Reading on a camping trip is something a lot of people look forward to. Being in the peace and quiet of nature just pairs well with reading a good book. Personally, I think history books are the best kind of books to read while camping.
That’s because camping is about as primitive as we get in society today. You’re sleeping on the ground, living from the land, sitting around campfires for warmth. This allows you to connect differently with a historic novel as you can more fully comprehend their daily struggles. It’s a fun getaway for your mind to pretend you’re in a different time and place.
Below are 6 suggestions for history books that you might enjoy on a camping trip. Because I don’t just like reading books by professors, they also range from more biographical tales to old magazine articles and a lot in between. History should be fun and interesting, not 300 pages of dull factoids. So spice it up!
1. General History - Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
While you can find many scholars who have researched specific parts of human history, it is unique to read something that accounts for all of human history. That is what Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind accomplishes. It is unique amongst other history books in that it explains the evolution of how humans developed society and culture over thousands of years. It explains why we are the way we are and the historical factors that influence us to become who we are today.
That’s a bold claim but one that is ultimately delivered. Sapiens is a #1 international bestseller written by Yuval Noah Harrari, who received his PhD from Oxford University and is currently a professor for the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Coming in at 464 pages, it is a longer read than others on this list. But it’s well worth the time and you’ll find the pages fly by.
This book changed my life, the way I think, the way I precept the world. I think it should be an obligatory book for everyone on this planet. – Liad Magen, Goodreads
2. From Their Perspective - Harper's Weekly
A good history book does require a good deal of focus and attention, as there are many dates, people, events, and information thrown around you have to keep track of. Sometimes you want something a little easier on the mind. In my opinion, the best way to cure that itch is to read Harper’s Weekly.
Harper’s Weekly, A Journal of Civilization, was an American political magazine that ran from 1857 to 1916. Founded in New York City, the magazine is a great representation of American viewpoints on the politics of the day, all the way from the Civil War to the beginnings of World War I. And thanks to HarpWeek – a database has been created which contains every issue that you can search to find anything that meets your interest.
Unfortunately, accessing the database is not always straightforward. Generally you do need specialized credentials to access – which most commonly can be met through an account with a University or available at your local library. But it’s well worth trying to get access, as the material is endless and always interesting.
If you don’t want to go through the hassle, there are still several sub-indexes that have been created which are free to access. You can find them all here.
3. A Novel & A History - The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
If you’re looking for a history book that reads more like a novel than a lecture, you’ll be interested in The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder. The novel is set in the mid 1700s and follows the bizarre but true story of English sailors who become stranded on an island and devolve into utter anarchy. Somehow, two factions manage to survive and come back to civilization, but they have very different stories to tell of what happened. Which one is the truth?
The Wager is written by David Grann, widely known as the author of Killers of the Flower Moon for which the movie was created. The 352 page book has also received several awards, including the Goodreads Choice Award for #1 History Book of 2023. I personally waited months for it to become available at my local library and finished it in a weekend. It was so captivating!
I’m gonna make this quick and easy: This is a wonderful, can’t-put-it-down book. – Bruce Katz, Goodreads
4. Learn from an Emperor - Meditations
While this entry may arguably be a book of philosophy, I believe being written by Marcus Aurelius, who lived from 121-180 AD, makes this a history book. Aurelius was a Roman Emperor for approximately 20 years and is known as the last of the 5 Good Emperors, a colloquial term for the period of 5 rulers who oversaw the height of the Roman Empire.
However, what makes Aurelius unique in our times is that he kept a diary of his philosophical musings. That is essentially what Mediations is, a book full of personally kept writings Aurelius never intended to have published. He used them as reflective exercises to understand himself and make sense of the universe.
Now, we can read them not only for insight into ourselves, but insight into what philosophy ruled the heights of the Roman Empire. Based strongly in the Greek traditions which are much more widely known from Socrates or Aristotle, Meditations is some of the only known philosophical work to come from the Roman Empire.
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
5. A Mystery History Book - The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
If you’re interested in murder/mystery podcasts, you’ll probably be interested in The Devil in the White City. The book details two stories simultaneously: the building of the 1893 Worlds’ Fair in Chicago and the escapades of H.H. Holmes, a Chicago serial killer active from 1891 to 1894. The two stories unwittingly collide and paint a unique picture of American life at the turn of the century.
Written by Erik Larson, the book won an Edgar award for fact-crime writing and the rights have been acquired by Leonardo DiCaprio to make a feature film based on the book. At 447 pages, it is a longer entry in this list but I believe it reads much shorter than its page length due to its easy-flowing style.
Larson shows a talent for historical writing. I highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys true crime and history, of course, but even if you usually prefer fiction, you’ll probably still find this book of great interest!! – Julie, Goodreads
6. From the Darkest Days - The Diary of a Young Girl
Most of us have heard the story of Anne Frank, though I doubt many of us have read the Diary for which she became famous. In 1942, Anne was a 13 year old Jewish girl who was forced to flee her home in Amsterdam to escape Nazi control. She lived with her family in the “Secret Annexe” of an old office building in hiding for about 2 years. Eventually her location was revealed, and she would be forced into a concentration camp where she died.
During those two years of hiding, Anne kept a diary. It was left behind when the family was evacuated to concentration camps, but two friends of the family were able to retrieve it before Nazi’s confiscated all further belongings. After the war, the diary was returned to Anne’s father who decided to have it published. Today, millions have read her writings for a first-hand account of what Nazi occupation was like for the many Jewish people who suffered under their reign.
“It’s really a wonder that I haven’t dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” – Anne Frank, Diary of A Young Girl
Conclusion
Do you have a recommendation for a good history book to read while camping? Then leave your comment below! Also make sure to share this blog with your friends and family who like history, camping, and all wonderful things outdoors!