Person
Every book Dan Jones recommended on podcasts
Dan Jones appears on podcasts as a vibrant global historian whose literary interests are deeply rooted in historical research, experimental archaeology, and classic narrative literature. Throughout his discussions, Jones emphasizes books that reshape our understanding of the past and offer rich long-form reading experiences. He recommended Mike Pitts's 'How to Build Stonehenge,' praising it as a brilliant work that utilizes experimental archaeology and theory to come remarkably close to explaining how the ancient monument was constructed. Additionally, he highlighted Valerie Hansen's 'The Year 1000' to illustrate the surprisingly interconnected and globalized nature of medieval travel, noting its argument that goods could travel globally around the time of the Vikings. Beyond specialized historical studies, Jones shared a profound appreciation for classic Russian literature, explaining how a recommendation prompted him to embark on a slow-burn reading jag through Leo Tolstoy's masterpieces 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina.' He praised these epics for being constructed in a way that allows readers to digest them piecemeal over extended periods, reflecting his methodical and deeply appreciative approach to historical storytelling. Through these selections, Jones showcases an affinity for rigorous academic history paired with timeless, expansive literary classics that demand patient engagement.
Books recommended by Dan Jones
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How to Build Stonehenge
How to Build Stonehenge by Mike Pitts is an archaeological study that investigates the mysteries surrounding the construction of the famous prehistoric monument, combining modern scientific theories with practical experiments.
Recommended“and there's there was a great book called How to build Stonehenge which came out two years ago which really got close to okay this is I think this is how we can get quite close to how sort of a bit of experimental archaeology a bit of sort of theory”
Where to get it
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War and Peace
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a monumental literary masterpiece that chronicles Russian society, family life, and the dramatic historical events surrounding the Napoleonic Wars.
Recommended“and I'd try and read his substack read his because I think he's an original thinker um and a good and interesting writer and he blogged a few years ago quite a few years ago now maybe four years ago about Tolstoy and I've I went on a real slow burn Tolstoy Jag through War and Peace and anakaren because”
Where to get it
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War and Peace
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a monumental historical epic chronicling Russian society, aristocracy, and military struggles during the Napoleonic era.
Recommended“He blogged quite a few years ago, maybe four years ago now, about Tolstoy, and I went on a real slow burn Tolstoy jag through 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina.'”
Where to get it
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The Year 1000
The Year 1000 by Valerie Hansen is a popular history book that explores how globalization began centuries earlier than commonly thought, arguing that around the turn of the first millennium, human societies across different continents were already interconnected through trade, exploration, and cultural exchange.
Discussed“and then you'll you know there's you know a lot of global history historians now would say well Valerie Hansen was the most popular um book recently well no actually a product you know around the time of the Vikings could theoretically travel from the Americas all the way around you know yeah the entire world”
Where to get it
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Sapiens
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari is a popular science book that chronicles the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the modern era, examining how biology and culture have shaped human societies.
Discussed“There was a—I never finished Sapiens, and I opened it up on my Audible on a plane and I realized why I bailed out of a particular chapter that I'd been deep in, and it was talking about the unfair gender inequality that was sort of replete throughout humanity's heritage.”
Where to get it
Books Dan Jones wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| How Old Is Stoicism? | Dan Jones | The Daily Stoic | 2024-11-20 | 4 |
| The Untold Story Of England’s Greatest King - Dan Jones - #852 | Modern Wisdom | 2024-10-17 | 5 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“so early in my career I wrote a book called The plantagenets and that was like a dynastic history of the great English medieval Dynasty that started in the 1150s with Henry II founder of the Dynasty and worked up to II who was deposed in 1399”