thegirlwiththesunglasses:This is a masterpost of all of my non-fiction books and documentary recom

thegirlwiththesunglasses: This is a masterpost of all of my non-fiction books and documentary recommendations. These are my personal favorites and the ones I find most interesting or thought-provoking. I’ve tried to put them in some sort of chronological order within each subsection. My areas of interest are mainly the Holocaust, the World Wars, and Russian and German history, but I’ve tried to include other topics as well. I’ll be updating this with new books and documentaries as I find them. I buy most of the books I read at used book stores and libraries, so a lot of them are out of print. I’m not including those. I’ve tried to include only books that you can find on Amazon or at the big bookstores (i.e., Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc). Links to the books are to Amazon. I’ve included links to torrents for the documentaries, but I don’t use torrents so they might not work. Tell me if there’s a problem with them. All documentaries are available to stream on Netflix unless otherwise indicated. Graphic credit: Danae. ** = most favorite Documentaries  The Civil War: It’s 11 hours long but completely worth it if you’re at all interested in the Civil War. You’ll never believe how many photos there are of the time period! It might seem like it would be boring, but it really isn’t. One of Ken Burn’s finest; I watch it every time it reruns on PBS. **The World at War: Not on Netflix. This is the documentary on World War II. It covers all theaters of the war extensively - and when I say extensively, I mean extensively. It clocks in at a whopping 22 and a half hours. Not for the ambivalently interested, that’s for sure, but for anyone who wants to have a pretty thorough basic knowledge of the war and all its fronts, this is the one to watch. Plus, it’s narrated by Lawrence Olivier. You just can’t beat that. **WWII in HD: Not on Netflix. Gary Sinese and other actors (like Ron Livingston, Justin Bartha, and Rob Lowe) narrate 10 episodes of rare, never-before-seen color footage from all theaters of the war (European, Pacific, Asian, and African). If you don’t want to invest in The World at War but still want to watch something that covers the entire scope of the war, check this one out.  The War: The quintessential documentary on America’s involvement in World War II. 14 hours of Ken Burns’ finest storytelling. Don’t miss out on the accompanying book, either. **Steven Spielberg Film & Video Archive: Not on Netflix, but publicly available. A treasure trove of footage related to the Holocaust. From the beginning of Nazi-sanctioned antisemitism to ghetto life to the liberation of the camps to war crimes tribunals, the archive has almost everything the United States Holocaust Museum has to offer. Be careful before you start looking at it, though. If you’re like me, you’ll end up spending hours there. **Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State: The best documentary on Nazi death camps available. It covers the creation and implementation of the German extermination camps in Poland (and other places, including the Channel Islands) by utilizing first-person testimony of both survivors and terrorizers. It’s an emotionally difficult watch, so plan to take plenty of breaks so you don’t get overwhelmed. It’s definitely worth it, though.  A Film Unfinished: This is about the 1942 propaganda film Das Ghetto (never finished, natch) made by the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto. The film in question was made shortly before Grossaktion Warschau, the Aktion Reinhardt initiative in which most of the ghetto’s inhabitants were deported to Treblinka extermination camp, where they were quickly murdered. The documentary itself is unremarkable, but the story is fascinating and makes it worth watching. **I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life and Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal: The story of Simon Wiesenthal, the famous Holocaust-survivor-turned-Nazi-hunter. A personal hero of mine, he spearheaded the search for and prosecution of Nazi war criminals after spending years in numerous concentration camps. It has a wonderfully hopeful ending, despite the unimaginably tragic beginning. It’ll make your heart burst. American Experience: My Lai: An absolutely heartbreaking story of a United States Army company that murdered and mutilated between 350-500 unarmed South Vietnamese citizens on March 16, 1968. This documentary details the massacre, the cover-up, and the soldiers of conscience who rallied against it. It’s a fascinating documentary, and very short, too - only 90 minutes. Definitely worth watching. Books  General American History  **People’s History of the United States: 1492-Present by Howard Zinn: This book is just…so good. It’s American history from the viewpoint of the people, not politics and rulers, and it covers the perspectives of people that history often forgets: Native Americans, women, etc. Just absolutely wonderful. If you’re interested in American history, do yourself a favor and pick it up. The Supreme Court by William H. Rehnquist: A short but sweet history of the Supreme Court, written by the late Chief Justice Rehnquist. My entire childhood, I wanted to be a Supreme Court justice - this book was one of the reasons. It’s a very easy read. The Great Decision: Jefferson, Adams, Marshall, and the Battle for the Supreme Court by Cliff Sloan: A