Yeah this was just kind of just a pile that fit a bunch of prompts on different readathons lol. Not sure if I've ever done my favorites for Roman history before. It's interesting because it is such a wide swath of time, especially if you count quite a bit of Byzantine history as well
@@TriumphalReads These reading "thons" you talk about seem absolutely overwhelming to me. LOL Yeah think how vast Roman rule was throughout that time. Crazy.
@@FacelessBookReviews Just kidding it’s admirable you want to learn more and Mary Beard is a quality author. Recommend Adrian Goldsworthy and Tom Holland as well who write comprehensive yet still interesting overviews.
Fontana History of Rome Series is decent coverage of the history of Rome. The following list is some of the books I've read on Rome & found interesting: 'The Roman Republic', Michael Crawford. 'The Histories, Polybius. 'The Rise of Rome', Livy (Books I-V) 'Early Rome & the Etruscans', RM Ogilvie 'The Roman Empire', C. Wells 'The Later Roman Empire', A. Cameron 'Confessions', St. Augustine 'The World of Late Antiquity', Peter Brown 'Caesar, Adrian Goldsworthy 'The Gallic Wars', I. Caesar.
I really like what I've read of the Durant's writing so far. Their Heroe's of History book is a good one to try first and if you enjoy that one you'll probably enjoy their story of civilization series.
I have _From the Gracchi to Nero_ (possibly in two copies) unread, but on my perpetual TBR. Also something by the same author, I think on the Etruscans. This was very informative. A lot of ideas, to check back on.
Yeah he has quite a few books if I remember. He has a couple other well regarded ones if I remember correctly such as his book on Roman Britain and a general history of Rome that covers the period basically up to when that one starts or something similar.
I didn't know that Roman History was a current thing. Oddly, I have just recently started a pile of books on that subject. I'm trying to take original sources in sort of order., although I have read a few of them a long time ago. I started with Livy, and yes we are in the Punic Wars. Hannibal just entered Italy. It is actually rather exciting. I've got about 10 ancient authors on my Kindle, and I expect I will be at this for a while. I used to lust after Penguin Classics when I was college. Now I've just gotten thru my first year of retirement, and this is my new project. I always wanted to do it, and now I've got the time!
Sounds like a great idea. Let me know which ones you enjoy the best when you go through them. Livy is definitely one of the more readable primary sources. Good luck!
@@TriumphalReads I've done Suetonius, Caesar, Gibbon, Pliny the Younger, before. Just curious: what else do you expect will be most readable? I'm on Livy. I'm kinda planning on: Cassius Dio/Tacitus/Josephus/Sallust/Polybius/Cicero/Appian.
@@markbeck8384 a lot of people enjoy Cicero and Seneca. Polybius is my favorite of the ones you mentioned. Tacitus is the big name for history but I find his style like a bland version of Thucydides haha. I've read parts of Josephus and Appian but can't remember much about them.
I think the Durants are mostly known for being one of the first real popular attempts (after people like Spengler and Toynbee) to talk about history writ large instead of just the Occident. For that alone, they're interesting, even if a lot of their assumptions have worn really poorly. After they published the last volume of the history, they put out a tiny book (maybe 100 pages) called "The Lessons of History" that is full of claims that would embarrass most historians today. I reviewed it last year for HIstorathon. It's awwwful. Have you ever read anything else by Adrienne Mayor? She's written several other books (many of which are from PUP), but the Mithradates is the only one I ever see mentioned.
Yeah I read Toynbee in college. I did like the Durant's Story of Philosophy but that all I've read. I knew that some of their stuff was dated so I didn't want to invest that much time tbh, might be interesting more from a historiographical standpoint. I've read her Greek Fire, Scorpion Bomb and Poison Arrow. It was more of a fun read I suppose compared to Poison King if that makes sense but still good. A lot of her other books are kind of super niche topics and I should probably get around to a few more
@@TriumphalReads Oh, damn, that's the only thing I wanted to mention. (Thanks for mentioning the word "philosophy," it made me remember.) I think in the Discord, you said that you studied and/or read philosophy. Not sure about everyone else, but I would love to hear you talk about those books too. I used to talk about them too (one of my majors in college), but have been distracted reading other things. It seems like philosophy is one of the only subjects that's well and truly dead on booktube. We should do our part to change that!
@@NicholasOfAutrecourt I used to read it much more. I ended up with a minor in it. Not sure if I would be articulate enough to do it justice sometimes. But yes I agree with it being dead on booktube. I couldn't tell you the last video I saw that would have focused on it lol.
I have the Durrants' set of nine books on history. I got it cheap but got halfway through the first volume I bailed. I wonder if the later volumes are better. I too worry. I had two volumes of Gugliemo Ferrero's The Greatness and Decline of Rome arrive this morning. They too are early 20th century books so I hope they aren't too outdated. My volumes are the Heinemann editions published in London. Would anyone like to comment on their usefulness and should I look for the other volumes? I've only just this second unwrapped them. I'm loving this video, my pencil nearly caught fire as I scribble, scribble notes on the books. My hubby thought it hilarious that I had filled another page of wants in my notebook within a few minutes. Thanks.
