The Age of the Democratic Revolution
RR Palmer

Originally a 2-volume work, this single-volume edition of a classic study on the so-called "Atlantic Revolutions" is now one of my favorite books.

The main thesis is that the American and the French Revolutions are both fruits of the same origin: the political enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries.

#bookworm #2020reads #historybook #history

Alice Network
Kate Quinn

Bought it because it's on sale haha. But this is unexpectedly really good. The story gets kinda dark, as it deals with PTSD, wartime collaboration, and abortion, among others.

But the plot and the characters are really well-made. I especially like the dual timeline format - actually, I seem to like multiple-timeline novels in general. The ending isn't the best, but doesn't feel too rushed, either.

#bookworm #2020reads #fiction

The Prophecy
Chris Kuzneski

Let's go to fiction! yay! Because I don't read novels often, and most of them I end up dropping anyway woohoo!

That said, I do love Kuzneski's Payne & Jones novels. The duo is easily the best thing about this series. Plot-wise, Kuzneski's novels aren't impressive. But the characters make them super fun and exciting to read.

And this goes for Kuzneski's Payne & Jones novels in general, not just this one book.

#bookworm #2020reads #fiction

When Titans Clashed
David Glantz, Jonathan House

Ever the critically acclaimed work on the WW2 Eastern Front. Military history to the core, with lots of stats and military-related terms and figures. Still, it excellently argues its main thesis: that the Soviets won not by sheer numbers, but by learning, adapting, and improving in the course of the war, ultimately besting the Wehrmacht. Highly reocmmended.

#bookworm #2020reads #historybook #history

Catholicism: Journey to the Heart of the Faith
Bishop Robert Barron

Bishop Barron's introduction to Catholic faith is what made me appreciate - and ultimately practice - my religion greatly. It's easy to understand, and feels like the author talks to the reader not as a distant writer, but as a friend. Also includes a few photos of beautiful Catholic churches, though it's more appreciable in print than in ebook format.

#bookworm #2020reads #catholic

1968: The Year that Rocked the World
Mark Kurlansky

Like 2020, the year 1968 was a very momentous and eventful one. The fact that books are written specifically about this one year attest to that. It's full of massive rallies, revolutions, and a very chaotic US election, among others. They didn't have a pandemic, though.

I bought this in January, with a feeling that 2020 might just be as notorious as 1968. Unfortunately, I wasn't wrong.

#bookworm #2020reads #historybook #history

Medieval Christianity: A New History
Kevin Madigan

An overview of the history of Christianity in the Middle Ages. Much focus is on the religious orders, devotions, and council reforms. The bibliographic notes at the end are very valuable for getting into more specific topics.

The book is intended to just be a synthesis of medieval scholarship, so there's not much thesis being put forward in here, beyond being an accessible narrative history.

#bookworm #2020reads #historybook #history

Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia
Christopher Clark

An excellent overview of the history of Prussia, from its origins as a grand duchy, until its decline and fall in the 20th century. Beyond the Napoleonic Wars, the monarchy itself gradually lost power. Yet the image of the kingdom at its apogee continued to be used as an instrument of propaganda especially by the civilian leadership, up until Hitler's reign.

#bookworm #2020reads #historybook #history

Essential Catholic Survival Guide

A collection of various rebuttals for objections against Catholicism, mostly from other books by Catholic Answers writers. A great one-stop shop for both understanding and defending the Catholic position on many topics, like: papacy, veneration of Mary, praying to saints, the sacraments, etc. Also includes arguments against other denominations, like JW and SDA.

#bookworm #2020reads #catholic #catholicism

1917: War, Peace, and Revolution
David Stevenson

This book looks at how 1917 became a turning point in the years-long attrition that is the Great War. The leaders of belligerent nations, on both sides, explored new ways to break the deadlock they've found themselves in. From peace treaties, to postwar border plans, to submarine warfare, to revolution, 1917 was full of momentous events that all paved the way for a return to war of movement by 1918.

#bookworm #2020reads #historybook

Cataclysm: The First World War as Political Tragedy
David Stevenson

A dry and lengthy, but very insightful, look at how the First World War was conducted at the highest levels - the civilian and military leaderships. Contends that disunity among the Allies, and post-war economic failures, are greater catalysts of WW2 compared to the actual terms of the Versailles Treaty.

Seriously, it's super dry but very comprehensive. Not for casual history reading.

#bookworm #2020reads #historybook