fascinating book about one of the most famous Supreme Court cases of all time, Marbury v. Madison. If you remember your high school civics, you’ll know that Marbury v. Madison established judicial review, thereby giving the Supreme Court the final say in constitutional interpretation. It’s a very short and quick read, but it really creates a full and interesting portrait of the struggle for the Supreme Court. American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham: As someone who is not at all a fan of Andrew Jackson, I found myself shockingly engrossed in this book. My family loves to read and we (my mother, my grandparents, and my two sisters) pass around books we love all the time, and this was one of them. It’s an insanely readable biography of America’s 7th president, known for being a “man of the people”. It details his upbringing, his military career, and, most interestingly, the fascinating workings of his so-called “kitchen cabinet” (what his secret group of advisors was derogatorily called by his opponents). **Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer by Fred Kaplan: My grandfather handed me this book right after I read American Lion and I immediately fell in love. I’m always fascinated by the education of famous leaders and thinkers, and this book details Abraham Lincoln’s auto-didactic education (he was mainly self-taught) and his passion and experience with reading and writing. This is definitely one of my favorites. Manhunt: The Twelve Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson: Yet another book my family passed around. It’s amazingly engaging and you just can’t put it down. It details the chase for John Wilkes Booth. It’s a winding tail of escape, treason, and stealth. It may not seem too interesting, but it’s actually terribly fascinating - once you start it, you honestly can’t stop. If you’re interested in the Civil War or Abraham Lincoln at all, then you should read this right away.  General Russian History  The Soviet Image: A Hundred Years of Photographs From Inside the TASS Archives by Peter Radetsky: A wonderful history of the USSR in photographs. It covers the Russian Revolution, the Ukrainian famine, World War II, Stalin, the Cold War, Putin, etc. It has some really beautiful and haunting images (some of which have never been published before) and is definitely worth checking out. **Stalin: Breaker of Nations by Robert Conquest: The best biography of Stalin I’ve read yet. It’s relatively short compared to most other biographies, but it’s impartial and covers a lot. I was surprised to find out how little I knew about him, and how little history itself knows about him in general. It reads very well, and it’s meticulously researched. Definitely a favorite of mine. **Gulag: A History by Anne Applebaum: Not for the casual reader, this book is a thorough, detailed history of the Gulag system of forced labor camps and resettlement communities. It’s unflinching in its depiction of the horrific conditions in the Gulag, and it’s one of the most well-researched books I’ve ever seen in my life. The author used archives and sources that were previously confidential and hidden by the Russian/Soviet government. I honestly can’t praise it enough. It’s not for the light-hearted, though. General European History  The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir: I’ve read many, many books about Henry VIII’s wives, and this one is by far the best. It’s comprehensive and unbiased, and it manages to create a fully realized portrait of both Henry and his many wives. I’d recommend reading this before reading any other book on the subject. It’s a great introduction. Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel: I picked this book up on a whim at a used book sale. I didn’t regret it. It’s a quirky story about John Harrison, a clockmaker in 18th century England who developed a clock that could accurately measure longitude at sea, which was a huge step in the field of navigation. It’s an incredibly short book and it’s much less boring than it sounds, trust me. World War I Era  The First World War: A Complete History by Martin Gilbert: A great introduction to the Great War. Admittedly, I haven’t read John Keegan’s history of the First World War, so I can’t compare the two. But Gilbert’s history is pretty comprehensive (not entirely, though) and covers most of the basics. It’s really well written and has a wonderful narrative feel to it. If you want to start learning about World War I, this is the book for you. The Last Days of Innocence: America at War, 1917-1918 by Meiron & Susie Harries: A fantastic book that details America’s involvement in the Great War. The United States didn’t play too big of a role in the war, of course, so most history books don’t talk much about its involvement. Read this after reading a book on the war in Europe - it’s a great addition. The book also delves into various gender and race issues related to the war (like black soldiers and female roles). A really fascinating read. The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History by John M. Barry: Not many people today know much about the Great Influenza, but a lot of us lost distant families members to it. This book is an intensely readable study of the devastating pandemic. In fact, I read it in a few hours! Its narrative style and length make it perfect for the casual reader.  