What Are The Best Affordable History Books in 2025

A hardcover non-fiction history book on human evolution.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is a best-selling book that delves into the history of humankind from the earliest humans to walk the earth to the radical breakthroughs of the Cognitive, Agricultural, and Scientific revolutions. Written by renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari, this book is well-researched and compellingly presented. It challenges readers to reconsider accepted beliefs, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and view the future.

A paperback non-fiction history book on scientific discoveries.

In A Short History of Nearly Everything, bestselling author Bill Bryson explores the most intriguing and consequential questions that science seeks to answer and attempts to understand everything that has transpired from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization. He accomplishes this with a perfect balance of amusement, insight, and clarity without the jargon. This book is a quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization.

A paperback non-fiction history book on pre-Columbian Americas.

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus is a groundbreaking study of what North and South America were really like before European contact. Written by Charles C. Mann, it explores the latest research by archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians to draw a compellingly different picture of the Americas than the traditional one. It's a fascinating book that challenges what we thought we knew about the history of the Americas.

Pulitzer Prize-winning book examining the history of human societies.

In Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond convincingly argues that geographical and environmental factors shaped the modern world. The book dissects the origins of stark disparities in technological development among different societies and offers a compelling answer to the question of why some societies have advanced and conquered others throughout the history of the world.

A paperback non-fiction history book on Nazi Germany.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich offers an unparalleled and thrillingly told examination of how Adolf Hitler nearly succeeded in conquering the world. With millions of copies in print around the globe, it has become a vital part of any personal library. The book's author, William L. Shirer, has a unique perspective on Hitler's reign, as he was a reporter who directly witnessed many of the events.

Eye-opening historical account focusing on the significance of the Silk Roads.

In The Silk Roads, Peter Frankopan takes us on an extraordinary journey, retracing the routes of the Silk Roads to reveal a global history that places the East at the center. He shows how, throughout history, the fate of the West has always been linked to the East. The book upends the conventional Eurocentric view of history by shifting focus to the East and the pivotal role it played in shaping the world as we know it.

A paperback non-fiction history book on U.S. history.

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn is a powerful and controversial reinterpretation of American history, told from the perspective of the people. Covering numerous unreported events and truths about America's past, Zinn presents a side of history that can challenge your perspective and understanding. The book is engaging, thought-provoking, and a must-read for those interested in understanding American history from a different viewpoint.

Award-winning history book on the Great Migration in America.

In The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities in search of a better life. This exodus changed the face of America, and Wilkerson brilliantly captures the journey of three individuals who made the trip, lending a personal touch to this grand historical narrative.