My list of recommended books:
Spies and Commissars by Robert Service. I know Cheezy has a problem with Robert Service with his occasional Cold Warrior nonsense, but I didn't really find any of that in this book. This book is on the Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil War with a focus on the backroom diplomacy, spies, and subterfuge occurring between the Soviets and everyone else. It really was a fascinating book that I felt covered the subject with a surprisingly even hand. Plus, the only other book that I've read that dealt with this subject in-depth was more or less a hack job ascribing to Lenin and Dzherznitsky just about every bad trait or bad event that occurred during the Revolution and held them personally responsible for it.
The Global Cold War by Odd Arne Westad. The author does an excellent job covering the development of the Cold War in the developing world, including the Malaysian Emergency, Mau-Mau Uprising, and the Congo Crisis.
Shake Hands With the Devil by Romeo Dallaire. While not a history book, Dallaire's personal experience as force commander of UNAMIR during the genocide offers a fascinating account both into that period and insight into the struggles of peacekeeping operations.
The State of Africa by Martin Meredith. (Also published as The Fate of Africa depending on printing. I read State of Africa and I'm 99% sure they are the same book.) A well written and researched account of African politics since 1950. Due to the sheer size of the subject it occasionally gets a bit unwieldy but he generally keeps things in focus. It is an excellent overview of the continent that along with Shake Hands With the Devil and The Global Cold War cemented my interest in the Cold War in sub-Saharan Africa.)
I almost recommended Africa's World War by Gerard Prunier, but decided against it as it focuses exclusively on the Second Congo Crisis and Africa's World War. As detailed as it is, the book is an absolute doorstop that frequently tends toward overwhelming due to the sheer gambit pileup that occurred in 90's Africa.
Robert Fisk's The Great War for Civilization also almost makes the list, but misses out due whatever one thinks of Fisk as a journalist, as a historian Fisk is pretty terrible. Then again, the events he served as eyewitness to are rapidly becoming history so, make of that what you will.