Ah, yes, Livy and Polybius! Very modern... Sarcasm aside, this is a bit of a naive take. Historians don't lose context or actions solely because of the time they are writing. Instead, modern historians have the benefit of hindsight, they can take the writings of the past and reference them against each other as well. On top of that, the accusation of these being popular history is also baseless. Look at most of these books and they are very low in sales or review numbers.
I only dip into booktube every now and then, but when I do it's usually your videos I check out and I always enjoy them. Thanks for the recs : )
No problem and thanks for the kind words. Glad you liked the recs
Fabulous❤. I love how much you love books😊📖📚📖📚
What a fabulous list of recommendations! So glad to hear you are taking part and now I have so many more books to add to my pile! 😂
Thanks, glad ypu all are doing this
Loving the chaotic energy here. ❤❤❤. Books are wonderful🎉
Yeah this is about the most energy I can do for a video lol.
@@TriumphalReads it was 2x speed for me and I loved it🤣
@cathy2142 lol I forgot that was something people did on UA-cam videos haha.
@@TriumphalReadsi think and talk fast but read slow😂. Keep up the fun videos. I watch while cleaning and baking❤
I need to watch this again with pen in hand! Lots of great recommendations!
Lol, yeah it's a lot of books haha
Hi Justin. Incredible suggestions! I admire the depth of your reading in the area of classical history.
Thanks, it's definitely one of the topics I read a lot about.
I just added most of those to my Q1 TBR since my library has quite a few of them. Thanks.
Nice. Hope you like any you pick up
Awesome variety of recommendations.
Thanks Vin
What an impressive stack of books. The only things I know about Roman history is what I've learned thru the Bible. Fascinating stuff!
Yeah this was just kind of just a pile that fit a bunch of prompts on different readathons lol. Not sure if I've ever done my favorites for Roman history before. It's interesting because it is such a wide swath of time, especially if you count quite a bit of Byzantine history as well
@@TriumphalReads These reading "thons" you talk about seem absolutely overwhelming to me. LOL Yeah think how vast Roman rule was throughout that time. Crazy.
@@FacelessBookReviewsSo not too much then?
@@dylanmorgan2752 Im 1/4 thru SPQR so I know a bit more and by bit I mean pretty much no more than before. 😂
@@FacelessBookReviews Just kidding it’s admirable you want to learn more and Mary Beard is a quality author. Recommend Adrian Goldsworthy and Tom Holland as well who write comprehensive yet still interesting overviews.
Gladiators looks cool😊
It was very readable as well as informative
I have a home library of over 3,000 books so I'm always interested to know I'm not alone. Great content and most informative.
3k is impressive. I've never actually counted mine but I'm probably somewhere around 1k. I usually once a year donate a couple boxes
Great channel! Glad I found it. Keep up the good work
Thanks, will do
Crazy detailed list my dude! Great video as always :)
Thanks Emma
This will be right your your street Justin! I am fully booked this month, but might try to fit something in for April.
Hey Julie! I got to go catch up on some of your videos later on today for sure!
@@TriumphalReads Thank you! I took a huge break from YT and deleted my channel, but i am back!
Great video, I’ve just bought a couple of your recommendations
Awesome, hope you like them! What did you choose
@@TriumphalReadspraetorian, the gladiators, Alaric the goth and from the grachii to Nero! I already have a few of the others
_First!_ Great books 📚 I'm rereading _Shanteram_ for #MarchingMammoths I'd like to read _SPQR,_ and others, by Mary Beard. Good one, Justin 🎉
Yeah I have to get around to some of her other works for sure. Glad you liked the video
My dad absolutely loves Durant’s Story of Civilization series. He’s listened to the whole thing multiple times.
That's crazy and impressive lol. The series has got to be around 400 hours or something. Maybe I'll read one of them sometime just to see how it is
Some good books there. I also do metal detecting and occasionally find Roman finds here in north Lancashire.
That's awesome! Sestertius mostly or anything really cool?
Loved the video!! great recs. You should do a greek version! i would love it
Great idea! I'll add that to my video ideas
I went to Amazon and purchased 4 !!!
Let me know what you think of them when you get to them
Fontana History of Rome Series is decent coverage of the history of Rome.
The following list is some of the books I've read on Rome & found interesting:
'The Roman Republic', Michael Crawford.
'The Histories, Polybius.
'The Rise of Rome', Livy (Books I-V)
'Early Rome & the Etruscans', RM Ogilvie
'The Roman Empire', C. Wells
'The Later Roman Empire', A. Cameron
'Confessions', St. Augustine
'The World of Late Antiquity', Peter Brown
'Caesar, Adrian Goldsworthy
'The Gallic Wars', I. Caesar.
Lots of great names Peter Brown, Polybius, Goldsworthy, Cameron and Ogilvie !
I really like what I've read of the Durant's writing so far. Their Heroe's of History book is a good one to try first and if you enjoy that one you'll probably enjoy their story of civilization series.
