15-Minute History Pop Quiz | A (Very Incomplete) History Reading List
Dec 18, 2025
Dive into the essentials of history reading with a lively discussion about impactful texts. St. Augustine's Confessions provides moral insights, while modern historians like Andrew Roberts and Niall Ferguson offer captivating narratives. Biographies of iconic figures such as Churchill and Napoleon reveal broad lessons from the past. Don’t miss classics from Locke, Plutarch, and Thucydides—necessary reads for any history buff. Join the conversation and explore how these works shaped civilization!
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Begin With Augustine's Confessions
- Start reading history with St. Augustine's Confessions to grasp Western worldview and moral reflection.
- You don't need to be Christian to gain insight from its autobiographical lessons.
Use Survey Series And Modern Historians
- Use Penguin's survey series to sample periods you find interesting and dive deeper where captivated.
- Read modern historians like Andrew Roberts or Niall Ferguson for accessible narratives and biographies.
Choose Depth Strategically—Abridged Or Multi-Volume
- Tackle big classics like Gibbon's Decline and Fall only if you have time or opt for abridgements or multi-volume surveys instead.
- Use multi-volume works like Churchill's History to see how lessons are applied across eras.