Anti-Recommendation Thread Books that everyone should avoid

>>2318942
"Guns Germs and Steel" is /pol/ propaganda.

"Also Chariots of the Gods" is /x/ and "They came before Columbus" is Afrocentric propaganda.

>>2318959
>"Guns Germs and Steel" is /pol/ propaganda.

Don't you mean anti-/pol/ propaganda?

The whole thesis of the book is "White people are no better than black people, in fact, if black people had the environmental advantages white people did, the world would be a better place."

>>2318959
How is guns germs and steel /pol/?
I mean, we know that some of the things he says are false, but his whole point is to say that civilizations got where they were not on a basis of race but of the (somewhat random) adoption of practices, techs, etc.

>>2318972
I was just about to post this kek

>>2318942
"Hitler's Willing Executioners" is absolute shit that resulted from someone being bootyblasted by the best holocaust historian ever.

It's like someone took /his/ memes about the Germans seriously, but didn't even have the consistency of /his/ memes to hate modern Germans.

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>>2318959
>They came before Columbus

It should just go without saying that anything KANGZ related is to be discarded on the spot. Afrocentrism is the Cleveland Browns of historical context: despite having access to the best resources, they somehow still manage to make utter fools of themselves in a never ending stream of lulz.

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Anything by this worthless cunt.

>FUCK NEW THINGS AND YOUNG PEOPLE, LMFAO

>>2319002
My man. Beat you to it though.

>>2318981

>>2319007
You can't seriously expect me to read through all 11 posts to see whether that shitty piece of anti-German propaganda had already been mentioned.

>>2318966
>The whole thesis of the book is "White people are no better than black people, in fact, if black people had the environmental advantages white people did, the world would be a better place."

Somehow that feels like an incredible exaggeration.

>>2319048

There's a reason it's called "Reverse Racism: The Book"

>>2319052
>unironically using the term reverse racism

>>2319052
Doesn't sound like those are well-founded reasons. The book is mostly about the effect of geography and flora and fauna on civilization. It's got its problems, but I don't ever recall it making judgments like "if black people had the environmental advantages white people did, the world would be a better place."

>>2318966
>>2318967

Geographical determinism is a white supremacist position. Diamond is widely accused of white supremacism because of his championing of the idea. The fact that /pol/ is too dumb to understand Diamond's book is pro-white propaganda is beside the point.

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>>2319077
>Geographical determinism is a white supremacist position

>>2319077
I agree with >>2319081
How is geographical determinism white supremacy?

>>2319077
Geographical determinism is literally the opposite of any supremacy, it's saying the only reason we're not equal is because of geography, rather than genetics.

>>2319077
W-what? I've never read the book, but that seems like the opposite of white supremacism to me. The idea that Africans got fucked geographically rather than just being inferior seems to counter white supremacy entirely.

>>2319081
>>2319085
>>2319087
You're getting baited
https://youtube.com/watch?v=9mGvZXvRNLs

>>2319081
>>2319085
>>2319087

It makes the unfounded claim that Europe is uniquely suited to high civilization. Historically, this claim (geographic determinism) was used to justify colonialism and racialism.

>>2319142
I'm not >>2319077 but I highly doubt anyone who honestly believes geographical determinism is racist goes on /his/

>>2319164
>>2319153
>>2319099
>>2319096

I doubt it's white supremacist. However, like a lot of modern liberalism, there are elements that share some similarities with past racist and supremacist thought with the only difference being that hostility and bigoted prejudice is replaced with patronizing condescension. It suits the change from direct colonial domination to more modern economic control.

>>2318942

>National History
>Written by a Historian of that National Origin

Into the trash it goes

Americans in particular are the worse offenders of this

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All byzaboos should avoid John Julius Norwich, yet I see him quoted here regularly.

He has no credentials, he is not a historian but have an amateur interest, and writes for other lay people.
And nothing wrong with that, but for fucks sake stop citing him as if he is a credible source, he is not. He is Dan Carlin tier.
Go read Mango or Ostrogorsky or any other proper Byzantinist.

>>2319180
>more modern economic control
Such as?

>>2318972
bait.

>>2319223

>The Government is actively attempting to kill its citizens at a pre-defined rate

>>2319204
The influence of Western multinationals in Africa, for starters.

>>2319311
What evidence do you having showing this has harmed them? Moreover, the largest investor in Africa has been China and this investment has spurred considerable economic growth and improvements in standards of living.

Also, if multinationals are bad (show me evidence of this) for the Africans, why do they support them? Are you claiming that Africans are too unintelligent to act in their own self interest?

>>2318942
Black Athena

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>Jesus had brothers
>Jesus was a nationalist
>James was the actual first Pope
>James and Paul were enemies
>The only reason why Paul's ideology won is because Jerusalem was destroyed
Possibly the only meme bigger than Bart Ehrman.

>>2319665
>Jesus had brothers
Who is James the brother of Jesus?

>>2319665

He had half-brother technically, but brothers none-the-less

>>2319679
His cousin, or step-brother at most. No one seriously believes that "literal brother" was meant by that.

