The beauty of history is that there are so many books that give accounts on the same events. This means that each time you read a new history book, you learn something new. This is especially true in college; there is no specific history textbook that takes you through your course.
As a history buff, you’ll enjoy studying history in college because of the many resources accessible to you. Aside from the school library, you could always turn to the internet to source reading material. Over time, you’ll figure out your favorite authors and stick to them.
Aside from reading about historical events in a chronological manner, you also get to learn about counter-arguments to arguments you already know about. History requires you to have a mind of your own so that you can analyze situations based on your observation. To be an excellent history student is being able to defend your standpoints using irrefutable arguments.
You also need to understand that not all books you indulge in should be directly related to your coursework. Make a habit of reading history books to get inspired. After all, history as a discipline has an unlimited number of transferrable skills.
A lot of times, you’ll be required to present your interpretation based on your analysis of the evidence. When you’re widely read, articulating your thoughts won’t be a problem. Here are five essential history books you should read as a college student.
The Pursuit of History by John Tosh
John Tosh is an excellent history writer, and this is one of his classics. John introduces you to the most fundamental questions in history. Through this book, you’ll fully understand the need to study history.
Aside from telling you who history is important, this book also kooks into the best ways to study history. If you’ve been wondering if an objective historical truth ever existed, this book is for you.
It’s considered the ultimate stepping stone to higher education because it comes with a textbook layout. As a freshman, you’ll have an easy time following the concepts. Thanks to its diverse study of the past, you have an easier time understanding the present.
Madness and Civilization by Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault was a French philosopher who thought-provoking history reads. Madness and Civilization is one of his best works as it talks about the archaeology of madness. Set in the Middle Ages, this book takes you back to a time when insanity was not considered peculiar. The mentally ill were free to roam the streets between 1500 to 1800.
This book will take you all the way to the time asylums of the mentally ill were introduced. You bet it’s a thrilling read.
Women and Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard
This is a must-read for young women in today’s generation, whether you’re studying history or not. Mary Beard does not, by any means, pretend she has all the answers, but she sure as hell educates you on politics and feminism. This classic is suitable for young men as well because it helps you fully understand the role of gender in today’s society.
On Writing by Stephen King
If you’re an avid reader, you must have heard about the legendary Stephen King. Not only does he write thrillers, but he also tried his hand on a history book.
Writing is a book that helps you to articulate your thoughts. After all, part of studying history involves a lot of essay writing. With history, you’re always on a learning curve, which means you have to keep an open mind. Each time you’re doing your history homework, ensure you look at the question from all dimensions.
Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts by Christopher de Hamel
Lastly, we have Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts, which is a masterpiece that was released in 2016. This is more than a history text because it gives you the rare opportunity to get intimate with over ten medieval manuscripts. If you’ve ever wondered how studying manuscripts would feel like, this is your chance to find out.
Conclusion
These five books guarantee that you’ll experience history in different dimensions.
