Help a fella out, will you?
I've been thinking recently that, for all that I consider myself a relatively intelligent bloke, as far as that goes, I'm sorely lacking in the old 'book learning'. I coasted through GCSE's, dropped out without finishing A levels and haven't looked back since.
So I've decided to add a non-fiction book to my rotation. As it stands I always read a scifi then a fantasy/horror, then a real world (thriller or historical etc.) and then repeat but I'm looking to add something a bit edumacational in the middle of that.
Ideally, to begin with, a history series. I was thinking a history of Britain, either a book per century or book per monarch type of deal. I'm looking for something that can tread the fine line between being so dry and academic as to bore the layman, and being so dumbed down as to patronise anyone with half a brain.
I know from comments on various threads that there are a few on here that are quite well read in these areas and was hoping for some recomendations. And just to be awkward, nothing too obscure please, as I'll be relying on my local library to get them for me and they aren't the best.
Thanks in advance for any help (and I won't be offended if I don't hear anything straight away because I know we'd all rather be looking at a certain picture on a certain other thread tonight).
I've been thinking recently that, for all that I consider myself a relatively intelligent bloke, as far as that goes, I'm sorely lacking in the old 'book learning'. I coasted through GCSE's, dropped out without finishing A levels and haven't looked back since.
So I've decided to add a non-fiction book to my rotation. As it stands I always read a scifi then a fantasy/horror, then a real world (thriller or historical etc.) and then repeat but I'm looking to add something a bit edumacational in the middle of that.
Ideally, to begin with, a history series. I was thinking a history of Britain, either a book per century or book per monarch type of deal. I'm looking for something that can tread the fine line between being so dry and academic as to bore the layman, and being so dumbed down as to patronise anyone with half a brain.
I know from comments on various threads that there are a few on here that are quite well read in these areas and was hoping for some recomendations. And just to be awkward, nothing too obscure please, as I'll be relying on my local library to get them for me and they aren't the best.
Thanks in advance for any help (and I won't be offended if I don't hear anything straight away because I know we'd all rather be looking at a certain picture on a certain other thread tonight).