An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

By Episodes

666. Wine and the Birth of Civilisation

May 04, 2026

What does The Odyssey teach us about the history of wine in the ancient world? How did Julius Caesar use wine to conquer the world? And, why was The Judgement of Paris - when America took on...
2 books
665. Britain in the 70s: The Bailout from Hell (Part 4)

April 30, 2026

How did the new British Prime Minister, Jim Callaghan, intend to keep Britain from bankruptcy in 1976? What extreme new step might have seen riots in the streets? And, would labour survive the...
2 books
664. Britain in the 70s: Scandal in Downing Street (Part 3)

April 27, 2026

With Britain heading towards financial meltdown and paranoia in the air, could its exhausted Prime Minister, Harold Wilson survive? Why were bombs going off in London every few days in the winter...
3 books
663. Britain in the 70s: The Brexit That Never Was (Part 2)

April 23, 2026

In the Spring of 1975, why was the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, so embattled? Why was the left so divided during this period? And, was Britain’s relationship with Europe already fracturing…?...
0 books
662. Britain in the 70s: The Rise of Thatcher (Part 1)

April 20, 2026

How did Margaret Thatcher rise to become leader of the Conservative Party in Britain? Why were British politics so tumultuous in the 1970s? And, who was Thatcher up against? Join Dominic and Tom...
5 books
661. Dawn of the Samurai: The Shōgun Triumphant (Part 4)

April 16, 2026

Who was the greatest female Samurai warrior of all time? What would unfold in the next phase of the terrible civil war between the Minamoto and the Taira dynasties? And, how did the Samurai...
1 book
660. Dawn of the Samurai: Japan’s Greatest Warrior (Part 3)

April 13, 2026

Who was Yoshitsune, one of the greatest generals in all Japanese history? What part did he play in the ferocious Samurai civil war between the Minamoto clan and the Taira? And, who would win the...
2 books
659. Dawn of the Samurai: Bloodbath at the Bridge (Part 2)

April 09, 2026

Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only...
3 books
Music: The Father of the Blues, Golden Age of Jazz, and David Bowie | History in Photos

April 08, 2026

**Unlock the full episode and the complete History in Photos mini series by joining The Rest Is History Club at therestishistory.com** Why are there only three confirmed photographs of...
1 book
658. Dawn of the Samurai: The Shadow of the Sword (Part 1)

April 06, 2026

Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only...
5 books
657. The Ku Klux Klan: American Fascists (Part 4)

April 02, 2026

After resurrecting in 1915, how did the Ku Klux Klan make its move on the next major American election? What was the role of women in the Klan? And, would this violent organisation finally meet...
3 books
Revolutions: Iran, the Prague Spring, and Ceaușescu’s Fall | History in Photos

April 01, 2026

**Unlock the full episode and the complete History in Photos mini series by joining The Rest Is History Club at therestishistory.com⁠** In what ways did Abbas’ identity grant him unique access to...
0 books
656. The Ku Klux Klan: Birth of a Nation (Part 3)

March 30, 2026

How did the second incarnation of the clan, born in Georgia in 1915, grow into a seemingly indomitable nation-wide fraternal organisation, numbering millions? Who were its new targets? And, with...
4 books
655. The Ku Klux Klan: Terror in the South (Part 2)

March 26, 2026

How and why did the terrible violence of the Ku Klux Klan escalate? What was the political context in America for their rising popularity? And, how was this first iteration of the Klan finally...
2 books
654. The Ku Klux Klan: The Rise of Evil (Part 1)

March 23, 2026

How did the three iterations of the Ku Klux Klan come into being in 1866, 1915, and the late 1940s? What was the impact of the American Civil War and the Abolition of slavery in 1863 on the rise...
1 book
653. London’s Golden Age: The Shadow of the Madhouse (Part 4)

March 19, 2026

Who did Samuel Johnson fall in love with towards the end of his life, and why did it break his heart? How did it enrage his old friend James Boswell? And, why did he fear imprisonment in an...
2 books
652. London’s Golden Age: The Ghosts of Culloden (Part 3)

March 16, 2026

What adventures occurred during Samuel Johnson and James Boswell’s journey into the heart of Scotland? How was their trip a gateway to the history of Scotland’s union with England in 1707? And,...
2 books
651. London’s Golden Age: Sex and Scandal in Georgian Britain (Part 2)

March 12, 2026

Why was London such a cauldron of sexual scandal and political tumult in the 18th century? What licentious escapades did the infamous Scottish nobleman, James Boswell, get up to there? And, how...
2 books
650. London’s Golden Age: The Mad Life of Dr Johnson (Part 1)

March 09, 2026

Who was Samuel Johnson, the dominant literary celebrity of 18th century London and the man who wrote the Dictionary? Why did his friendship with James Boswell, a sex and celebrity obsessed, but...
4 books
649. The Fall of the Incas: The Last Emperor (Part 6)

March 05, 2026

With the Incan emperor on the run, and the Spanish divided, what atrocities would unfold in the final phase of this brutal conquest? Who would triumph, Francisco Pizarro or his brutal former...
5 books