#don't quote me bc I didn't look at any primary sources

[chaotic-history]

I’m new to the history fandom so do you have any recommendations to research for beginners?

Hi! Idk what area of history you're specifically looking for, since I kind of post a lot of random shit.

As just general advice for getting into history, I'd recommend finding books that cover wider topics or wider time periods, and then seeing what things stand out to you as particularly interesting that you want to research more (this is how I got into Roger Williams-- from a two-paragraph mention in a book about the US from Jamestown to the Revolution).

For how to go about doing research, primary sources are your best friend (plus, they're often easier to find bc they're more likely to no longer be under copyright). I also recommend for secondary sources, reading books on the same subject by people who disagree with each other, because they're both going to bring up facts and possible interpretations that the other didn't. Also, don't trust books that don't cite their sources, and if a book says something that seems off based on what you already know, go double check the primary sources. Reading David Bodanis' bio of Voltaire and Émilie, one letter he quoted from V seemed really out of character, and lo and behold it was a mistranslation.

I can't really think of much else to add right now, but let me know if you have any more specific questions, or if you want book recs for any of the areas of history I'm interested in :)

[oreoambitions]

North America is the only place that I’ve ever seen/ heard of Graham crackers

So it turns out that Graham Crackers were born out of a religious austerity movement in the United States during the 1800s and were intended to replace more decadent sweet foods. They're named for Sylvester Graham - though he did not invent them - who believed the temperance movement did not go far enough and that God did not want us to have nice things. Interesting fellow. So that explains why the Graham Cracker is pretty much a North American thing.

Religious and austerity movements in US History are super interesting - related to the rise of international sports so I read a lot about them while I was writing my thesis - and I'm kind of surprised I haven't heard of this guy before now! Or maybe I did and have forgotten in the chaos that has ensued since graduation. Anyway. History is fascinating!