book recommendations on select topics (general, events, historical, years)

[mkwensky]

Looking for recommendations on good history books on the following topics. Something with good writing and less than 800 pages. Preferably about events at least 100 years in the past.

Australia/New Zealand
Madagascar or another country Africa outside of SA and the Congo
Any country in Southeast Asia
early-late 19th century America
Texas
mathematics

[USC1986]

On Africa, I would recommend "The White Nile" and "The Blue Nile", both by Alan Moorehead.

[cachibatches]

For South Africa:

The Washing of the Spears

[maf763]

For early-mid 19th century America, one recommendation is A Shopkeeper's Millennium by Paul Johnson.

[KathrynAragon]

Originally Posted by mkwensky

Looking for recommendations on good history books on the following topics. Something with good writing and less than 800 pages. Preferably about events at least 100 years in the past.

Australia/New Zealand
Madagascar or another country Africa outside of SA and the Congo
Any country in Southeast Asia
early-late 19th century America
Texas
mathematics

OK this book spans more than the 19th century in America but it does focus a lot on the 19th century - The Pioneers by David McCollough. I couldn't put it down!

Also, these are fiction but they are historical fiction - anything by James Michener is good in my opinion. I really enjoyed his book called Texas.

Also, Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson is about the Galveston hurricane around the turn of the 20th century. In fact, Larson has written several books about American history, and lots of historical books in general - he's one of my favorite authors. His books are very well researched. The Devil In the White City is another excellent one about the World Fair in Chicago in 1893 and a mass murderer on the loose.

[newdixiegirl]

Originally Posted by KathrynAragon

OK this book spans more than the 19th century in America but it does focus a lot on the 19th century - The Pioneers by David McCollough. I couldn't put it down!

Also, these are fiction but they are historical fiction - anything by James Michener is good in my opinion. I really enjoyed his book called Texas.

Also, Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson is about the Galveston hurricane around the turn of the 20th century. In fact, Larson has written several books about American history, and lots of historical books in general - he's one of my favorite authors. His books are very well researched. The Devil In the White City is another excellent one about the World Fair in Chicago in 1893 and a mass murderer on the loose.

Thanks, Kathryn! Putting The Pioneers in my to-read list!

[USC1986]

Originally Posted by cachibatches

For South Africa:

The Washing of the Spears

Yes, great book, but the OP said outside of South Africa, which rules this one out.

[bus man]

For 19th Century America, try The Great Bridge by David McCollough, about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.

[markg91359]

Originally Posted by mkwensky

Looking for recommendations on good history books on the following topics. Something with good writing and less than 800 pages. Preferably about events at least 100 years in the past.

Australia/New Zealand
Madagascar or another country Africa outside of SA and the Congo
Any country in Southeast Asia
early-late 19th century America
Texas
mathematics

Australia. The Fatal Shore. By Robert Hughes

[Old Gringo]

Originally Posted by mkwensky

Looking for recommendations on good history books on the following topics. Something with good writing and less than 800 pages. Preferably about events at least 100 years in the past.

Australia/New Zealand
Madagascar or another country Africa outside of SA and the Congo
Any country in Southeast Asia
early-late 19th century America
Texas
mathematics

Texas: Pass of the North: 4 centuries on the Rio Grande by Sonnichsen