When I am not poor or horribly frustrated from Epic Computer Shenanigans*, I am working my history degree. I have been going to college off and on for more years than some people in the young adult audience have been alive**, but I'm finally at the point in this degree process where all I do is read a crapload of historical texts and write write write write write write write write write. When I tell you that I love science fiction/fantasy and secretly adore "literature", it has nothing on the excitement that I get from digging through archives, special collections, and long-winded descriptions of historical thingamajiggers. While I know there is more to non-fiction than these history books (I'm only using the word lightly for one of these), but this is what I read and know. And love.
Muhammad by Yahiya Emerick
Kingdoms and Strongholds of the Crusaders by T.S.E. Boase
Arab Historians of the Crusades by Francesco Gabrieli
A Cloud of Witnesses by Joel F. Harrington
Napoleon's Egypt: Invading the Middle East by Juan Cole
Mississippi Steamboatman: The Story of Henry Miller Shreve by Edith M. McCall
A History of the Roman People by Allen M. Ward, Fritz M. Heichelheim, & Cedric A. Yao
Sex with Kings by Eleanor Herman
Sex with the Queen by Eleanor Herman
The Rise & Fall of the House of Windsor by A.N. Wilson
I suppose I can give you a quick explanation of my selection. Each of those books have been used for research purposes, and some of them I have even reviewed academically. My historical studies had been religious in nature, with a focus on Muslim-Christian relations. I acquired a love of Napoleon after having a professor whose obsession was contagious. I grew up in the Shreveport area, so I thought it would be easy to study Captain Shreve (not easy at all, but still fulfilling). Romans were fascinating, strange creatures. Finally, I love most things monarchy, and I would highly recommend the Eleanor Herman books to anyone. They are not trashy or risque in the slightest. The last book was an engrossing read - we'll leave it at that.
**I'm talking about five year old savants, of course. Shut up.
As for the first asterisk, I am sorry to hear that the computer Lucifer, decided at that time to destroy your months of work..sorry.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about reading some more non-fic after watching some the Indiana Jones movies that were on this past weekend..:)) Best of luck on your degree.
Oh yes, it was quite terrible. It wiped out my flash drives as well and nearly got one of my professor's computer (who had a better anti-virus program). *shudders*
DeleteYou should definitely check out some non-fiction. Many people liken it to history books that you read in school, but some read just like novels. I have one on Justinian that is AMAZING, but I can't think of the title. That's why it didn't make the list. ;-)
Computer issues. Urgh. I so know how you feel.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge history buff. It's one of my fav subjects. I graduated a while back, and still can't seem to toss out my history texts. LOL. :)
Love the list BTW.
Oh man, I get embarrassed when people see my bookshelves. I have textbooks that I have used over the years, as well as crap other people have thrown away. I do use them for research though. O.O
DeleteMy favorite non-fiction reads tend to be biographies. I really like reading about past lives.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy those, too, but I couldn't think of very many off the top of my head. (I had trouble with that lol.) :-/
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