/...

jayalpha 7y ago

This is in my opinion the best book about modern history. You can easily catch up with stuff you missed: https://www.amazon.de/Rise-Fall-Great-Powers/dp/0679720197 https://www.amazon.de/Rise-Fall-Great-Powers/dp/0679720197 This book was written in 1989 and was already skeptical about the stability of the soviet union and also thought what might happen to Ukraine if the the USSR disintegrates (attracted to EU/EC).

tim333 7y ago

While not exactly one item, Sapiens looks at history from the perspective of human shared fictions and is a good read https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B00ICN066A https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B00ICN066A