Talk about "concise." In just 250 pages, Fulbrook stuffs almost 2,000 years of history, three devastating world wars (I'm including the 30 Years' War as the first), and many other highs and lows.

With that written, these are 250 very dense pages of 9-point font and minimal maps and graphics. It took me awhile to get through this, but I'm glad that I did. I consider myself pretty well-read on German history, but there were a score of new insights provided, particularly on two eras: the Industrial Revoliution from 1810 to 1848, and on the era of divided Germany after the second world war.

For those interested in a deep dive into the history of the Germans--of which the "Germany" of empires and republics makes up 1/13th of that span--or those looking for a handy reference, this concise history is a good history for you.