Learning About Cultures for SFF Writers (71 books)

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Worldbuilding is always improved by familiarity with a greater range of cultures. This list is for books that serve that purpose without being "writer's guide to 19XX" or similar.

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1	From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty 4.29 avg rating — 47,731 ratings score: 386, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond 3.94 avg rating — 75,301 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan by Ivan Morris 4.05 avg rating — 964 ratings score: 194, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann 4.05 avg rating — 96,895 ratings score: 187, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Courtesans and Fishcakes: The Consuming Passions of Classical Athens by James Davidson 3.89 avg rating — 599 ratings score: 184, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders by Joshua Foer (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 8,677 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire by Judith Herrin 3.91 avg rating — 3,054 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Poland: A History by Adam Zamoyski 3.98 avg rating — 1,597 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Carthage Must Be Destroyed: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Civilization by Richard Miles 3.95 avg rating — 4,845 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	A History of Civilizations by Fernand Braudel 3.85 avg rating — 1,223 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Japan: A Modern History by James L. McClain 3.93 avg rating — 264 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han (History of Imperial China, #1) by Mark Edward Lewis 3.76 avg rating — 642 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Civilization and Capitalism 15th-18th Century, Vol. 1: The Structures of Everyday Life by Fernand Braudel 4.36 avg rating — 1,787 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Gladiator: The Secret History of Rome's Warrior Slaves by Alan Baker (Goodreads Author) 3.44 avg rating — 267 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Making of Modern Japan by Marius B. Jansen 4.08 avg rating — 634 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Russia Under the Old Regime by Richard Pipes 4.07 avg rating — 540 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Communities of Women: Historical Perspectives by Barbara Brookes (Editor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	India: A History by John Keay 3.92 avg rating — 4,124 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	By the Sword: A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions by Richard Cohen 3.86 avg rating — 785 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Anthropology Through Literature : Cross-Cultural Perspectives by James P. Spradley it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Birds in the Ancient World: Winged Words by Jeremy Mynott 4.04 avg rating — 47 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Genius of China: 3000 Years of Science, Discovery and Invention by Robert K.G. Temple 3.91 avg rating — 130 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Encyclopedia of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies, & Other Supernatural Creatures by Katharine M. Briggs 4.26 avg rating — 1,267 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Food in History by Reay Tannahill 3.97 avg rating — 1,615 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Witchcraft and Magic in Europe, Vol. 2: Ancient Greece and Rome by Bengt Ankarloo (Editor) 4.22 avg rating — 55 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Empires of Food: Feast, Famine, and the Rise and Fall of Civilization by Evan D.G. Fraser (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 389 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Cult of the Fox: Power, Gender, and Popular Religion in Late Imperial and Modern China by Xiaofei Kang 4.12 avg rating — 34 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates by David Cordingly 3.67 avg rating — 10,499 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Witches and Neighbors: The Social and Cultural Context of European Witchcraft by Robin Briggs (Goodreads Author) 3.76 avg rating — 303 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Classics Magpie: From Chariot-racing Hooligans to Debauched Dinner Parties - a Miscellany that Shakes the Dust Off the Ancient World by Jane Hood 3.71 avg rating — 28 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Strange and Secret Peoples: Fairies and Victorian Consciousness by Carole G. Silver 3.87 avg rating — 145 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World by David W. Anthony really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4,076 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Wonder That Was India by A.L. Basham 4.11 avg rating — 1,855 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Field Guide to the Little People by Nancy Arrowsmith 4.04 avg rating — 276 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Greeks and the Irrational by E.R. Dodds 4.20 avg rating — 1,087 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present by Ronald Hutton 3.63 avg rating — 1,860 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Life in the French Country House by Mark Girouard 3.94 avg rating — 49 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Life in the English Country House: A Social and Architectural History by Mark Girouard 4.19 avg rating — 301 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Hive: The Story of the Honeybee and Us by Bee Wilson (Goodreads Author) 3.72 avg rating — 381 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 10,536 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Waiting for the Weekend by Witold Rybczynski 3.61 avg rating — 256 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Cheese and Culture: A History of Cheese and its Place in Western Civilization by Paul Kindstedt 3.65 avg rating — 272 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Nobility of Failure: Tragic Heroes in the History of Japan by Ivan Morris 4.21 avg rating — 243 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 34,561 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore by Michael Dylan Foster 3.97 avg rating — 1,883 ratings score: 78, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Golden Peaches of Samarkand: A Study of T'ang Exotics by Edward H. Schafer 4.25 avg rating — 128 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	A World Trimmed with Fur: Wild Things, Pristine Places, and the Natural Fringes of Qing Rule by Jonathan Schlesinger really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 40 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	China’s Cosmopolitan Empire: The Tang Dynasty by Mark Edward Lewis 3.93 avg rating — 306 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	China between Empires: The Northern and Southern Dynasties by Mark Edward Lewis 3.81 avg rating — 273 ratings score: 74, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Age of Confucian Rule: The Song Transformation of China by Dieter Kuhn 4.09 avg rating — 218 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Kamikaze, Cherry Blossoms, and Nationalisms: The Militarization of Aesthetics in Japanese History by Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney 3.85 avg rating — 124 ratings score: 72, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	When Huai Flowers Bloom: Stories of the Cultural Revolution by Shu Jiang Lu 3.33 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	Feudal Society, Volume 1 by Marc Bloch 4.11 avg rating — 915 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Women in the Days of the Cathedrals by Régine Pernoud 3.89 avg rating — 314 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Knight In Medieval England 1000-1400 by Peter R. Coss 3.80 avg rating — 49 ratings score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	A Medieval Book of Seasons by Marie Collins 3.75 avg rating — 36 ratings score: 67, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	The Lady in Medieval England 1000-1500 by Peter R. Coss 3.80 avg rating — 51 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Ties That Bound: Peasant Families in Medieval England by Barbara A. Hanawalt 4.06 avg rating — 464 ratings score: 65, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Medieval Garden by Sylvia Landsberg 3.93 avg rating — 68 ratings score: 64, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Women in Anglo-Saxon England by Christine E. Fell 3.77 avg rating — 44 ratings score: 63, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	A Handbook of Anglo-Saxon Food: Processing and Consumption by Ann Hagen 4.24 avg rating — 21 ratings score: 62, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	A Second Handbook of Anglo-Saxon Food & Drink: Production & Distribution by Ann Hagen 4.20 avg rating — 10 ratings score: 61, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Knight, the Lady & the Priest: The Making of Modern Marriage in Medieval France by Georges Duby 3.92 avg rating — 298 ratings score: 60, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Aztecs: An Interpretation by Inga Clendinnen 4.09 avg rating — 254 ratings score: 59, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Home: A Short History of an Idea by Witold Rybczynski 3.94 avg rating — 1,716 ratings score: 58, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Book of the Courtier by Baldassare Castiglione 3.62 avg rating — 2,864 ratings score: 57, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	The Book of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan 3.80 avg rating — 4,643 ratings score: 56, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Journey for Our Time: The Russian Journals of the Marquis De Custine by Astolphe de Custine 4.09 avg rating — 586 ratings score: 55, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar by Robert W. Lebling (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 241 ratings score: 54, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Islam, Arabs, and Intelligent World of the Jinn by Amira El-Zein 4.02 avg rating — 165 ratings score: 53, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Domestic Revolution: How the Introduction of Coal into Victorian Homes Changed Everything by Ruth Goodman 4.16 avg rating — 885 ratings score: 52, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars