10 Best books on world history you should read this year

We are all curious about the past and how things got messed up when everyone says that history was amazing. So many questions come to mind regarding history, so we are sharing the 10 best books on world history you should read this year to satisfy your curiosity.

Do you think that anything historical is more interesting than anything else?

You are where you need to be, in my opinion. I frequently enjoy reading many books; my favourite genre has always been history.

Here, we'll talk about some of the best world history books that will broaden your knowledge and hold your attention until the very last page. Here are some of the best books that you will enjoy reading. These books are not only enjoyable to read, but they also cover a lot of material that you will undoubtedly find fascinating.

Best historical books worldwide

All of these books are worthwhile to read, regardless of whether they focus on the history of humanity or a specific region.

These books are the best for learning history; even though they may not cover all of world history, they cover some of the interesting facts of history that you may not have known before.

Knowing how one thing is entirely different from another but still plays a crucial role in helping to build empires will surprise you in some cases. Look over these books to see how they can help you become more knowledgeable.

Yuval Noah Harari's book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

The history of humanity is covered in sapiens by Yuval Noah. What alterations did humans go through between their creation and the twenty-first century?

In this book, Yuval Harari not only explains how humanity has developed from its inception to the present but also argues that social biases and other inventions of humanity, such as caste, trade, religion, and politics, are current obstacles unable to be overcome.

Because it explains science, anthropology, and other topics in addition to human history, Sapiens is just as compelling as some psychology books. For readers who enjoy learning about how humans and their way of life have changed, Yuval's Sapiens is a must-have book.

Mark Kurlansky's Salt: A World History

The many proverbs that can be found throughout history demonstrate the significant and influential role that salt has always played in the human revolution.

Far too many belief systems and forebears relate to salt, which is more than just a basic food flavouring and is important to our health.

I'm sure you've heard the expression, "I love you as much as meat loves salt,“ by now.

Mark Kurlansky has done a great job of tracing the history of salt throughout his book. It covers a variety of topics, such as the conflicts fought over it, the time when it served as money, how crucial it is to humans and their survival because it is used as a food preservative, the laws enacted during colonization, and much more.

This salt was used in numerous instances, much like the Egyptians, to preserve corpses as well. This book is a great choice for you if you want to learn about history while also reading something exciting.

Nicholas P. Klingaman and William K. Klingaman's book, The Year Without a Summer

This book is based on an Indonesian volcanic eruption that occurred in 1816. The majority of the Northeastern United States and a significant portion of Europe were both affected by this massive volcanic eruption, which severely altered the weather and caused the cancellation of summer for a full year.

Due to the persistent rain, frost, and snowfall at the time, that period was known as 18- hundred and froze to death, and many people perished from freezing to death. In their book, the authors depict what was going on in the world at the time.

"The year without summer" book covers a wide range of topics in a lovely manner, including food riots, epidemics, the fight for a better climate, mass migration, famines, and the first novel of a new genre.

This also takes us back in time to see how it all began and what role volcanic eruptions and that time period played in the current climate changes.

Peter Frankopan's The Silk Roads: A New History of the World

The Silk Roads, which connected Europe to the Middle East, Central Asia, and China through trade routes, played a significant role in the development of human civilization.

It is extremely significant for the trade of goods that move from one place to another and for the ideas that pass along this path. They were a crucial aid in the spread of Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity.

A book that aids in tracing the historical development of the nations and cities that these routes link. The book explains how the world was at that time, especially the Eastern part of the world, and how these regions evolved into what they are today.

These roads also paved the way for civilization, though a more eurocentric viewpoint largely ignored this aspect of the roads. However, the book perfectly reveals all of this. As a result, you will be able to learn many things you would never have considered.

Tom Standage's A History of the World in Six Glasses“

The food a person eats and the beverages they take in can reveal a lot about that person and their culture. The drinks that a person consumes reveal a lot about their past.

Tom Standage, the author of this book, has carefully examined human history—from the Neolithic period to the twenty-first century—and has selected the six beverages that have had the greatest impact.

Beers, wine, spirits, tea, coffee, and cola are among the beverages described by Tom Standage. Each beverage mentioned here has helped to mould us into the people we are today.

Every drink significantly impacted the spread of ideas, the development of empires, the growth of the slave trade, and the need for colonization. Grab a book from the drinks, if you want to read it right away.

William Weir's History's Greatest Lies

The history-related stories you have heard up to this point end with this book. If you enjoy reading historical accounts and learning the truth about past events, you should pick up this book.

William Weir selected 15 urban myths for this book and examined their veracity. Weir digs deep into these myths, though, to uncover the real truth and tell the tale that lies behind them.

In addition to describing the actual true stories, Wier also explains why and for what reason these myths gained such notoriety in the past.

He also mentions the people who were able to avoid the consequences as a result of these myths. This book's chapters are all based on myths that dispel any preconceptions you may have had up to this point.

Bonnie G. Smith's Women in World History: 1450 to the Present

This excellent book explains women's roles throughout history for the past 500 years. The book describes various roles played by women, including those of soldiers, slaves, astronauts, and others.

Even though women have generally not been the focus of history and have received little attention, this book explains women's role throughout time.

The author, the Smith, gathered a lot of oral histories, personal papers, archival materials, religious teachings, and other documentation to put this book together. As a result, author Bonnie G. Smith has created a plot that details women's history from the Renaissance period to the present.

Indigo: from Egyptian mummies to Jenny Balfourpaul's Blue Jeans.

Indigo captured the entire world's attention and had a greater impact on history than anyone could have imagined. Indigo played a significant role in the development of the transatlantic slave trade, altered the way that clothing was dyed, and was also used in religious rituals and for medicinal purposes.

Indigo altered many areas, including chemistry, trade, agriculture, and economics. It became so significant that there are folktales about this well-known figure worldwide.

This book, which results from 15 years of research, is filled with images that will keep you interested while defining many facts you undoubtedly want to know.

Roxanne Dunbar-An Quitz's Indigenous People's History of the United States

Contrary to what we have been told thus far, the history of the American colonies did not begin with the arrival of the first Europeans. You will learn something new from this book.

The book describes the life and circumstances in these nations before the arrival of Europeans or before their civilization, extensive trade routes, and traditional farming methods.

The book debunks every myth the United States has in its school textbooks by referring to what the European invaders did here after their invasion and how the situation and conditions changed.

If you've ever wanted to learn a fascinating fact about America that was never taught in school, this book is a must-read.

The ghost map: The story of London's most terrific Epidemic- and how it changed Science, Cities and the Modern World by Steven Johnson

The worst cholera outbreak in recorded history occurred in Victorian London, where the author of this book transports the reader. The book provides explanations for it, its background, its causes, and much more.

The Ghost Map is a must-read book today, especially as we battle the coronavirus epidemic. This book explains urbanization, the creation of cities, how the outbreak aids in modernization, and civilization, the aftereffects of the epidemic, and much more.

Because it contains information on history, epidemiology, sociology, civil engineering, and other topics, this book is a great choice.

Last words

The books listed above are among the best in world history because they help you understand the past and keep you interested until the very last page.

The selection of the books takes into account all the viewpoints that a reader will be looking for in a history book. You can choose any book from the list above which will undoubtedly be worthwhile reading.

Also read:

The eleven most important productivity books to read in 2022.

Top 10 Books That Every College Student Should Read

Taking up a career in history.

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