The Library's history section is a treasure trove, full of fascinating stories of how we got where we are today. Mixed among the more popular titles, there are some hidden gems waiting for you to discover them. These are the history books oft forgotten to time, but you can check them out and learn something new while reliving some of history's most exciting moments!

Lost to Time: Unforgettable Stories That History Forgot by Martin W. Sandler

Call Number: 904 S

Sometimes a major story slips through the cracks. You might not have heard of the 8th century slave Ziryab, but his influence on everything from music to fashion and even tableware design can be felt even 1,200 years later. Did you know there was a 12th century city on the Rio Grande that was bigger than any European city at the time? This book is full of the tales we should know, but which were somehow lost in the shuffle over the years!
 

Brassey's Book of Sieges by William Seymour

Call Number: 904.7 S

Siege warcraft was a huge part of history, but is often overlooked for the more popular battle narrative. This book provides a stunning look at some of history's biggest sieges, providing vivid accounts of these examples of ingenuity, technology, and ultimately bloodshed. There are bonus chapters on siege mechanics and even travel guides to the sites of these battles!

Technologies of History: Visual Media and the Eccentricity of the Past by Steve F. Anderson

Call Number: 900 A

How do we construct our history? How does media, from scrolls to video games, contribute to our understanding of history and its impact on our present and future? This book explores the tools we use to interact with our past, but not in a dry, textbook sort of way: mockumentaries, found footage films, Star Trek and gaming are all discussed!
 

Disaster! A History of Earthquakes, Floods, Plagues, and Other Catastrophies by John Withington

Call Number: 909 W

Some find it comforting that as bad as things might seem, history has always been full of disasters. Through earthquakes, plagues and despots, humanity has always faced its frailty on the planet with a determination to survive. Some challenges are forced upon us, while others are of our own making. Be they natural or manmade, disasters have always fascinated us, and this book is a colorful catalog of catastrophe! 
 

Walter's Welcome: The Intimate Story of a German-Jewish Family's Flight From the Nazis to Peru by Eva Neisser Echenberg  

Call Number: 909.0492 E

In the 1930's Walter Neisser helped more than 50 of his family members escape from Nazi Germany. This memoir-in-letters between family members tells the tale of a family determined to save themselves, organized by a man who himself managed to flee persecution. From his new Home in Lima, Peru, Walter and his family managed to navigate the labyrinthian challenge of securing the right papers from the right officials from half a world away, while setting up a large electronics business in his new city
 

The Cave and the Light: Plato Versus Aristotle, and the Struggle for the Soul of Western Civilization by Arthur Herman

Call number: 909.0982 H

Calling all philosophy fans: This is a must read account of one of Western philosophy's most productive rivalries. Though schooled in Plato's Academy, Aristotle had some very different ideas on what being a lover of knowledge (a philosopher) meant. He even went so far as to open the Lyceum, a school rivaling Plato's. The resulting competition between the institutions and their founders created ideas that inspired the heroes and villains of history, and shape our modern society to this day!

Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!