An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List
Top 10 Referenced Books
The Twelve Caesars
Suetonius
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Edward Gibbon
The Histories
Herodotus
Parallel Lives
Plutarch
1066 and All That
W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman
Citizens
Simon Schama
Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad
I, Claudius
Robert Graves
The Iliad
Homer
Top 10 Referenced Authors
Most Book-Dense Episodes
14. Historical Fiction
Jan 11, 2021
185. Agatha Christie
May 16, 2022
367. The Real Harry Potter: Magic, Empire and Beastly Bullies
Sep 10, 2023
70. Children’s History
Jul 05, 2021
85. Sherlock Holmes
Aug 12, 2021
101. James Bond
Sep 27, 2021
560. The Golden Age of Japan: Lady Murasaki and the Shining Prince (Part 1)
Apr 27, 2025
26. Witches
Feb 25, 2021
541. Heart of Darkness: Fear and Loathing in the Congo
Feb 20, 2025
442. Lord Byron: Dangerous Liaisons (Part 3)
Apr 21, 2024
Highly Praised Books
Books described as "brilliant," "best," "recommend," and other praise words
London in the Nineteenth Century: A Human Awful Wonder of God
Jerry White
"Described as 'Jerry White's brilliant book on 19th century London' when discussing the undercurrent of anti-semitism in East End neighborhoods during this period and the context of Jewish immigration."
625. Jack The Ripper: Horror in Whitechapel (Part 2)The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain
Stephen Bungay
"Dominic describes it as 'a brilliant book on the Battle of Britain' and quotes from it regarding German lieutenant Hans Otto Lessing's letters to his parents"
623. The Nazis at War: Churchill’s Finest Hour (Part 4)John and Paul
Ian Leslie
"Conan discusses this book when talking about the Beatles' musical influences, specifically mentioning that Ian Leslie points out how early Beatles music was influenced by doo-wop groups and female groups. Conan describes it as 'the best Beatles book that's been written in quite a while' and praises Leslie's insights about the Beatles' vocal abilities and harmonies."
The Beatles: The Band that Changed the World, with Conan O’Brien (Part 1)The Fall of France: The Nazi Invasion of 1940
Julian Jackson
"Described as 'a great historian' who 'has written a brilliant book on the fall of France' - referenced multiple times for his analysis that France lost due to bad intelligence and tactics rather than social sickness"
622. The Nazis at War: The Fall of France (Part 3)Elizabeth I: A Study in Insecurity
Helen Castor
"Referenced as 'a brilliant short biography of Elizabeth' when discussing Elizabeth I's speech at the Tower of London comparing herself to Daniel in the lion's den. The hosts quote from Castor's analysis of Elizabeth's rhetoric."
619. Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen (Part 4)Acts and Monuments of These Latter and Perilous Days, Touching Matters of the Church (Fox's Book of Martyrs)
John Fox
"Described as 'the Tudor number one bestseller' and 'one of the foundational texts of English national identity.' Published in 1563, it describes the persecution of Protestants under Mary Tudor. Referenced multiple times throughout the episode."
618. Elizabeth I: The Shadow of the Tower (Part 3)Tudor England
Lucy Wooding
"Described as 'her wonderful introduction to Tudor England' and 'the best single volume on Tudor England that there is.' Quoted regarding Mary's conviction that she was ruling an essentially Catholic country."
618. Elizabeth I: The Shadow of the Tower (Part 3)Burghley: William Cecil at the Court of Elizabeth I
Stephen Olford
"Referenced as 'Stephen Olford, who wrote a brilliant book on the person that Elizabeth is meeting at Somerset House' - a book about William Cecil, described as 'the cleverest young man in Tudor politics.'"
618. Elizabeth I: The Shadow of the Tower (Part 3)Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth
Tracy Borman
"Recommended by the hosts as being 'really, really good on the whole subject' of exploring the nuances of Elizabeth's relationship with and memory of her mother Anne Boleyn."
617. Elizabeth I: Anne Boleyn's Bastard (Part 2)Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Forever Changed British History
Tracy Borman
"Referenced as 'Tracy Borman, she wrote a brilliant book on Anne Boleyn and her relationship to Elizabeth.' Used when discussing Anne Boleyn's fashion sense and describing her 'irresistible je ne sais quoi.'"
616. Elizabeth I: The Fall of the Axe (Part 1)| Book | Author | Praise | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| London in the Nineteenth Century: A Human Awful Wonder of God | Jerry White |
"Described as 'Jerry White's brilliant book on 19th century London' when discussing the undercurrent of anti-semitism in East End neighborhoods during this period and the context of Jewish immigration." |
625. Jack The Ripper: Horror in Whitechapel (Part 2) |
| The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain | Stephen Bungay |
"Dominic describes it as 'a brilliant book on the Battle of Britain' and quotes from it regarding German lieutenant Hans Otto Lessing's letters to his parents" |
623. The Nazis at War: Churchill’s Finest Hour (Part 4) |
| John and Paul | Ian Leslie |
"Conan discusses this book when talking about the Beatles' musical influences, specifically mentioning that Ian Leslie points out how early Beatles music was influenced by doo-wop groups and female groups. Conan describes it as 'the best Beatles book that's been written in quite a while' and praises Leslie's insights about the Beatles' vocal abilities and harmonies." |
The Beatles: The Band that Changed the World, with Conan O’Brien (Part 1) |
| The Fall of France: The Nazi Invasion of 1940 | Julian Jackson |
"Described as 'a great historian' who 'has written a brilliant book on the fall of France' - referenced multiple times for his analysis that France lost due to bad intelligence and tactics rather than social sickness" |
622. The Nazis at War: The Fall of France (Part 3) |
| Elizabeth I: A Study in Insecurity | Helen Castor |
"Referenced as 'a brilliant short biography of Elizabeth' when discussing Elizabeth I's speech at the Tower of London comparing herself to Daniel in the lion's den. The hosts quote from Castor's analysis of Elizabeth's rhetoric." |
619. Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen (Part 4) |
| Acts and Monuments of These Latter and Perilous Days, Touching Matters of the Church (Fox's Book of Martyrs) | John Fox |
"Described as 'the Tudor number one bestseller' and 'one of the foundational texts of English national identity.' Published in 1563, it describes the persecution of Protestants under Mary Tudor. Referenced multiple times throughout the episode." |
618. Elizabeth I: The Shadow of the Tower (Part 3) |
| Tudor England | Lucy Wooding |
"Described as 'her wonderful introduction to Tudor England' and 'the best single volume on Tudor England that there is.' Quoted regarding Mary's conviction that she was ruling an essentially Catholic country." |
618. Elizabeth I: The Shadow of the Tower (Part 3) |
| Burghley: William Cecil at the Court of Elizabeth I | Stephen Olford |
"Referenced as 'Stephen Olford, who wrote a brilliant book on the person that Elizabeth is meeting at Somerset House' - a book about William Cecil, described as 'the cleverest young man in Tudor politics.'" |
618. Elizabeth I: The Shadow of the Tower (Part 3) |
| Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth | Tracy Borman |
"Recommended by the hosts as being 'really, really good on the whole subject' of exploring the nuances of Elizabeth's relationship with and memory of her mother Anne Boleyn." |
617. Elizabeth I: Anne Boleyn's Bastard (Part 2) |
| Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Forever Changed British History | Tracy Borman |
"Referenced as 'Tracy Borman, she wrote a brilliant book on Anne Boleyn and her relationship to Elizabeth.' Used when discussing Anne Boleyn's fashion sense and describing her 'irresistible je ne sais quoi.'" |
616. Elizabeth I: The Fall of the Axe (Part 1) |