What Books are key to becoming a great historian?

I am almost finished as a History Major undergrad. I plan on attending Grad School next year. What books do you think I should read to become more knowledgable in History? After 4 years, I still feel like I need more facts!

What Books are key to becoming a great historian?
Leave your biases at the door, or at least admit what they are first. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, The Federalist Papers, Diplomacy by Dr. Kissinger, Anything by Steven Ambrose (even if he admitted plagerism his approach to history is pretty even handed)
Reply:Grad school is more about assessing opinions than about regurgitating facts. Contact the school where you'll be attending graduate school and see if you can get some outlines from current courses that you might take and have a look at some of those books.





I would also suggest picking up some of the books regarding current affairs that pop up on the news shows. It would be good to create some of your own opinions based on the available information -- not what the newsies read to you.
Reply:I'd pick two: "Human Action" by Ludwig von Mises, and "Modern Times" by Paul Johnson. Probably not the way you learned it.





Other than those, of course there are many memoirs by the principal players who were there.
Reply:It depends a lot on which area of history will be your focus. It would be smart to start thinking about that. If you already have an idea, then you should ask professors who specialize in your chosen area. But honestly, before you begin graduate school, you should think seriously about what your objectives are. The job market for people with graduate degrees in history is appalling. I know that sounds negative, but I'm really just trying to be helpful. I have a B.A. in history, and as much as I love the field I chose, I realize that it is not terribly marketable, even with higher levels of education. Before you go on to graduate school, you should have a look at the following website:





www.invisibleadjunct.com





When I was an undergraduate, I thought that I wasn't the "kind of person" for whom money is a priority. I'm still not, but after all that work and with that level of accomplishment, you'd think you wouldn't have to worry about making a living. Not so.