>>2319681
what proof do you have of this

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>>2318942

>>2320023

What's wrong with "Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World"?

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An interesting read, but filled with absolutely insane theories based on tenuous evidence, e.g. that Cornwall was possibly controlled by a Byzantine official because it had some Roman remains.

>>2319197
This is unfortunate because he was my introduction to Byzantium.

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>>2320275
Perhaps the fact that Genghis Khan would have wanted nothing to do with the modern world considering Harry Potter has been one of the dullest franchises in the history of movie franchises? Each episode following the boy wizard and his pals from Hogwarts Academy as they fight assorted villains has been indistinguishable from the others. Aside from the gloomy imagery, the series’ only consistency has been its lack of excitement and ineffective use of special effects, all to make magic unmagical, to make action seem inert.

Perhaps the die was cast when Rowling vetoed the idea of Spielberg directing the series; she made sure the series would never be mistaken for a work of art that meant anything to anybody?just ridiculously profitable cross-promotion for her books. The Harry Potter series might be anti-Christian (or not), but it’s certainly the anti-James Bond series in its refusal of wonder, beauty and excitement. No one wants to face that fact. Now, thankfully, they no longer have to.

>a-at least the books were good though r-right
"No!"
The writing is dreadful; the book was terrible. As I read, I noticed that every time a character went for a walk, the author wrote instead that the character "stretched his legs."

I began marking on the back of an envelope every time that phrase was repeated. I stopped only after I had marked the envelope several dozen times. I was incredulous. Rowling's mind is so governed by cliches and dead metaphors that she has no other style of writing. Later I read a lavish, loving review of Harry Potter by the same Stephen King. He wrote something to the effect of, "If these kids are reading Harry Potter at 11 or 12, then when they get older they will go on to read Stephen King." And he was quite right. He was not being ironic. When you read "Harry Potter" you are, in fact, trained to read Stephen King.

>>2319691
You don't seriously believe Mary remained a perpetual virgin, do you? Damn Catholics.

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>>2318942

>>2320323

A novel? No one takes it as actual history.

>>2318966
It's funny because to accept that synopsis you have to accept that evolution and therefore race exist. I don't get how the left can claim to be scientific and believe in evolution, that species can evolve into different breeds with different physical and behavioral traits, yet believe that when it comes to a certain two-legged animal it absolutely does not apply. That's a concept from another book, called 1984. It's literally doublethink.

Avoid any book written by authors with anglo names. They are full with false information and opinions that are sold as facts.

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I have heaps, will post all.

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Not a fan of Islam at all. At all. Still this is laughable even if it contains very minute nuggets of historical truth. Almost complete bullshit though.

>>2319665
>Jesus had brothers
>James and Paul [were in conflict because of ideological differences]
>James was the actual [leader of the sect after the Jesus' death]
>The only reason why Paul's ideology won is because Jerusalem was destroyed
None of these are controversial though, most scholars accept them.

>>2319691
This is your brain on papacy

In what way are 1421 and 1434 shit? I haven't read either myself but someone I know was a while back, it did look kind of sketchy.

>>2320723
I'm too drunk to go into detail right now so this mightn't really answer your question at all, but seriously they are only barely more believable than Harry Potter. It's complete nonsense that a Chinese fleet sailed to Venice and ignited the Renaissance.

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>>2319002
This desu

>(((Goldhagen)))

>>2320666
What's the reason to avoid this though?

>>2320275
It glorifies Temudjn's life while at the same time completely glossing over the fact that he was a mass murderer, genocider and rapist, and millions and millions of people suffered and died because of him. Also the premise is faulty because the author gives the idea that somehow it was all Temudjin's plan when at the time he couldn't have had any great scheme to unite east and west and progress civilization. He was a warlord who seeked dominion over everyone, and any positive thing that came out of that was purely coincidential.

>>2320782
I enjoyed it. It was interesting to learn about how Germany changed from the end of WWI to the beginning of WWII.

>>2320315
this isn't /lit/ faggot. take your Bloom memes out of here

This ebook:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP7260Qs6Ko

It's nonsensical schizophrenic rambling.

>>2320023
Genghis Khan's book is good, and doesn't belong on this list of other books.

whats the consensus on SPQR : A History of Ancient Rome?

>>2321675
Garbage. I think it is one of worst books i ever read.

>>2321682
Can you go a bit into depth? I've heard good things but I'm still on the fence.

>>2318942
Black Book of Communism

>>2320782

I have no idea why he talks shit about it. Maybe he's a Nazi.

Granted, it's rather opinionated, but by no means lacking in evidence and sources, and he makes it clear from the start that he can't write a book about the Nazis without being negative regarding them.

Like in many cases, he will say that Hitler's cronies were degenerates, and then says that's obvious because they were fags.

>>2321687
Writing style. Author sounds like how can i say this properly a plebian. She has american style book writing which i hate.