I've read their Story of Philosophy and liked it so I may choose one at some point to try on a more modernish Era I don't read as much on.
I have _From the Gracchi to Nero_ (possibly in two copies) unread, but on my perpetual TBR. Also something by the same author, I think on the Etruscans. This was very informative. A lot of ideas, to check back on.
Yeah he has quite a few books if I remember. He has a couple other well regarded ones if I remember correctly such as his book on Roman Britain and a general history of Rome that covers the period basically up to when that one starts or something similar.
I didn't know that Roman History was a current thing. Oddly, I have just recently started a pile of books on that subject. I'm trying to take original sources in sort of order., although I have read a few of them a long time ago. I started with Livy, and yes we are in the Punic Wars. Hannibal just entered Italy. It is actually rather exciting. I've got about 10 ancient authors on my Kindle, and I expect I will be at this for a while. I used to lust after Penguin Classics when I was college. Now I've just gotten thru my first year of retirement, and this is my new project. I always wanted to do it, and now I've got the time!
Sounds like a great idea. Let me know which ones you enjoy the best when you go through them. Livy is definitely one of the more readable primary sources. Good luck!
@@TriumphalReads I've done Suetonius, Caesar, Gibbon, Pliny the Younger, before. Just curious: what else do you expect will be most readable? I'm on Livy. I'm kinda planning on: Cassius Dio/Tacitus/Josephus/Sallust/Polybius/Cicero/Appian.
@@markbeck8384 a lot of people enjoy Cicero and Seneca. Polybius is my favorite of the ones you mentioned. Tacitus is the big name for history but I find his style like a bland version of Thucydides haha. I've read parts of Josephus and Appian but can't remember much about them.
I downloaded Livy’s history on audible. It’s 19 chapters, each takes 4 hours to get through. Jesus.
Oof yeah I've never read livy cover to cover just individual books at different times
I think the Durants are mostly known for being one of the first real popular attempts (after people like Spengler and Toynbee) to talk about history writ large instead of just the Occident. For that alone, they're interesting, even if a lot of their assumptions have worn really poorly. After they published the last volume of the history, they put out a tiny book (maybe 100 pages) called "The Lessons of History" that is full of claims that would embarrass most historians today. I reviewed it last year for HIstorathon. It's awwwful.
Have you ever read anything else by Adrienne Mayor? She's written several other books (many of which are from PUP), but the Mithradates is the only one I ever see mentioned.
Yeah I read Toynbee in college. I did like the Durant's Story of Philosophy but that all I've read. I knew that some of their stuff was dated so I didn't want to invest that much time tbh, might be interesting more from a historiographical standpoint. I've read her Greek Fire, Scorpion Bomb and Poison Arrow. It was more of a fun read I suppose compared to Poison King if that makes sense but still good. A lot of her other books are kind of super niche topics and I should probably get around to a few more
@@TriumphalReads Oh, damn, that's the only thing I wanted to mention. (Thanks for mentioning the word "philosophy," it made me remember.) I think in the Discord, you said that you studied and/or read philosophy. Not sure about everyone else, but I would love to hear you talk about those books too. I used to talk about them too (one of my majors in college), but have been distracted reading other things. It seems like philosophy is one of the only subjects that's well and truly dead on booktube. We should do our part to change that!
@@NicholasOfAutrecourt I used to read it much more. I ended up with a minor in it. Not sure if I would be articulate enough to do it justice sometimes. But yes I agree with it being dead on booktube. I couldn't tell you the last video I saw that would have focused on it lol.
I have the Durrants' set of nine books on history. I got it cheap but got halfway through the first volume I bailed. I wonder if the later volumes are better. I too worry. I had two volumes of Gugliemo Ferrero's The Greatness and Decline of Rome arrive this morning. They too are early 20th century books so I hope they aren't too outdated. My volumes are the Heinemann editions published in London. Would anyone like to comment on their usefulness and should I look for the other volumes? I've only just this second unwrapped them. I'm loving this video, my pencil nearly caught fire as I scribble, scribble notes on the books. My hubby thought it hilarious that I had filled another page of wants in my notebook within a few minutes. Thanks.
I'd love a book about Hannibal, so a video on the subject would be great. I got really interested in him when we read Polybius
Ngl I used this to sleep
Haha, whatever works
duh..in college..
When the subscript advises "From the Gracky to Nero", I can't take it seriously.
Lol the auto-generated stuff probably has a hard time with nontraditional words. Maybe I'll go through and add manual stamps tomorrow
It's Gracchi!
These all seem too modern and pop-culturey, which means they miss many causes of certain actions and other historical context.
Ah, yes, Livy and Polybius! Very modern...
Sarcasm aside, this is a bit of a naive take. Historians don't lose context or actions solely because of the time they are writing. Instead, modern historians have the benefit of hindsight, they can take the writings of the past and reference them against each other as well.
On top of that, the accusation of these being popular history is also baseless. Look at most of these books and they are very low in sales or review numbers.