World War II Era: General  The War: An Intimate History, 1941-1945 by Geoffrey C. War and Ken Burns: If you could have only one book on World War II, this would have to be it. While it only covers the American front, it’s still pretty comprehensive. The storytelling is fantastic, and the photos are astounding. Read it and then watch the corresponding documentary. Dr. Suess Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Suess Geisel by Richard H. Minear: Okay, so this isn’t really a history book per se, but I just love it so much I had to include it. It shows Geisel to be virulently racist against the Japanese and Japanese-Americans, and some of his cartoons about them were just unbelievably disturbing. On the other hand, he attacked anti-Semitism, isolationism, etc. It’s a real reflection of the American atmosphere at the time and definitely worth looking at. World War II Era: European Theater  The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: The History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer: This book is only for those who are crazy interested in the subject. My paperback copy weighs in at 1264 pages! It’s a wonderfully detailed history of the Third Reich, from its early days to the very, very end. It’s the definitive book on the Nazis, and for a reason - it touches upon everything to do with the organization. But if you’re dedicated enough, it’s more than worth the time and energy. **Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest by Stephen E. Ambrose: The book that started it all. It tells the story of Easy Company, the most wonderful, brave, heroic group of men you’ll ever read about in your life. It details their landing on D-Day, their subsequent journey through France and Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, and the capture of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden. If you haven’t read it yet, then stop whatever you’re doing and go pick it up right now. Then watch the HBO miniseries. It’ll change your life. **Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper’s Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich by David Kenyon Webster: My favorite memoir of the European theater. Webster’s book is unique because of how highly educated he was when he went into combat. His mind was trained to remember details and recite them; this elevates his writing above that of his Easy Company comrades. It also gives it a strangely existential edge that the others don’t have, either. It’s a short book, and I suggest reading it after you read Band of Brothers, which borrowed heavily from Webster’s memoir. **Brave Men by Ernie Pyle: A collection of the famed journalist’s columns from 1943 and 1944. Pyle traveled with average American soldiers, not officers, and recorded their story. My grandparents read these columns as they were published in the Washington Post! Unfortunately, Pyle was killed by Japanese machine-gun fire on an island off of Okinawa in the spring of 1945, but his columns still remain a fascinating study of both history and journalism. **Hitler’s Private Library: The Books that Shaped His Life by Timothy W.Ryback: This is such a great book that I don’t even know where to start. The author went to libraries all over the world, tracking down books from Hitler’s personal library and searching for marginalia and other distinguishing marks. He found that Hitler’s favorite books, beginning from his time as a soldier in the trenches of World War I to his death in the Fuehrerbunker, all give us tiny glimpses into his character.  The Lost Life of Eva Braun by Angela Lambert: Not the best book (it has some editing issues and it focuses a lot on the author’s personal life instead of Eva Braun herself) but nonetheless interesting. If you’re curious about Eva Braun, Hitler’s mistress - and later his wife - then you should definitely check this book out. I still can’t believe that she was only my age when she met Hitler, yuck. Endgame, 1945: The Missing Final Chapter of World War II by David Stafford: What happened in Europe right after V-E Day? Obviously, the world didn’t transition from the deadliest war in human history to relative peace and quiet in just a day. This book covers the months after V-E Day and how the Allies fought to bring the war to a real close. It covers the liberation of the concentration/extermination camps in Nazi-occupied Europe and the push of the Red Army on the Eastern front, as well as the rebuilding of major cities and the handling of displaced persons. This book contains the true final chapter of the Second World War in Europe. World War II Era: Pacific Theater  The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose: The companion book to the HBO miniseries The Pacific, this book is a great study of some Marines, Navy, and an aircraft carrier pilot that fought in the Pacific theater of World War II. If you liked the miniseries, then you should definitely read it. It’ll give you a lot of background information on the characters you know and love, and it contains even more characters and storylines than the show. **With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by E.B. Sledge: This is a gritty, unfiltered look at life as a combat soldier in some of the deadliest and most gruesome battles in the entire war. As someone with a background in biology, his description of bodies, wounds, and environments was stark and haunting, and his writing style was effortless. His depiction of the existence of an ordinary Marine at Peleliu and Okinawa will stick with you for a long time after you finish the