First part of book


, more than 600 years after the city was founded. It begins with promises of revolution, with a terrorist conspiracy to destroy the city, with undercover operations and public harangues, with a battle fought between Romans and Romans, and with citizens (innocent or not) rounded up and summarily executed in the interests of homeland security

>>2320834
Gee, you're clearly not biased at all. AFAIK only Muslims hated him for justifiably ending their golden age. Djinggis did nothing wrong.

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What's the consensus on this book? I know next to nothing about 20th century history, but I absolutely loved the way it was written, and I'd like to read his other works.

>>2320666
retard

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> written by a commie
> thinks that the zionst wanted the holocaust
> is only taken serious by /pol/tards, islamist and former London Mayor.

>>2320666
nice trips satan but you're wrong

>>2321716
any books about roman republic/empire you would recommend instead?

>>2320023

>ways England ruined the world
>t. quite literally, a German

holy fucking shit

>>2321790

Rubicon by Tom Holland is great.

>>2321790
I written in other threads too but adrian goldsworthy`s books are great.

The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars
Caesar, Life of a Colossus
Augustus: First Emperor of Rome

In reading order.

>>2320315

>Plath low tier
>Tolkien shit tier
>A """"""book""""" by fucking Yeezy mid tier


who made this abomination

>>2319197

>dan carlin tier

Why would you phrase it that way? Dan Carlin has stated time and time again that he's not a historian, and that nobody should take him too seriously. He also cites his sources constantly and posts them all for you to check.

You're a faggot for trying to say otherwise.

>>2321808
ANd dynasty after that

>>2320328
Nono, it's simply because not enough time has passed for differences notable enough to develop, so as to split Homo Sapiens into new races and species. It's only been about 60.000 since we left Africa, evolution works MUCH slower than that.

>>2321808
>>2321812
Thanks anons.

>>2321849

spotted the redditor

>>2321865

Nice meme, but how about you come with a single argument?

What has Dan Carlin said that he was wrong about, and then went on to insist it was right when proven otherwise?

>>2321849
Kys /r/history

>>2320782
The author, despite living through the events himself, never got the official certificate needed to write history books.

Anyone have a recommendation for Japanese history?

>in b4 weeb

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>>2321889

>>2321849
>>2322395

>>2322380
You should probably head over to the book thread The Japanese Experience is a good broad overview though.

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Found this book in the 1€ department of a library. It's not that bad, but it's filled with stupid myths, specially about the Iran-Iraq war. In general it acts more like Bush era anti-Saddam propaganda than a historical analysis

>>2321716
Mary Beard is one of the most respected Roman scholars in the world. I think you're the pleb.

>>2320315
>The Great Gatsby

Why is KEK'd the book god-tier?

>>2322599
She's somewhat respected but she's incredibly populist and low-brow. Being popular in mainstream popular consciousness does not mean she has that much stature in Roman historiography.

>>2320315
>That pic
>Implying Faulkner belongs anywhere but shit-tier
Leave here and take your copypasta with you.

Also wtf is that random German Shepherd book doing there?

>>2320668
>>2320678
Boy, Cahill should really try to vary his cover designs a little.

>>2322897
No, her books written for public consumption are populist. Her academic work isn't.

>>2318972
oh god, that the book my SJW teacher made us read apart from our normal textbook

>>2319180

Geographical determinism essentially states that Europe is destined to rule the world. This is why it was such a popular doctrine among white supremacists, and why Jared Diamond is widely dismissed as a latter-day white supremacist.

>>2319197
This.
Ostrogorsky, a besto!

>>2322997
One of the worst so-called historians alive. Spews nonsense.

>>2319691
Everyone but Christians believes that

>James and Paul were enemies
>The only reason why Paul's ideology won is because Jerusalem was destroyed

This is speculation that is more likely than not

>>2323668
>>2319691

Everyone but Christians accepts the Bible as being truthful in this matter. Christians claim the Bible is lying when it claims James as the brother of Jesus.

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>>2322994
>>Implying Faulkner belongs anywhere but shit-tier

Dem fightin' words, Anon...

>>2319180
You've never heard the white people had to deal with snow n shiet and dumb niggers had fruit growing off trees so white people evolved to be smart shit?

>>2318959
>>2318966
>>2319077
>>2319081
>>2319180
>>2323278
>It's WHITE SUPREMACY
>no it's ANTI RACISM
>no it's EUROCENTRIC PROPAGANDA
>no you don't understand
>no YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND

lmao I wish I could write books that piss off troglodytes so hard they can't even understand what they are and aren't arguing for anymore

must be nice being Jared Diamond desu

>>2319425
They support them because the entire economic system of the modern world depends on their functions. This is not a uniquely African phenomenon; there are very few countries in the world that could survive the total collapse of the current globalist system in their present forms.

Multinational organizations are not inherently bad, but the constant enforcement of conditions which favor them over local autonomous industries have demonstrably adverse effects on economies. Choosing to eject them, however, or not meet their demands, seems to be feeble under current circumstances (see Mongolia's attempts to reassert local control over mineral wealth).