Here is our curated list of the 7 best social history books that will give you a fascinating glimpse into the lives of ordinary people throughout history.
This page contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using links on this page, we may earn a commission.
The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson
The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration
Published in 2010 by Random House
A chronicle of the Great Migration, the movement of millions of African Americans from the South to the North and West between 1915 and 1970. Wilkerson tells the stories of three individuals who made the journey and uses their experiences to explore the social, economic, and political factors that drove the migration, as well as its impact on both the South and the North.
A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn
Published in 1980
A revisionist history of the United States that focuses on the experiences of ordinary people, rather than the exploits of great leaders. Zinn examines the struggles of workers, minorities, and other marginalized groups, and argues that American history has been shaped by their resistance to oppression.
A Distant Mirror, by Barbara Tuchman
The Calamitous 14th Century
Published in 1978 by Random House
A Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the 14th century, one of the most tumultuous periods in European history. Tuchman examines the social, political, and economic forces that led to the Black Death, the Hundred Years’ War, and the Great Schism, and explores how these events shaped European society for centuries to come.
The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England, by Ian Mortimer
A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century
Published in 2008
A fascinating look at everyday life in medieval England. Mortimer provides detailed information on everything from food and clothing to travel and entertainment. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about the Middle Ages.
The Cheese and the Worms, by Carlo Ginzburg
The Cosmos of a Sixteenth-Century Miller
Published in 1976 by John Hopkins University Press.
A groundbreaking work of microhistory that examines the life and beliefs of a sixteenth-century miller named Menocchio. Ginzburg shows how Menocchio’s beliefs were shaped by the popular culture of his time, and how they challenged the dominant Catholic orthodoxy.
The Victorian City, by Judith Flanders
Everyday Life in Dickens’ London
Published in 2012
The Victorian City by Judith Flanders is a vivid account of everyday life in Victorian London. Flanders explores everything from work and leisure to crime and punishment. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Victorian England.
At Home, by Bill Bryson
A Short History of Private Life
Published in 2010 by Doubleday
At Home by Bill Bryson is a fascinating look at the history of the home, from the earliest human dwellings to the modern American house. Bryson explores how the home has evolved over time to reflect the changing needs and values of society, and examines how the places where we live have shaped our culture and our way of life.
More info or check out more Bill Bryson books here
I hope this list of the best social history books has given you some good ideas for your next read!
