One of the most rewarding genres for me is the diary / journal, which I think is essentially the exact opposite of the “give me the Wikipedia summary of facts” approach. The typical journal is filled with a ton of information about what the author ate, whom he met, what various activities he did that day, etc. - and for this reason I find it infinitely more historically insightful than a nonfiction summary of facts book.

Writing a journal used to be more of a common thing that educated people did, but nowadays I guess social media is too big of a distraction…not the mention the question of whether anyone would read a journal as opposed to the simplified sloganeered book public figures typically put out today.

For some specific recommendations: I am about halfway through Harry Kessler’s 1890-1915 journals, and I just started George H. W. Bush’s journal on his time in China. Both are pretty insightful so far.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_von_Kessler

2. https://www.amazon.com/China-Diary-George-Bush-President/dp/...