Pillars of the Earth

Ken Follett

Pillars of the Earth

Recommendation inspired by:
Are the Illuminati real? - Chip Berlet

Why we love this book:

European Medieval history never held much interest for me. It felt buried in religious iconography and only ever seemed to make mention of powerful, usually pretty awful, men. But reading Pillars of the Earth really made the landscape come alive. Although it still features plenty of religious iconography and power-mad men, it also explores topics like medieval engineering, the anthropology of spices, and small-business ownership in feudal agrarian communities. I recommend it for anyone looking to learn more about this epoch who also enjoys being swept up in a captivating saga.

Recommended by:
Alexandra Panzer, TED-Ed Team

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