I am so glad you are thinking of a history challenge! I have a bunch of medieval and early modern history books to move off my TBR list but I'm not able to come up with anything more original than reading something on the TBR list...

Ok, now that I've had a chance to chew this one over, how about considering some of these categories:

Art history, or a history on any of the arts, music architecture, literature,etc.
Environmental history ( example: Charles Mann's 1491 )
Single subject history ( example: Tom Standage's A history of the world in 6 glasses)
Intellectual history, history of ideas or disciplines
Read 3 works in your favorite historical time period
Close to home: read a history of some aspect of domestic life 

just some ideas to toss out. Thoughts?

janet e

Ok, now that I've had a chance to chew this one over, how about considering some of these categories:

Art history, or a history on any of the arts, music architecture, literature,etc.
Environmental history ( example: Charles Mann's 1491 )
Single subject history ( example: Tom Standage's A history of the world in 6 glasses)
Intellectual history, history of ideas or disciplines
Read 3 works in your favorite historical time period
Close to home: read a history of some aspect of domestic life 

just some ideas to toss out. Thoughts?

janet e

Apologies for double post hiccup!

janet e

Another thought: since 2014 marks the centennial of WWI, how about books about either events leading up to WWI (from 1890 and forward), WWI or its aftermath -- up to, say, 1933. That would give readers a huge selection of history books to choose from.

Just throwing these ideas out for discussion...

Janet E

Like your ideas Janet.  I had fun with this challenge last year!  More input?

Thanks for taking this on.  If I'm not too late, some suggestions for categories:  Three books that are related in some way (same historical era, same country, same author, etc.); a book that is part of a series; a book that features an Asian or third world country; a book about a geographical feature or area (river, mountain, forest, desert, national park, etc.).

Good ideas Donna!   Thanks!

• Art history, or a history on any of the arts, music, architecture, literature,etc.
• Environmental history ( example: Charles Mann's 1491 )
• Single subject history ( example: Tom Standage's A history of the world in 6 glasses)
• Intellectual history, history of ideas or disciplines
• Read 3 works in your favorite historical time period.  Since 2014 marks the centennial of WWI, how about books about either events leading up to WWI (from 1890 and forward), WWI or its aftermath -- up to, say, 1933  
• Same historical era, same country, same author, etc.); a book that is part of a series; a book that features an Asian or third world country; a book about a geographical feature or area (river, mountain, forest, desert, national park, etc.
• "Close to home" or what we might consider as "social history, " which, broadly  speaking, covers  histories of ordinary folks.

R.E.K., these categories look fine to me. Might I suggest that if you didn't care for the category of "close to home" , a history of some aspect of domestic life, then you might consider the broader, more encompassing category of "social history, " which, broadly  speaking, covers  histories of ordinary folks, as opposed to kings, queens and other " big people."

In any case, I'm looking forward to working on this challenge!

Janet E

Janet:  See what you think.  Now we need more participants besides you, Donna and I!

Shall we say a full challenge is ten reads and a mini challenge is five? We might get more participation with the option of a mini challenge. I say that because most challenge partipants work on more  than one challenge --I know I do. And one of my challenges tends to be my favorite or main  one that I try to complete while the other challenges are secondary, I try for completion as well but am OK with mini challenges. For me, it's all about reducing my TBR pile ( OK, my TBR bookcase!)

 I must say, R.E.K., I'm always amazed at the number of books you read!! You look like you have a wide range of reading interests! 

R.E.K and Donna, what do you think? (and of course anyone else out there in PBS-Land who cares to comment.....)

Janet

R.E.K. and Janet

Thanks for keeping this alive!  Lots of good topics here.

Here is how I would tweak the list.  Please feel free to use these ideas or not.  I will not be offended :) 

Challenge: 10 books;  Mini Challenge:  5

1.  Art history, or a history on any of the arts, music, architecture, literature,etc.

2.  Environmental history (example: Charles Mann's 1491 ) or a history of a geographical feature, phenomenon, or area (examples: The River Where America Began, Krakatoa)

3.  An award winning history or one that is part of a series.

4.  Single subject history ( example: Tom Standage's A history of the world in 6 glasses)

5.  Intellectual history, history of ideas or disciplines

6.  Read 3 works in your favorite historical time period.  Since 2014 marks the centennial of WWI, how about books about    either events leading up to WWI (from 1890 and forward), WWI or its aftermath -- up to, say, 1933

7.  A book that features an Asian or third world country or a country of your ancestry.

8.  "Close to home" or what we might consider as "social history, " which, broadly  speaking, covers  histories of ordinary folks.

