| #1 I can personally recommend the writings of the English historian Paul Johnson. I have four of his histories -- of Christianity, Judaism, the 20th century, and of art. Each changed my understanding of the subject and filled in a great many blank places in my knowledge... mostly blanks I didn't realize were there. In fact, I had to buy a hardcover copy of his History of Christianity, because the paperback is falling apart. ;-) The only historian I have more of is Hendrik van Loon, whose illustrations are nearly as charming and idiosyncratic as his text. |