Another good one by Niall Ferguson The Pity of War (a revisionist evaluation of the Great War, approaching it through a series of general questions. Not a narrative, it attempts to overturn a number of "myths" about the war. Very stimulating.) Hey people, while it isn't completely military history but I highly recommend (Body of Secrets) by James Bamford. It chronicles the NSA from cold war to the present. It a is a nice read about the intelligence arm that backs the military up.