book. **Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific by Robert Leckie: Another must-read memoir from the Pacific theater. Leckie, a noted journalist and reporter, had a way with words that made his story jump to life. While some of his other history books are more objective in nature, this is his memoir and it tells the story of his personal experiences on Guadalcanal, Gloucester, and Peleliu. Just like Sledge’s memoir, it will stick with you for a long time to come. I’m Staying With My Boys: The Heroic Life of Sgt. John Basilone, USMC by Jim Proser: A great biography of the legendary Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, a true war hero who died much too young. If you want to learn more about Basilone (or his wife, Lena) this is the book to read. In my house, Basilone has always been a sacred name. If you read this book, you’ll understand why. The Great Pacific War: A History of the American-Japanese Campaign of 1931-1933 by Hector C. Bywater: This isn’t a history book, but I’m adding it because I find it really cool. This was a novel published in 1925 that detailed a hypothetical Japanese-American war. It accurately (and scarily) predicted a lot of the events of World War II, including Japan’s invasion of Manchuria, kamikaze suicide operations, and much more. Freaky stuff, man. World War II Era: The Holocaust  The Master Plan: Himmler’s Scholars and the Holocaust by Heather Pringle: A fascinating account of Himmler’s scholars (who came from academia, think tanks, etc.) whom he sent around the world in order to prove crazy racially-tinged theories in order to help advance the Nazi party’s agenda. It’s a very interesting concept - one I haven’t heard much about - and this book is very well written. Auschwitz: A Doctor’s Eyewitness Account by Dr. Miklos Nyiszli: Okay, so this isn’t the most factual/accurate/etc. book on the market, but it’s still really amazing. Nyiszli was forced to work under the infamous Josef Mengele at Auschwitz, and in his time there he was made to assist in countless experiments and murders. In his memoir he got some information wrong (like how many crematoria there were) so the rest of his memoir has been called into question. That doesn’t, however, negate the importance of the story at large. I’d still recommend it - just know that it’s not 100% accurate. **The Pink Triangle: The Nazi War Against Homosexuals by Richard Plant: The riveting history of homosexuals under Nazi rule. It covers the “Night of the Long Knives” massacre, in which Ernst Roehm (the homosexual leader of the SA) and many others were assassinated by Himmler’s SS under Hitler’s order. The book also details the laws against homosexuality in Nazi-occupied Europe, and the treatment of known homosexuals in concentration camps. A wonderful book on an often-forgotten subject.  Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland by Christopher R. Browning: The haunting story of one ordinary battalion and how it became a nefarious cog in the Nazi murder machine. Ever wonder how so many people could be persuaded to kill the Jews during the Holocaust? This book aims to figure that out. A difficult read, but worth it. The Catholic Church and the Holocaust, 1930-1965 by Michael Phayer: As a (non-practicing) Catholic, I’ve always been intrigued by the Church’s role in the Holocaust. I knew of the “righteous gentiles” during the genocide who helped aide the Jews, but I never knew anything about the Church, the Pope, and their involvement. This book delves into the Church’s activities during the Holocaust (or lack thereof) and the book asks: could the Church have done anything? The answer may upset or shock you. **Into that Darkness: An Examination of Conscience by Gitta Sereny: One of the most disturbing books I’ve ever read, this is based on dozens and dozens of hours of interviews with Franz Stangl, the notorious commandant of Treblinka extermination camp. Stangl was able to explain away every atrocity he oversaw, and the scariest part is that he truly believed his rationalizations. The raw evil that bleeds off the pages of the book sticks with me to this day. **Nuremberg Diary by G.M. Gilbert: The journal of a prison psychologist who interviewed numerous high-ranking Nazis during the Nuremberg Trial. It’s a collection of Gilbert’s exact notes, which he took right after interviewing the criminals. Among the interviewees? Goering, Hoess, Speer, and many, many more. A truly disturbing look into the psyche of genocidal murderers. Hunting Eichmann: How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down the World’s Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb: The account of the search for Adolf Eichmann, one of the architects of the Final Solution. It crosses continents and language barriers, involves spies from every country imaginable, and ultimately has a pretty satisfying conclusion. It almost reads like a suspense novel!  The Victim’s Fortune: Inside the Epic Battle Over the Debts of the Holocaust by John Authers: We all know that the Nazis stole the money and belongings of the people they murdered. But what did they do with that money? And how do the survivors and their families get it back? This book details the struggle of many organizations and individuals who fought to get appropriate retribution for the crimes committed against them. A depressing but thought-provoking book, I only recommend it to those who are truly interested in the Holocaust and its aftermath. World War II Era: Other War Crimes  **Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin by Thomas Snyder: One of my favorite books, this is about the area of Europe that Snyder deems the “bloodlands”: the region east of Berlin and west of Moscow, where most of the Nazi and Soviet murders took place. This includes Poland, the Ukraine, Belarus, etc. The book covers the forced Ukrainian famine, the NKVD (Soviet secret police, akin to the Gestapo) organized political murders, the German extermination camps in Poland, the massacres and mass shootings, and much more. A fantastic and amazingly comprehensive read. I honestly can’t recommend it enough.  