WorldHistory

The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook | Hampton Sides

pick

Before reading this, I have to admit I didn‘t know much about Captain Cook outside of the fact he‘s a pretty solid guess on Jeopardy in the topic of 18th century European explorers. This is a thoroughly detailed book of his epic final journey. I enjoyed how the author contrasted events and Cook‘s decisions and tendencies to those from earlier expeditions. I hope to read more by the author and about Capt Cook in the future!

monalyisha

JoeMo This read was part of my efforts to chip away at my #auldlangspine list. Thanks for another solid recommendation @Amiable 2d

Amiable @JoeMo If you like Hampton Sides‘ writing I highly recommend this one —it is one of my favorite nonfiction reads:

Hellhound on His Trail: The Electrifying Account of the Largest Manhunt in American History

31 likes2 comments

Davidtk20

Smoke and Ashes: Opium's Hidden Histories | Amitav Ghosh

pick

A well researched book on the opium plant and its impact on all aspects of society during the eighteen and nineteenth century. It was this plant that provided a lion share of the capital needed for European colonization. A lot of the wealthiest Americans made their fortune from this trade before they diversified into other ventures.

3 likes

wen4blu

The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook | Hampton Sides

I doubt Captain Cook met a fuzzy blue whale on his last voyage, but I‘m about to find out.

#currentlyreading

Hooked_on_books I‘ve read this one so I won‘t tell you. But it‘s very good! 3w

33 likes1 stack add1 comment

Amie

The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook | Hampton Sides

pick

I didn't really know anything about Captain Cook before reading this. Very interesting to read about his approach to exploration and the people he encountered.

30 likes1 stack add

michaelcoleman

Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare | DK

During deployment, Sergeant Reyes found connection through Litsy, bonding with fellow soldiers over books. Their shared reading became a support system, reminding him he was never alone

2 likes

Owls31092

Short History of Byzantium | John Julius Norwich

Sound like anyone else we‘ve talked about recently? #justinian #ashorthistoryofbyzantium #ohnjuliusnorwich #byzantineempire #easternromanempire #emperor #worldhistory #europeanhistory #history #failures #successes

5 likes

Anna40

Soldiers Don't Go Mad: A Story of Brotherhood, Poetry, and Mental Illness During the First World War | Charles Glass

pick

This book about the hospital Craiglockhart & two of its most famous patients, Siegfried Sassoon & Wilfred Owen, tracks the effects of industrial warfare on soldiers & the origins of PTSD. Shell shock was seen by many commanding officers not as an illness but cowardice& thus punished. It was thanks to physicians such as Dr Rivers who treated the men with compassion that some lucky few found healing. The strongest parts of the book are the poems

Anna40 written by Sassoon & Owens. I also enjoyed learning about the pacifist movement in the UK & how the war was perceived by those not involved in combat. Overall, the men who received treatment all had very privileged backgrounds, the poor private was sent right back to the front without any compassion or treatment … 1mo

Suet624 Ugh. So sad. 1mo

CarolynM Stacked🙂 1mo

See All 10 Comments

Anna40 @suet624 yes, it is. I think many more than we think still believe PTSD in soldiers = coward or is something to be ashamed of 😢 1mo

Anna40 @CarolynM it‘s not an easy read but it really pulled me in. I‘m interested in reading Sassoon‘s and Owens poetry collections. Very powerful poems 1mo

CarolynM I‘ve got a particular interest in First World War literature with particular reference to Owen and Sassoon. Owen is a tragic figure and his poems are really moving. Sassoon was such oddbod, he is endlessly fascinating. Have you read his Sheraton trilogy? 1mo

Anna40 @CarolynM I had never heard of either of them before reading this book. Would you recommend starting off with Sheraton trilogy? 1mo

CarolynM It‘s fictionalised autobiography so it‘s a good way to get to know him. The first volume, Memoirs of a Fox Hunting Man is pre war, the other 2 during the war and cover the Craiglockart experience. Sassoon also features in Robert Graves‘s memoir Goodbye to All That. 1mo

Anna40 @CarolynM thanks! Sounds great 💕 1mo

CarolynM And for a fictional take on Owen and Sassoon at Craiglockart

Regeneration (Regeneration, #1)

1mo

35 likes3 stack adds10 comments

Purpleness

New Silk Roads: The Present and Future of the World | Peter Frankopan

Well, this was an interesting book to read this past week. It is outdated, though, this edition having been published in 2019. Despite that, some interesting big picture points to consider heading into the future.

36 likes

Purpleness

New Silk Roads: The Present and Future of the World | Peter Frankopan