These are Steve's history book picks for the year. His reviews are here.

1. Fred Anderson's
   Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766
2. David Hackett Fischer's
   Champlain's Dream
3. Eric W. Sanderson's
   Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City
4. Barry Cunliffe's The Extraordinary Voyage of Pytheas the Greek
5. David Howarth's
   1066: The Year of the Conquest