Avoid being Sir Isaac Newtown!
Sir Isaac Newtown was one of the greatest scientists who ever lived. But he didn’t have it easy; he survived plague, civil war and poverty to become a Professor of Mathematics at 26! He went on to live an amazing life and make many important discoveries that changed science forever.
Awesome Adventures at the Smithsonian
This is the official guide to the Smithsonian Institution, which is not just one but a collection of museums mostly located in Washington D.C. There are exhibitions on everything, from human flight (The National Air and Space Museum) to the origins of human life ( National Museum of Natural History.) While this would be a great book to take on a trip to the U.S.A, it’s really interesting to read in its own right.
ANZAC Day The New Zealand story : what it is and why it matters
This is an important book about New Zealand’s role in World War I. Although it does talk about Gallipoli, it also mentions other places that New Zealanders fought, such as the Western front. The Maori and Pacific Island soldiers who fought are also discussed. The book also looks at what happened after the war; what life for the soldiers who came back was like, how the dead were memorialised and the first ANZAC day services.
Dogs: a very peculiar history
This is a great little book will tell you all about the history of dogs, from the wild dogs that our ancestors domesticated to the pampered pooches of today’s top celebrities. Not only will this book tell you the history of dogs, it also explains their doggy behaviors and quirks. Also included are stories about heroic dogs, fictional dogs and movie star dogs! Basically this is a great book for you canine lovers. However, if you’re more of a cat person, there’s also Cats: A very peculiar history.
The Book of Blood
A lot less gruesome than its name suggests, this book will tell you everything you need or want to know about blood. As well as looking at the science of blood, this book also takes a look at what people in the past thought about blood (and how it worked) and how that changed over time. There’s also some really interesting sections on bloodsuckers, from the real ones, like mosquitoes to the fictional, like vampires. It’s a well written book with great pictures and lots of interesting information.
The Arab-Israeli conflict
The Arab-Israeli conflict is one of the most contentious issues of our time and sometimes it’s hard to know what to think. This book lays out the history of the conflict and how it’s shaped international relationships.
Medicine through the Ages: Modern, Renaissance, Medieval and Industrial Age
These are some really fantastic books about how medicine changed and developed over time. They’re extremely informative, and filled with great (if gory!) illustrations. They’re a bit more serious than books like the Horrible Histories, but they’re still very interesting and worth a read.
