John Prebble - Mutiny

This is a historical account of the treacherous occurrence of mutiny in the Highland ranks during the 45' risings. Basically John Prebble is a superb journalist, assembling these stories from the cast of thousands of anecdotal pieces of evidence, crafted in such a way that the reader shall not pass it up. Mutiny and treachery happened because of the way Gaelic culture happened to be. Clans had clan chiefs, who like the Lord of the Isles Angus Og, at periods had more power or rivalled the power of the king of the day, and the soldiers who were Gaelic clansmen were volunteers, who gave their service so that their families had accommodation. It would not matter who was king, at the end of the day the clan chiefs would reign supreme.

Niccolo Machiavelli - The Essential Writings Of Machiavelli

This book I picked up in Melbourne at Dymocks and it's a spectacular accumulation of Machiavelli's work. It basically includes all of The Prince, selections from both Discourses on Livy and The Art of War, and additionally includes some of his Florentine Histories. So basically covers a lot of his major works and other additions including his other writings including a play and a novella. Machiavelli was a pioneer and tragic genius in his time, who after creating a fully-fledged fighting force to battle with the tyrannical Medici, who were aided by the Catholic Church, and subsequently was tortured and incarcerated, and after not confessing for his rebellion, was cast aside and exiled on the outskirts of the city, where he composed many works that are still read and relevant today. He would provide as an inspiration for figures later on in Italian history including Antonio Gramsci who cited Machiavelli as a major influence on his work.

John Prebble - The Darien Disaster

So one of the little known tales of Scottish history is the failed establishment of a Scottish colony in what is now known as Panama. It was to be called Caledonia, with the capital named New Edinburgh. It was a brilliant idea, with the establishment of reaching The Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, The Kingdom of Scotland at the time investing one fifth of their wealth. They had brand new ships with mainly wigs, wool socks and tartan cloth to trade, funnily enough. They won a naval victory against the Spanish early on but it would be a Pyrrhic victory, as it only angered the might of the Spanish Navy who retaliated and the Scottish force surrendered. The event was a motivation for the Acts of Union 1707, as the argument that the only way Scotland could become part of a global trading power was to submit itself to England.

Niccolo Machiavelli - The Art Of War

This book by Machiavelli is structured as Socratic dialogue, with the central characters exchanging conversation throughout the text. The main argument that was made famously by von Clausewitz centuries later is that war is an extension and continuation of politics. I am only finished book one, but there were already some significant statements, some real yearnings of life how it used to be in classical antiquity. An example being this ''Cosimo: What are those things similar to the ancients that you would introduce? Fabrizio: To honour and reward virtue, not to have contempt for poverty, to esteem the modes and orders of military discipline, to constrain citizens to love one another, to live without factions, to esteem less the private than public good, and other such things which could easily be added in these times''.

John Buchan - Montrose

Scottish history on the subject of the Covenanters in the seventeenth century and the war with Montrose, James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, who is known in Scotland as the “Great Montrose”. He fought in the Scottish Civil War and was known for his military tactics and strategic brilliance in battle.

Maurice Ashley - The Glorious Revolution Of 1688 (Panther History)

This was a purchase from a local antique store for $1 aud. Should be a tantalising read about the overthrowal of the British Stuart monarchy by William of Orange and his supporters, after the king's Catholicism and close ties with France.

Reinhold Niebuhr - The Irony Of American History

Insightful and philosophical book on US foreign policy.

Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan

Thomas Hobbes had his works burnt by Oxford on its release in 1651. He stresses the value of the state, but also the classical realist belief that man is in his nature selfish. 

Thucydides - History Of The Peloponnesian War

He stresses the value of the state. His ''Pericle's Funeral Oration'' is epic stuff. This is the foundations that Machiavelli was inspired by which would eventually inspire Carr, that would eventually go on to be the basis of the realist philosophy in international relations.

Sun Tzu - The Art Of War

 This book is perfect to read in one day. This is a very short but ancient text that will inspire you reach moments of greatness in your pursuit of power.

