My favourite history book that I've recently read:
Simon Sebag Montefiore's Jerusalem: The Biography - amazing work of scope, depth and human understanding.
I also studied philosophy as a degree and agree there are no really great introductions. I finished my degree somewhat disengaged with the subject and haven't pursued it seriously since. My favourite book though was John Rawls' A Theory of Justice.
Simon Sebag Montefiore's Jerusalem: The Biography - amazing work of scope, depth and human understanding.
I also studied philosophy as a degree and agree there are no really great introductions. I finished my degree somewhat disengaged with the subject and haven't pursued it seriously since. My favourite book though was John Rawls' A Theory of Justice.