Nathaniel Philbrick’s Bunker Hill. Really paints the picture of what Boston was like from 1770-1775. Lots about Dr. Joseph Warren, who is like the Stonewall Jackson of the Revolutionary War–would have done great things, but was killed early in the war.
I didn’t mean that the Endurance Shackleton book is fiction, it is Wolf Hall that is (amazing piece of historical fiction – a genre that I don’t read much of, but I loved Wolf Hall and the sequel).
The Bill Bryson book “Notes from a Small Island” is read by a professional comedian, or at least he’s as good as one! I was in hysterics several times. Considering the pronunciation jokes at one point, it is better than reading it. There’s lots of history, geography, and of course, culture, in that book. There are memorable phrases like “an outsize pustule” regarding a bad building and, “my stomach gurgling happily like a beaker in a laboratory” after a good meal of Indian food.
OTOH, I tried to listed to his book “A Brief History of Everything” and the guy sounded so old, British, and dry, that I couldn’t pay attention at all.
Find readers that you like and look for their other works. Another one I remember read a few by Elmore Leonard including “The Hot Kid”. He was great!
I second the book @greenwitch suggested, Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded. It really is fascinating. Also Lauren Hillenbrand’s Seabiscuit book.
Two health-related books which oddly are can’t-put-it-down reads: The Demon Under the Microscope, and The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History.
My mom recently reminded me of a book I read in junior high, and I have put it on my list: Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl.
Currently reading: “12 Years a Slave” by Solomon Northup, “Belle” by Paula Byrne (I work at the house where Dido Belle grew up), “Testament of Youth” by Vera Brittain (WWI memoir), “Mrs. Robinson’s Disgrace” by Kate Summerscale (Victorian scandal).
Some recent favorites: “One Summer: America 1927” by Bill Bryson (I like all of his books), “Unbroken” by Laura Hilldebrand, “In the Garden of the Beast” by Erik Larson, “Prague Winter” by Madeline Albright
I am currently reading “A Team of Rivals” by Doris Kerns Goodwin about the Lincoln administration which is very thick but well written. I also loved “12 Years a Slave” and “Unbroken.”
I second David McCollough. One of my favorites is Johnstown Flood.
I also highly recommend The Boys in the Boat, it is one of the best books I have ever read!
Another vote for Boys In The Boat & Unbroken, and new suggestion: Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
Thanks all!
109 East Palace by Jennet Conant, a glimpse into the lives of some of the people surrounding the Manhattan Project, stripping away the science that is covered in other books.
Rising Tide by John M. Barry, about the Mississippi flood of 1927 and its aftermath, how it changed flood control in this country.
Isaac’s Storm by Larson is good too.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Glass Castle
For audiobooks, anything where David McCullough reads his own work is a sure winner. 
Many books I’ve read and enjoyed have been recommended here, but one writer I haven’t seen mentioned is John McPhee. All of his books are interesting, and many are fascinating. His work over the last couple of decades has centered on geology, which you may or may not find particularly interesting, but his earlier stuff such as The Pine Barrens, Levels of the Game, Encounters With the Archdruid, and Coming into the Country are still great also. I would also recommend books by Tracy Kidder, such as House, Among School Children, or The Soul of a New Machine.
An absolute page-turner is Richard Preston’s book about Ebola, The Hot Zone.
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger is another, as is just about anything by Jon Krakauer (Into the Wild, Into Thin Air, Under the Banner of Heaven).
Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre - about a WWII double agent
If you like goofy history (well, goofy serious history), I recommend Mark Kurlansky, his book about Cod and Cod Fishing (Cod:A history), or his book on Oysters, are really great history tied around a topic you would think would be a snooze, but aren’t (he also wrote one on Salt). He also wrote a more serious history of the Basque people, which is fascinating. Another great writer of somewhat goofy fare is Stewart Lee Allen, who wrote a book about the history of Coffee (the Devil’s cup) and of forbidden foods (In the Devil’s Garden), which tell of human triumph and stupidity (like the Cardinal that banned tomato sauce because it was too sensual, stirred up sexual feelings, or various attempts to ban chocolate; the ban on tomato sauce must have been real popular in Italy, surprised the guy wasn’t assasinated as soon as he issued his edict).
Thanks so much!
There are some great history podcasts for whatever historical period you are interested in. DH listens to them while cleaning house, making food, and hiking.
I have listened to “you must remember this” about old Hollywood. Do you know what other ones he listens to?
I listen to “What you missed in history class”.
I loved David McCullough’s John Adams and Doris Kearns Goodwin’s The Bully Pulpit, but my favorite history in recent years was McCullough’s The Greater Journey, his book about 19th century Americans in Paris. The variety of characters kept it moving for me.