Jeffrey.Reads.History📚
banner
jwshoemaker.bsky.social
Jeffrey.Reads.History📚
@jwshoemaker.bsky.social
Focused on thoughtful reviews of history & nonfiction, with occasional explorations into fiction. Dedicated to highlighting insightful reads.

Book Club
https://fable.co/jeffreyreads-497619047474

Find me on Substack
https://jeffreyreadsalot.substack.com/
Starting a new book on my lunch break. I have been wanting to read this for a while. I saw the Netflix series Death by Lightning which I loved. This is my second Candice Millard book.

#histbookchat #history
December 18, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I recently finished Thunderstruck by Erik Larson. His is one of the best books I read in 2025!

Have you read it, or have it on your TBR?

#histbookchat #history

youtu.be/P61Jji8-PNo?...
Book Review: Thunderstruck
YouTube video by Jeffrey Reads History
youtu.be
December 16, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The Double Shots & Historic Plots Bookclub vote is up! Here is what we are voting on. If you are interested in joining in come check us out.

#histbookchat #history #booksky
December 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM
My son recently gifted this to me. Has anyone read it? If so what are your thoughts?

#histbookchat
December 8, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Jeffrey.Reads.History📚
Realm of Ice and Sky was great! The author spoke to our Polar Book Club and we captured the talk without any real spoilers if anyone would like to watch! www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5KE...
Polar Book Club Presents: Author Talk - Buddy Levy and "The Realm of Ice and Sky"
YouTube video by Scott R. McKinley
www.youtube.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Here a few books I bought over the weekend. Have you read any of these?

#histbookchat #booksky #history

youtu.be/sOM86iRomLM?...
Book Haul Dec 2026
YouTube video by Jeffrey Reads History
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
December 2025 Hopefuls
YouTube video by Jeffrey Reads History
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Here is a little bit more information on the Slow Burn book club starting in January. It is live in discord if anyone would like to chat.

youtu.be/HO4JbkF5bTc?...
ANNOUNCING: The Slow Burn Through History Book Club
YouTube video by Jeffrey Reads History
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I am trying to form a community of readers who are interested in deep diving into history together. This is what I call a slow burn book club. If you are interested here is my Substack article with all the details

open.substack.com/pub/jeffreyr...

#histbookchat #history #nonfiction
Slow Burn Through History
A deep, meaningful look at history
open.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Jeffrey.Reads.History📚
As @axe99.bsky.social knows, I tend to read a bunch of books on a single topic & the Arctic & Atlantic convoys take up a few shelves behind me for a future read. So far these are the ones I've picked out besides the ones Dave mentioned. But you know, I just realized I have nothing on the Caribbean!
November 30, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Now that my football game is over I am jumping back into Thunderstruck. This is such a great book.

#booksky #histbookchat
November 29, 2025 at 9:46 PM
My reading wrap up. I didn’t get to every thing I wanted to read this month, but over all it was a pretty fun month. I will move some books to December.

How about you? How was your November reading experience?

#histbookchat #booksky
November 29, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Here is my Nov Reading Wrap. I also have some news for 2026. I think it is going to be a great year!

youtu.be/KdPkYMr3HMc?...

#histbookchat #history #nonfiction #booksky
Nov 2025 Reading Wrap Up
YouTube video by Jeffrey Reads History
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Finally getting the chance to see The American Revolution documentary.

Have you seen it?
November 27, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Mayflower by Philbrick is so good. He is pealing back the layers of myth and replacing it research and facts.

youtu.be/tn8hWuiMM0s?...

#histbookchat #thanksgiving
The Real First Thanksgiving
YouTube video by Jeffrey Reads History
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Here is my Medieval History Reading Curriculum. This video summarizes the books in order. Here is the full curriculum.

open.substack.com/pub/jeffreyr...

youtu.be/xCqOTybgoVc?...

#histbookchat #history #nonfiction #booksky #readingcurriculum
Cross and Crescent: A Medieval History Reading Curriculum
YouTube video by Jeffrey Reads History
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Tomorrow I will be releasing a free 18 week reading curriculum on the Middle Ages. This will focus on the Middle Ages, the crusades, empire building, and the fall of Constantinople.

This will be published on my Substack.
#histbookchat #history #medieval #readingcurriculum
November 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Next week I will be posting a new Reading curriculum based on the Middle Ages. If you are interested in reading more about this awesome time period in 2026, stay tuned!

#histbookchat #history #readingcurriculum
November 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I am reading today on my lunch break Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower. I really like Philbrick’s writing style. I am about 150 pages in and he is talking about the first Thanksgiving and showing how modern people invented the idea of a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

#histbookchat #history
November 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I recently finished Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes. I absolutely loved it. It reminded me of listening to my grandparents talk about their childhood experiences.

youtu.be/a1OluvXVqZU?...

#histbookchat #booksky #history #nonfiction
Angelas Ashes Book Review
YouTube video by Jeffrey Reads History
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Here is my review of Angela’s Ashes. I loved this book. It made me miss my grandparents who were born about the time Frank McCourt was. His stories reminded me of my grandparents stories I heard going up.

Have you read Angela’s Ashes?

open.substack.com/pub/jeffreyr...

#histbookchat
A Memoir Worth Reading
A Review of Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I recently finished The Lost City of Z by David Grann. I am a huge fan of his work and read several of his books.

Check out my thoughts on this book in my Substack
open.substack.com/pub/jeffreyr...

Bookabaloo book club page bookabaloo.com/pages/book-c...
#substack #histbookchat
Mystery in the Amazon
A Book Review of David Grann's The lost City of Z
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The Double Shots and Historic Plots book club is starting its vote for our December book. If you are interested in a book club that focuses on history and nonfiction, then come check us out. It’s a great place to hang out and talk.

You can our book club here: fable.co/club/double-...
#histbookchat
fable.co
November 17, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I about half way through this book, and it’s so good. Angela’s Ashes brings out all the emotions from being sad and angry to out right laughing. People warned me about this and they were right.

What are you reading on your lunch break?

#histbookchat #history
November 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The Lost City of Z by David Grann is an engaging blend of adventure, history, and mystery. It follows explorer Percy Fawcett’s daring quest to find a lost ancient city in the Amazon, while Grann retraces his journey to uncover what might have happened to him.

#histbookchat #history #booksky
November 13, 2025 at 1:13 PM