The Shortest History of Japan: From Mythical Origins to Pop Culture Powerhouse―The Global Drama of an Ancient Island Nation by Lesley Downer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I visited Japan this year, and I quickly realized how little I really knew about Japanese history. Sure, I know some bits and pieces from the Meiji Restoration to the present, but that’s about it. So I decided to read this book, to at least get a good overview of the history of Japan.

It’s pretty good; it does not go into a lot of details, but it provides a nice overview of Japanese history and culture from the mythical origins to the current emperor. It’s very well written and easy to read. I certainly learned a lot, and I feel that I’m ready to take on a more in depth history of Japan. If you are interested in Japanese history, I recommend this book