Morris, Ian. 2010. Why The West Rules -- For Now: The Patterns of History, and What They Reveal About the Future (New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux).
He combines history with a whole range of disciplines to show the parallel development of Asia and Europe. Absolutely fascinating, except for some digs at communism at the end.
Uglow, Jennifer S. 2009. A Gambling Man: Charles II's Restoration Game (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux).
Much more than a biography. Each chapter is connected with a development of one part of English life, such as art or literature.
-- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929
530 898 5321 fax 530 898 5901 http://michaelperelman.wordpress.com