Katyn: Stalin’s Massacre and the Triumph of Truth by Allen Paul: A gripping account of one of the least discussed atrocities in 20th century Europe. The Katyn massacre was the mass murder of approximately 22,000 Polish police officers and intelligentsia by the NKVD. This book discusses both the massacre itself as well as the subsequent aftermath and cover-up. **The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II by Iris Chang: The heartbreaking and nightmare-inducing account of the mass murder of about 350,000 Chinese civilians (many of whom were raped, both boys and girls, men and women) by Japanese soldiers over an eight-week period at the end of 1937. It’s incredibly graphic, and the stories told in the book will make you want to cry, throw-up, and denounce humanity forever. The pictures will be burned into your mind indelibly. There is no shred of hope in this book; in fact, the author eventually committed suicide. But it’s a wonderful book and well worth reading. It must be forgotten no longer. Post War World II Era Home to War: A History of the Vietnam Veterans Movement by Gerald Nicosia: An exhaustive history of the veteran anti-war movement. Many Vietnam veterans, who had seen unimaginable horrors and been forced to participate in many as well, came home and decided to actively protest the war in which they themselves had fought. This book is pretty long, but it’s written in such a way that it actually seems shorter. It’s a story that hasn’t often been told, and it’s really very interesting. **Chesty: The Story of Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, USMC by Jon T. Hoffman: The story of one of the greatest men who ever served in the Marine Corps. Chesty Puller (featured in a couple of scenes of The Pacific) is the most decorated Marine in American history, and the only Marine to receive five Navy Crosses. He served from 1918 to 1955, most notably in World War II and the Korean War. Chesty Puller, alongside John Basilone, is highly revered in my family. This book, while kind of ridiculously long, is great, and I really recommend it. The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright: Unfortunately, I haven’t read many books about the War on Terror. This is one that I have read. It’s a great introduction to the history of Al-Qaeda (an organization that, I admit, I still have trouble understanding), and it deftly explains all the events leading up to the attacks on 9/11. It’s a great book for anyone who wants to start learning a bit more about the war we’re in right now. **Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography – The True Story of a Black Youth’s Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa by Mark Mathabane: A painful memoir of a black boy growing up in apartheid South Africa, it details the abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) and racism that black adults and children faced every day. It’s an incredibly moving story - eventually Mathabane was able to win a scholarship and attend school in the United States - but the journey to that ending is nothing short of disturbing. It really puts things into perspective. Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah: We often hear about child soldiers in the news, but we never really know much about them or their story. This is the autobiography of a child soldier from Sierra Leone (a country in West Africa). While the author was eventually able to cross the border and get to safety, most other child soldiers are left behind in unimaginable conditions. This memoir has had accusations of inaccuracy thrown at it, but I believe it is more important than that. It represents countless child soldiers who are unable to speak out for themselves. Read it and spread the word. Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario: This was the National English Honor Society book club pick of the year, and I was a bit indifferent to it at first because I wasn’t too interested in the subject. As soon as I started the book, however, it changed my mind and made me an active advocate for immigration reform. It tells the story of Enrique, a young Honduran boy who traveled on dangerous train tops to reach his mother, who was working in America hoping to earn more money there for her family. It’s heartbreaking and suspenseful and a very quick read.  Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century by P.W. Singer: I picked this up on a whim the day after I saw the author on The Daily Show. I’m glad I did. I’m not at all a technology or science person, but this book is still endlessly fascinating. There has been a true revolution in the way we wage war today, and this book explains everything in great detail (which is fantastic for me because I know nothing about robotics). A great example of history in the making. hello, summer. -- source link

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