An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

John Hemming

1 book referenced

Books by John Hemming

The Conquest of the Incas

Referenced in 5 episodes

649. The Fall of the Incas: The Last Emperor (Part 6)

March 05, 2026

Context:

Described as a 'brilliant, brilliant book on the conquest of the Incas' that the hosts 'can't recommend too highly.' Quoted multiple times, including Hemming calling Manco 'an indomitable patriot' and his comparison of Vilcabamba to Lesotho, Swaziland, and Botswana.

648. The Fall of the Incas: Battle for the Sacred City (Part 5)

March 02, 2026

Context:

Dominic repeatedly references this as 'his brilliant book about the conquest of Peru' when discussing how Manco had to restore Inca cult and administration, and later quotes from it about the Incas' organizational abilities and Spanish technological advantages.

646. The Fall of the Incas: Death to the Emperor (Part 3)

February 23, 2026

Context:

Referenced as a 'brilliant book' that makes excellent points about the conquest of Peru, including how Europeans had usually arrived multiple times before conquest, unlike in Peru where the Spanish did it all in one go.

The Fall of the Incas: Massacre in the Andes (Part 2)

February 19, 2026

Context:

Referred to as 'his brilliant book' multiple times, cited for details about casualty estimates at Cajamarca and the scene of Pizarro dining with the captured Atahualpa.

543. Death in the Amazon: Aguirre, the Wrath of God

February 27, 2025

Context:

Referenced as 'a brilliant book about the fall of the Incas' written by 'the great historian of the Amazon' - Hemming is quoted describing Aguirre as 'simply cruel, psychopathic, a man of unmitigated evil'