Carl Von Clausewitz - On War

His real argument that war was an extension of politics is very astute. A good book and a classic on the way people understand politics, war and the understanding of conflict.

Niccolo Machiavelli - The Prince

This is a great and famous work of the great man who was a diplomat in Florence hundreds of years ago. His argument lies in the value of the state. The ability for a common man to rise through the ranks, and attain ultimate power for his state is exhibited in its pages.

Niccolo Machiavelli - Discourses On Livy

This is a bit more historical than The Prince but really stresses the idea of a republics being more ideal than any other sort of government. The appeal of the ancient Roman way of politics is actually appealing to Machiavelli as well.

E.H. Carr - The Twenty Years' Crisis, 1919-1939

A counter argument to idealism, Carr poses the concept realism which is holds nothing higher in the realm of International Relations than the state, through analysis of Machiavelli and Thucydides.

John Prebble - Culloden

All you need to know about the last battle fought on the British mainland. The Jacobite army had just retreated from Derby to Inverness. They were tired and faced up against a Hanoverian army with lots of Scottish soldiers in their ranks. The result was a catastrophe for the Jacobites.

John Prebble - Glencoe

About the famous massacre, there is also a section of the occurrence of the condition of second sight. Seers would guide individuals with premonitions and the ability of foresight to pre-empt a situation.

Trevor Royle - Culloden: Scotland's Last Battle And The Forging of The British Empire

Good, but mostly features a lot on the forging of the British Empire. There was a British government Captain Carolina Scott whose behaviour was likened to that of the Waffen SS in the period after the battle of Culloden.

James Buchan - Capital Of The Mind: How Edinburgh Changed The World

Read this then some Smith or Hume and you can really tell the way this fact is very true, Edinburgh did change the world. There was a flourishment of thought and creativity that would prompt Voltaire to announce that Edinburgh was the ''Athens of the North''.

Adam Smith - The Wealth Of Nations

Scotland post Jacobite rising is inundated with classic philosophy that would go on to change the world. This would lay down the basic understanding of capital and its role in shaping economies and markets for generations and years to come.

Neil Oliver - A History Of Scotland

A good starting point, for any fan of Scottish history and avid watcher of the popular TV show, this book basically chronicles the TV show through the sequence of history starting from the ancient Picts and Kenneth MacAlpin, through the middle ages and further onto the latter periods.

George Goodwin - Fatal Rivalry: Flodden 1513: Henry VIII, James IV And The Battle For Renaissance Britain

Did you know James IV was the last British king to be killed in battle? That is including Scottish and English Kings; he also had the biggest ship in the world of its time.

Alison Weir - Mary, Queen Of Scots, And The Murder Of Lord Darnley

Really good account of the murder of Lord Darnley, who was the king consort to Mary Stuart. It traces the murder of Rizzio the advisor to Mary Queen of Scots and subsequent murder of Darnley.

T. M. Devine - Scotland's Empire: The Origins Of The Global Diaspora

Did you know that close to one in six Scottish people, that is including women and children, served in the British army during the period of colonisation? The Highland clearances were detrimental to the British Empire because many of the current soldiers in the British Empire were Scottish.

Rosemary Goring - Scotland: The Autobiography

Did you know Nazi Rudolph Hess landed in Scotland after a failed peace mission? He was deemed insane by the Nazi Party, but on the account of the eyewitness who was a local farmer, he seemed perfectly sane, or sane enough for a cup of tea and a chat.

Stuart McHardy - Tales Of Bonnie Prince Charlie And The Jacobites

Part of my extended collection on Scottish history, which incorporates many books assembled over a vast period of time Bonnie Prince Charlie evaded capture by the government by being aided by Flora McDonald. She dressed him as woman and they smuggled him out of the country.

S. J. Houston - James I

Did you know James I was notoriously homosexual? He is one of the most controversial British monarchs to ever live, and had many affairs with men.

James Boswell - Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides

This was a really cheap find in my local second hand book store. ''Boswell's approach is more anecdotal, even gossipy, and succeeds in large part because of Boswell's keen eye and ear for detail''- Wikipedia.

