20 Military history books and memoirs worth your time

From D-Day to drone warfare: definitive reads on modern conflict

If you’ve ever wanted to understand not just what happened in war, but why it happened, and how it felt to those who lived through it, military history is essential reading. These twenty books, focused on World War II and beyond, combine rigorous research with vivid storytelling. Some are sweeping epics; others zoom in on a single battle, soldier, or decision. All of them illuminate the wars that shaped the world we live in today.

20 War Novels that stay with you

Today is 6th June, marking the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings. D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history and a turning point in World War II. A perfect opportunity to reflect only on how war has shaped and scarred the human story.

War novels, at their best, are not just about battlefields, but about the people who move through them, the memories they shoulder, and the hope that flickers even in the darkest hours. 

Here are twenty novels, not only from World War II, but also from other conflicts, that shine a light and tell stories about conflict, compassion, and endurance. Each comes with a quote—a shard of truth, if you like—and a reason to read.

The BookTok Effect: Why is The Secret History still so popular?

One of the most talked-about books on TikTok is Donna Tartt's The Secret History. More than 30 years after its publication, it remains a novel that continues to attract readers and spark debate. Not to mention attracting a new generation of readers. 

It’s a campus novel, a murder mystery, a character study, and a cult classic all in one — and it’s particularly resonant for a generation obsessed with aesthetics, identity, and the allure of darkness.

So what makes The Secret History so enduring?

The Great American Novel: 15 books that define a nation

Last time I wrote about what the Great American Novel is, where it came from and whether it was still needed or even possible.

Everyone, including me, has their own definition of the Great American Novel. But at its heart, the idea is simple: a book that captures the spirit, contradictions, and complexity of America.

An important qualifying factor is that it is not only about literary brilliance. It’s more than that. It’s about resonance. The novels below reflect the American psyche, telling us who we are, who we were, and sometimes who we want to be.

What is the Great American Novel – and does it still matter?

One of the questions I’m endlessly fascinated by when it comes to literature is The Great American Novel.

It is so evocative, and carries such weight. It's more than a slogan — it signals ambition, scope, and the desire to say something profound about the American experience. But what exactly is it? Where did the term come from? Why do writers still chase it and why are we still talking about it.    

The fake summer reading list: AI, outrage, and the decline of trust

This story is so wild. It started, as these things often do, with a list. A sunny-season tradition: the trusted newspaper summer reading list. But this year, one went viral for all the wrong reasons.

The Chicago Sun-Times published a feature recommending new books for summer 2025. Just five of the 15 titles were real. Ray Bradbury wrote Dandelion Wine, Jess Walter penned Beautiful Ruins and Françoise Sagan  Bonjour Tristesse.

The rest? Pure fiction. Literally. Titles like Tidewater Dreams by Isabel Allende (which she never wrote) and The Rainmakers by Pulitzer-winner Percival Everett (also fake) were invented by AI and published as if they were real.

Why Hemingway still matters

This year will be sixty-three years since Ernest Hemingway took his own life. He was 61 and a towering presence in literature. His life was marked by enormous creativity, public myth, and private suffering. Six decades later, his literary legacy remains undiminished. Hemingway wasn’t just one of the great American novelists of the 20th century. He changed the way fiction was written.

His influence on modern writing is unparalleled. He revolutionised the short story, made dialogue sharper and more lifelike, and proved that what you leave out is just as important as what you put in.

That’s why, if you are not already, you should be reading him. If you’re unsure where to begin or have questions, continue reading.