Books like Virtual History by Niall Ferguson

Bill Bryson turns the universe into a conversational guide, tracing science from the Big Bang through evolution, geology, chemistry, astronomy, and particle physics with humor and clarity.

A compelling overview of American history through the eyes and experiences of its women, workers, African Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and the working poor.

Ibn Khaldūn’s Muqaddimah, written in the 14th century, establishes the intellectual foundations of history, sociology, economics, and philosophy of history, and remains a cornerstone of historiography and social science.

A philosophical interpretation of history, examining the significance of historical study as a science and a reflection of social values.

"What is history and why should we study it? Is there such a thing as historical truth? Is history an art or science? One of the most accomplished historians at work today, John Lewis Gaddis, answers these and many other questions in this witty, engaging, and humane book. The Landscape of History provides a searching look at the historian's craft, as well as a strong argument for why a historical consciousness should matter to us today."--BOOK JACKET.

Few historians now maintain that they write thetruth about the past. Deconstructive readings of history and sources have changed the entire discipline of history. In Deconstructing History, Alun Munslow examines history in the postmodern age. He provides an introduction to the debates and issues of postmodernist history. He also surveys the latest research into the relationship between the past, history, and historical practice, as well as forwarding his own challenging theories.The author discusses issues of both empiricist and deconstructionist positions and considers the arguments of major proponents of both stances. He includes: * an examination of the character of historical evidence * exploration of the role of historians * discussion of the limits of traditional historical methods * chapters on Michel Foucault and Hayden White * an evaluation of the importance of historical narrative * an extensive and helpful glossary of difficult key terms.Munslow maps the philosophical field, outlines the controversies involved and assesses the merits of the deconstructionist position. He argues that instead of beginning with the past, history must begin with its representation by historians.

Isaiah Berlin's The Sense of Reality at last makes available an important body of previously unknown work by one of our leading historians of ideas and one of the finest essayists writing in English. Eight of the nine pieces included here are published for the first time, and their range is characteristically wide. The subjects explored include realism in history, judgment in politics, the history of socialism, the nature and impact of Marxism, the radical cultural revolution instigated by the Romantics, Russian notions of artistic commitment, and the origins and practice of nationalism. The title essay, starting from the impossibility of historians being able to re-create a bygone epoch, is a superb centerpiece.