Chris Bambery - A People's History Of Scotland

This is a must have for any Scottish history collection, and takes pride of place on my shelf. ''This is a passionate cry for more than just independence but also for a nation based on social justice''- Verso.

Alistair Moffat And James F. Wilson - The Scots: A Genetic Journey

There was a farmer in Scotland whose DNA marker matched up with the area of modern day Iraq, or ancient Mesopotamia. This explores the similarity of language between Maltese and Gaelic, and backs up the pseudohistory and myth of Goidel Glas, Scota and Fenius Farsaid.

Sir Walter Scott - Rob Roy

All time classic historical novel from the great man. There is a spectacular monument to him in Edinburgh it is a must see if you are visiting the city.

David Allan - Scottish History: A Complete Introduction: Teach Yourself

This is a really good starting point in the field, which is vast incorporating hundreds of years. It's where I started and really helped me establish a thorough understanding of the field of the history of Scotland.

Peter Reese - Bannockburn: Scotland’s Greatest Victory

This is a must read on the famous battle that sealed the independence that so many had fought for. Robert Bruce the king of Scotland rode out and actually beheaded a lone English solider who ventured out to fight the Scottish line head first. It also goes into detail of the inclusion of Angus Og and the men of the Isles, it is Scotland's greatest victory.

J.D.Mackie - A History Of Scotland

To further increase your knowledge of Scottish history read this. I think it covers a wide time period, and is totally worthwhile to undertake reading.

Fiona Macdonald - Scottish Tartan And Highland Dress

The origins of tartan are found in China. Highland Dress came originally of how we know it today in the 17th century, and clan's specific tartans were only used after the visit of King George IV to Scotland.

David Hume - Dialogues And Natural History Of Religion

David Hume and Adam Smith were good friends and they both have statues in remembrance of them in the city of Edinburgh. This is Hume at his most sceptical best.

James Hunter - Culloden And The Last Clansman

I have a very diverse array of Scottish history, and this chronicles the abolishment of the clan system post Culloden including banning of highland dress and bagpipes.

Alistair Moffat - The Highland Clans

Very intriguing read by the man behind BritainsDNA, the very talented Ali Moffatt.

Sir Walter Scott - Waverley

This is a classic historical novel, and truly ground-breaking for its time, fusing an immense understanding of Scottish history and contemporary novel writing techniques.

Benjamin Hudson - The Picts

Sheds light on the origins of the Picts from Scythia, according to Venerable Bede, an English monk.

Thomas Hobbes - Human Nature And De Corpore Politico

This famous quote which captures the essence of the book and philosophy is ''The state of men without civil society (which state we may properly call the state of nature) is nothing else but a mere war of all against all'- famously stated by Hobbes, writing in the tumultuous era of civil war era England, strikes back against the freedom of man and his violent selfish ways. The book wants to establish peace, and the establishment of peace requires an iron fist of law that will upheld by all citizens, because man himself cannot be trusted in his natural state, and to head further as a society there needs to be government that has a monopoly of violence that upholds its value as something being greater than an untrustworthy individual, and that is the concoction of the state.

Magnus Magnusson - Scotland: The Story Of A Nation

I am just into the first few chapters of this book and it's already evident how detailed Magnusson's understanding of Scottish history truly is. He leaves no stone unturned, and he fuses myth and fable into a contemporary understanding of Scotland's past. He is a master story teller, akin to the greats like Sir Walter Scott. I especially liked the description about Kenneth MacAlpin and the subsequent fusion of the two fabled, ancient Dark Age people the Picts and the Scotti through Kenneth. Magnus states that he is half Pict, half Scot, inheriting both kingship of the two peoples (his father king of Dal Riata, the kingdom of the Scotti, and matrilineal succession from his Pictish mother, who is a daughter of a Pictish King) ruling both and ultimately fusing both empires. Magnus also seeks to portray the Vikings not as savage 'antichrist' pirates, but a people who were extremely beneficial during the dark ages to society and technology, and an advanced civilization who played a key part in the construction of Scotland.