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This thread is for dropping ideas, questions, resources, comments, and discussion about Task 10: A Microhistory.

Historians define a microhistory as a detailed history of a short period of time, event, community, or person. The term is also used outside of academic circles to reference histories of very specific objects/items/etc (see the list below). Use whatever definition makes your flag fly!

Get your list on:

Would this qualify as a microhistory?

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Kenny wrote: "Would this qualify as a microhistory?

/book/show/1..."

We'd say so!

Stiff by Mary Roach is listed as a microhistory on a goodreads list so I'll take it!

Book Riot wrote: "Kenny wrote: "Would this qualify as a microhistory?

/book/show/1..."

We'd say so!"

Thank you! Not very familiar with this genre, so I just wanted to check.

I'm planning to read The Emperor of All Maladies, currently readingThe Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons: The History of the Human Brain as Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery.

Jenny, The Emperor of All Maladies has been on my TBR for ages. Another Schinsky rec for me. I'll read it for this one as well.

I picked Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern.

Kathryn wrote: "I picked Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern."

Pretty fun read! I read it at the start of 2013, I believe.

I'll be reading Versailles: A Biography of a Palace for this one.

I also plan to read The Emperor of All Maladies for this category. It's sitting on my shelf.

I plan on reading Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers or

Slots: Praying to the God of Chance

I ended up reading Slots. Not bad

Hi I'm sorry I'm new to the category of micro history. Would this be considered one?

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Thank you

I think it would. I am going to read Cod.

Debt: The First 5,000 Years has been sitting on my shelf, unread, for far too long now....

No idea.... May be saving this one for last...

Stiff-Mary Roach

I'll be reading Aspirin: The Remarkable Story of a Wonder Drug. It's been on my shelf for a long time.

I was thinking some Bill Bryson for this challenge, but to be honest, I haven't read too many microhistories. So would either of these count? /book/show/7... AND /book/show/2...

I've never heard the term "microhistory" before I saw this list, but I know I've probably read a few. Based on what I understand the word to mean, I'll probably pick one of the following: The Nude: A Study in Ideal Form, E=mc²: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation, Stylized: A Slightly Obsessive History of Strunk & White's The Elements of Style, Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana - Medical, Recreational and Scientific, Blood & Roses: One Family's Struggle and Triumph During England's Tumultuous Wars of the Roses.

I am not sure what a Micro history is. I don't read much nonfiction. Would The Secret History of Wonder Woman count?

I received Eels by James Prosek for Christmas and I think I'll include it as the microhistory for the 2015 challenge. I didn't know microhistory was the term for them, but I love super specific history books. /book/show/8...

Cod by Mark Kurlansky was fascinating.

Sam wrote: "I was thinking some Bill Bryson for this challenge, but to be honest, I haven't read too many microhistories. So would either of these count? /book/show/7......"

I don't see why not.

I'm thinking I'll brush up on my circus knowledge with something like, The Circus Age: Culture and Society Under the American Big Top

I think I'll be reading for this task.

Great choice Britany - I loved that book. Made me mad at society - but loved the book.

I might go with Emperor myself or Plagues in World History.

Or wait, I just realized that (thanks to the podcast) I have The Secret History of Wonder Woman now!

Thanks Sandi ;)

I'm intrigued by "Microhistories" Never heard of them before!

If "The Feminine Mystique" is considered a Microhistory, then I'll be reading that book in 2015 as well. Its been on my TBR list for quite some time.

Brittany, I loved The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks! Highly recommend it

I'm thinking of doing A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage, sounds interesting.

Would The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime count for this genre?

Sam wrote: "I was thinking some Bill Bryson for this challenge, but to be honest, I haven't read too many microhistories. So would either of these count? /book/show/7......"

I would consider both of those micro-histories.

I enjoy micro-histories and can recommend Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences and Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time, which haven't been mentioned here yet. Sister Bernadette would be of more interest to those old enough to remember diagramming sentences, while Spring Forward would be of more general interest.

I loved diagramming sentences! Just added Sister Bernadette's...to my to-read shelf. AND I had a Sister Bernadette for 7th grade English!

Jamie wrote: "Would The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime count for this genre?"

I would say yes. That looks fascinating, by the way.

Marie wrote: "I would say yes. That looks fascinating, by the way."

You can borrow it when I finish it, I own a physical copy.:)

Britany wrote: "I think I'll be reading for this task."

Britany, thanks for posting! I have been struggling to find a book for this task, and I totally forgot this was on my TBR list! Perfect!

Jamie wrote: "Marie wrote: "I would say yes. That looks fascinating, by the way."

You can borrow it when I finish it, I own a physical copy.:)"

Awesome, thanks!

Suzanne wrote: "Or wait, I just realized that (thanks to the podcast) I have The Secret History of Wonder Woman now!"

I just finished this and it was fascinating! It's so much more than just the backstory of Wonder Woman -- it ties into the history of the women's movement in such interesting ways. Here's my review if you're interested: /review/show/1139644422

I just got Sarah Vowell's Assassination Vacation on audiobook so I will probably give that a try for this category.

Are The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution or The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II micro histories?

Karena wrote: "Are The Birth of the Pill or The Girls of Atomic City micro histories ?"

Sounds like it to me !

Planning on reading "Straight" by Hanne Blank for this one!

Karena wrote: "Are The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution or The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan is on my list.

Rita wrote: "Jenny, The Emperor of All Maladies has been on my TBR for ages. Another Schinsky rec for me. I'll read it for this one as well."

Oh, good! I was just about to post and ask whether this would count. I'll be joining in on this one as well!

Would this qualify as a micro history?

/book/show/1...

Another recommendation is The Search for God and Guinness. Seems to me like it would qualify.

Would a true crime book be considered a microhistory?

Would Longitude by Dava Sobel count as a micro history? I just saw that pop up on Oyster.