The Default Library
Paths / Path 09

The World, One Country at a Time

What it is like to be born somewhere else, then the full history of the countries that shape the news.

For: travellers, migrants, children of migrants, and anyone who wants to understand other people's pride and grief.

27readings
16 hoursof reading
3stages
2 quick reads · 7 reads · 18 long reads
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Stage 1

Start

4 readings · 25 min
  1. 01Quick readQuiz4 min

    If I Was Born in Japan: Harmony, Randoseru, and the Art of Ikigai

    Japan, through a child's day.
  2. 02Quick readQuiz4 min

    If I Was Born in Mexico: Family, Tacos, and the Living Memory of Ancestors

    Mexico, through a child's day.
  3. 03ReadInteractiveQuiz9 min

    If I Was Born in India: Tiffin Boxes, Board Exams, and the Joint Family

    India, through a child's day.
  4. 04ReadInteractiveQuiz8 min

    If I Was Born in Nigeria: Jollof, the Service Year, and the Naija Hustle

    Nigeria, through a child's day.
Stage 2

Understand

5 readings · 40 min
  1. 05ReadInteractiveQuiz8 min

    United States: A Condensed History of Reinvention, Power, and Contradiction

    The United States, condensed.
  2. 06ReadInteractiveQuiz8 min

    China: A Condensed History of Dynasties, Revolution, and Return

    China, condensed.
  3. 07ReadInteractiveQuiz7 min

    Russia: A Condensed History of Tsars, Revolution, and Empire

    Russia, condensed.
  4. 08ReadInteractiveQuiz7 min

    Mexico: A Condensed History of Empires, Revolution, and Identity

    Mexico, condensed.
  5. 09ReadInteractiveQuiz10 min

    United Kingdom: A Condensed History of Islands, Empire, and Reinvention

    The United Kingdom, condensed.
Stage 3

Go deep (the long reads: 30–60 minutes each)

18 readings · 15 hours
  1. 10Long readQuiz51 min

    A Brief History of the United States: Promise, Conquest, and the Argument That Never Ends

    A brief history of the United States.
  2. 11Long readQuiz50 min

    A Brief History of Mexico: Corn, Conquest, Revolution, and the Long Road to Democracy

    A brief history of Mexico.
  3. 12Long readQuiz55 min

    A Brief History of Canada: Peoples, Empires, and the Art of Staying Together

    A brief history of Canada.
  4. 13Long readQuiz44 min

    A Brief History of Venezuela: Cocoa, Caudillos, Oil, and a Revolution Contested

    A brief history of Venezuela.
  5. 14Long readQuiz51 min

    A Brief History of Brazil: Sugar, Gold, Empire, and the Unfinished Republic

    A brief history of Brazil.
  6. 15Long readQuiz48 min

    A Brief History of Argentina: Silver, Beef, Perón and the Long Search for Stability

    A brief history of Argentina.
  7. 16Long readQuiz54 min

    A Brief History of Spain: Caves, Caliphs, Empire, and the Long Road to Democracy

    A brief history of Spain.
  8. 17Long readQuiz59 min

    A Brief History of France: Caves, Kings, Revolutions, and the Republic That Keeps Arguing

    A brief history of France.
  9. 18Long readQuiz59 min

    A Brief History of the United Kingdom: Four Nations, One Crown, and the Long Argument About Who Rules

    A brief history of the United Kingdom.
  10. 19Long readQuiz54 min

    A Brief History of Russia: Forest, Steppe, Empire, and the Long Argument with Itself

    A brief history of Russia.
  11. 20Long readQuiz53 min

    A Brief History of Ukraine: Borderland, Cossack Freedom, and the Fight to Exist

    A brief history of Ukraine.
  12. 21Long readQuiz51 min

    A Brief History of Iran: Empire, Faith, Revolution, and the Long Argument over Who Rules

    A brief history of Iran.
  13. 22Long readQuiz48 min

    A Brief History of Israel: Israelis, Palestinians, and the Land Both Call Home

    A brief history of Israel.
  14. 23Long readQuiz45 min

    A Brief History of Saudi Arabia: Incense Roads, the Prophet's Cities, a Desert Dynasty and the Oil Age

    A brief history of Saudi Arabia.
  15. 24Long readQuiz35 min

    A Brief History of the United Arab Emirates: Copper, Pearls, Treaties and the Fastest Transformation on Earth

    A brief history of the United Arab Emirates.
  16. 25Long readQuiz51 min

    A Brief History of China: The Mandate, the Fall, and the Return

    A brief history of China.
  17. 26Long readQuiz50 min

    A Brief History of Hong Kong: Fishing Villages, Opium Wars, Refugees, and Two Systems Under One Flag

    A brief history of Hong Kong.
  18. 27Long readQuiz43 min

    A Brief History of Japan: Islands, Swords, Empire, and Reinvention

    A brief history of Japan.
When you finish

the rest of If I Was Born In… and Condensed History of Nations; then a country's own historians, in translation if needed.

Next path →

Power, Freedom and Democracy

Who rules, how, and by what right; and the economic systems people have fought over.