9.  Reader's Choice -  Substitute one of the categories above with a topic of your choice.

May I suggest broadening the art category to include art thefts?  and artists?  I just read one on Michelangelo and another on Hitler's stealing art from his conquered territories.  To me, these are just as interesting as art history.

Linda, you are absolutely right, and by coincidence, the book I had in mind to read for this category is called The Rape of Europa and it is about art as war booty -- was that the Hitler book you read?

 Books about artists, stolen or forged art definitely all fall under the category of art history, or history having to do with the arts. All of the topics proposed here can be broadly interpreted -- it's more fun that way, don't you think? 

Janet E

Mine was The Monuments Men about the Army unit formed to track down the stolen art.  The Michelangelo book is called Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling about the painting of the Sistine Chapel.  I did not know Raphael was working at the Vatican at the same time and one of Michelangelo's visitors was Erasmus (who wrote In Praise of Folly).

If anyone is unsure about WWI and its aftermath books, may I suggest the Lords of Finance?  Sounds boring as it is how the banks of Europe and the US contributed to both the war and to creating the Great Depression, but it really was fascinating as it looked at the subject from the human involvement of certain individuals and their egos/personalities.  Too bad I already read it as I can not come up with three books on WWI era... have one, need two more.

I can not decide which books I will read for this challenge (which will the first one I have participated in).  I am leaning towards:

1. The Dragon's Tail (Raphael) or Leonardo's Swans
2. The Great Stink or the Big Burn
3. don't know yet - am reading a series on Charles I, so maybe...
4. The Speckled Monster (smallpox) or Spice or Jeans
5. Pascal's Wager or Kepler's Witch
6. King-Kaiser-Tsar  but two more needed
7. unknown, maybe more of my English royalty history since it is a 'country of my ancestry'
8. The Baby Thief (Georgia Tann scandal)
9. the Candy Bomber (Berlin Airlift)

The problem is I am a world history teacher and have already read many books on the world wars.  Thank you for the suggestions because I know there are lots I have not read out there.  Paris 1919 sounds interesting!

So...REK, are we ready to have a new thread listing the categories and asking folks to post their challenges? So looking forward to this!

Janet E

I have ended up with an extra copy of the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (hardcover, 202 wishers).  If anyone wants the book for the challenge (#8 Close to home?) then PM me and I will send it to you.  I will be gone for a  couple of days so it will be Friday or Saturday before it goes in the mail.  Linda

Sorry everyone!  I've been sick so I've ignored this one.   Full challenge is ten reads as suggested while a mini challenge is five.  On to create a thread.   And, Janet, I love to read and try to read many genres.  Always, always find some gems in the most unusual places.  Probably my least favorite genre is romance but historical romance or historical fiction romance can be of interest to me.

1.  Art history, or a history on any of the arts, music, architecture, literature,etc.  Expand to include art thefts, artists and other associated arts - such as performing, etc.

2.  Environmental history (example: Charles Mann's 1491 ) or a history of a geographical feature, phenomenon, or area (examples: The River Where America Began, Krakatoa)

3.  An award winning history or one that is part of a series.

4.  Single subject history ( example: Tom Standage's A history of the world in 6 glasses)

5.  Intellectual history, history of ideas or disciplines

6.  Read 2-3 works in your favorite historical time period.  Since 2014 marks the centennial of WWI, how about books about    either events leading up to WWI (from 1890 and forward), WWI or its aftermath -- up to, say, 1933

7.  A book that features an Asian or third world country or a country of your ancestry.

8.  "Close to home" or what we might consider as "social history, " which, broadly  speaking, covers  histories of ordinary folks.

9.  Reader's Choice -  Substitute one of the categories above with a topic of your choice.