The Best World History Books of All Time

Discover the most influential world history books, recommended by leaders, experts, and readers worldwide

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Recommendations by Mahatma Gandhi, Ben Horowitz, Balaji S. Srinivasan, Justin Kan and 167 others

Not sure what to read? Our AI can suggest the most recommended World History books!

1
Book Cover of Sean McMeekin - Stalin's War: A New History of World War II

By Sean McMeekin – Professor of History at Bard College (you?) 

4.98
| 2021 | 864 Pages
Recommended for: 
History enthusiasts and scholars. Ages 12 to Adults.
You will:
  • Learn about Stalin's pivotal role in World War II and how it reshaped global politics.
  • Discover the extent of Soviet influence on the outcome of the war and post-war Europe.
  • Understand the implications of Lend-Lease aid on Soviet military capabilities and strategies.
  • Explore the revisionist perspective on the traditional narratives surrounding World War II.
  • Gain insights into the diplomatic maneuvers between the Allies and the Soviet Union during the war.
Reviews:
Well Researched
Engaging Narrative
Thought Provoking
Detailed Analysis
Revisionist Perspective
Lengthy
Repetitive Lists
  • New York Times Bestseller
  • Editors' pick Best History
Balaji S. SrinivasanIn the Asian theater, World War 2 arguably began in 1937 with the Japanese attack on China. One of the interesting things about McMeekin's book is that it unifies the European and Asian theaters from the Soviet perspective
Peter HitchensMrSchmitzo FDR's lavish support for Stalin's empire was astonishing, and went far beyond necessity. Sean McMeekin's fascinating recent book 'Stalin's War' asserts that the USSR got far better treatment under lend-lease than Britain
The Spectator (UK)In considering the war from a global perspective and shifting the focus from a Eurocentric view, he [McMeekin] provides a refreshing corrective that takes in areas of the war often overlooked by westerners
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2
Book Cover of Dan Jones - Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages

By Dan Jones – New York Times bestselling author and historian (you?) 

4.97
| 2021 | 656 Pages
Recommended for: 
History enthusiasts and general readers. Ages 12 to Adults.
You will:
  • Learn about the transformation of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.
  • Discover the impact of climate change on historical events during the Middle Ages.
  • Understand the significance of major figures like St. Augustine and Attila the Hun.
  • Explore the evolution of law and governance in medieval Europe.
  • Recognize the connections between past events and modern societal issues.
  • Drought moved the Huns, and the Huns moved the Goths, so that in 376, huge bands of terrorized Gothic tribespeople showed up on the banks of another major Roman boundary river: the Danube.
  • The underpinning fact of Roman military hegemony was the empire’s ability to absorb defeat, escalate conflict, and exact pitiless revenge; Rome lost many battles but precious few wars.
  • Even when Rome was gone, it was not forgotten. It was the historical foundation on which everything in the Middle Ages was built.
Reviews:
Engaging Narrative
Well-Researched
Readable
Thought-Provoking
Comprehensive Overview
Repetitive
Lengthy
  • New York Times Bestseller
  • Editors' pick Best History
Recommended by Peter Frankopan, Dan Carlin, The Sunday Times (UK) and 6 others
Peter FrankopanA great achievement, pulling together many strands with aplomb
Dan CarlinAn audacious, entertaining page-turner. Dan Jones covers a thousand years of history with elegance and panache
The Sunday Times (UK)Simply the best popular history of the Middle Ages there is
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World History Book made by AI

By TailoredRead – AI that creates personalized books for you 

4.98
| 2025 | 30-300 pages
Learn World History faster with a book created specifically for you by state-of-the-art AI. Our AI has vast knowledge of World History, and will craft a custom-tailored book for you in just 10 minutes. This tailored book addresses YOUR unique interests, goals, knowledge level, and background. Available for online reading, PDF download, and Kindle, your custom book will provide personalized insights to help you learn faster, expand your horizons, and accomplish your goals. Embark on your World History learning journey with a personalized book - made exclusively for you.
Recommended for: 
All readers across all knowledge levels.
You will:
  • Get a World History book tailored to your interests, goals, and background
  • Receive a book precisely matching your background and level of knowledge
  • Select which topics you want to learn, exclude the topics you don't
  • Define your learning goals and let your book guide you to accomplish them
  • Get all the knowledge you need consolidated into a single focused book
Reviews:
Insightful
Focused
Highly Personalized
Easy to Read
Engaging
Actionable
Up-to-Date
3
Book Cover of David Graeber, David Wengrow - The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity

By David Graeber – Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics (you?) and 1 more 

4.94
| 2021 | 704 Pages
Recommended for: 
Scholars and general readers interested in history. Ages 12 to Adults.
You will:
  • Learn about the diverse social organizations throughout human history and their implications.
  • Discover how ancient societies challenged modern assumptions about hierarchy and governance.
  • Understand the role of indigenous cultures in shaping concepts of freedom and democracy.
  • Explore the complexities of human history beyond simplistic narratives of progress.
  • Reimagine the possibilities for future societies based on historical insights.
  • The term ‘inequality’ is a way of framing social problems appropriate to an age of technocratic reformers, who assume from the outset that no real vision of social transformation is even on the table.
  • One must simplify the world to discover something new about it. The problem comes when, long after the discovery has been made, people continue to simplify.
  • One thing that will quickly become clear is that the prevalent ‘big picture’ of history – shared by modern-day followers of Hobbes and Rousseau alike – has almost nothing to do with the facts.
Reviews:
Thought Provoking
Eye Opening
Groundbreaking
Intellectually Challenging
Engaging
Lengthy
Complex
  • #31 Best Seller in Native American History on Amazon
  • New York Times Bestseller
  • Editors' pick Best History
Recommended by Quinn Cummings, Justin Hendrix, Marshall Kirkpatrick and 15 others
Quinn CummingsIt's always humbling when I discover I'm prejudiced in some heretofore-unknown way.
Listening to this book on librofm - which is fascinating, you should totally get it - when the authors mention a lecture given at the University of Chicago
Justin Hendrixmims Such an amazing book
Marshall KirkpatrickThis book is absolutely f’ing amazing. It is one of the best things I’ve read in a long time and I’ve read a lot of really good stuff
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