Building a Military History Library: A Short Guide

SARCO, Inc., might be your primary trusted partner for gun parts and kits, especially for models that have been around forever and for which no one else has parts in stock.

But we carry much more than parts kits and stripper clips here at SARCO. We’re actually sitting on quite a massive assortment of books, most of which are military history books or devoted specifically to WW2 and the politics of the era.

Not only do we carry such a wide assortment of esoteric titles, many of these books we offer for sale at a very low price. This makes them attractive for the purposes of building a home library.

This short post will break down how to build a military history library and why you should do it in the first place. Whether you collect military history books, only collect books about WW2, or are more of a generalist, here’s what you should know about building a home library and why it’s worth it.

How to Do It

If you’re considering building a military history library with WW2 books, here are some tips for success.

●     Devote the space

The first thing is to make sure you have the space to devote to the library. An office is a good place to build your library, but bedrooms and common spaces work as well. Be prepared with bookcases or shelving before you start amassing books, as it will help organize and protect them as well.

●     Make a list

Start looking up lists of acclaimed historians and their work, if you are not familiar yet. This is a good place to start and is the gateway to a collection. Historians often reference each other. For each book you read, don’t be surprised if you add 10 more to your list.

●     Research the titles you want to add

Before buying titles, research the books themselves. There are two things to check here; one is reviews, as you may want to see what other readers have thought of a title before you buy it. The other is to see if you can look inside the book itself. A single passage will tell you more about the quality of an author than 10 reviews.

●     Scout the books

Compile a list of places where you can buy the titles on your list. There are many resellers out there, some of whom sell rare military history and WW2 books at reasonable prices. For our part, we have a massive collection of military history books for your perusal.

●     Take a chance

Our last note is that, if you’re questioning getting a title, but you’re not sure about it, and it’s relatively affordable, get it anyway. There are some rare books out there that won’t present a second opportunity if you don’t get them the first time you come across them, which may be your only opportunity.

Why to Do It

There are many good reasons to build a military history library. Here are some of the best of them.

●     Libraries preserve the truth

The simple fact of the matter is that, once a book is published, it is a witness to history. Books can be banned or burned, but if you’re holding it in your hand, it is a perfect register, a snapshot, to a moment in time, and the perspective of that author. This, perhaps more than anything else, makes military history books invaluable and irreplaceable.

●     Reading improves critical thinking and metathinking

There are also the benefits of reading, which are no way solely connected to military history. Reading improves comprehension, expands your vocabulary, improves critical thinking, reasoning, and analytical skills, and generally provides an education.

●     Get a new perspective on political and military conflicts

History is written by the victors, but just as importantly, not everyone has the same perspective on a conflict or an engagement. It is dangerously easy to get stuck in an echo chamber only reading about one side of a conflict. Building a library of military history books will enable you to challenge your prejudices and preconceived notions by expanding your perspectives.

●     Improve your understanding of your collection

Suppose you’re not really a big reader but you love collecting bits of military history, like field gear, bayonets, or military surplus guns. If you build a library full of WW1 and WW2 books, you’ll get a chance to learn a lot more not just about the items you collect and how they performed in real combat, but how they came to be in the first place.

●     Life is short and there’s a lot to learn

There’s also the fact that you’ll never get through everything and there is so much out there to learn, so much more than a person could get through in a single lifetime. Building a library dedicated to military history books gives you a chance to take a cross-sectional slice of many different lives and hopefully learn something through the process.

●     You can pass it on

Lastly, a library dedicated to military history books, field manuals, and important conflicts, such as books about WW2, WW1, the Civil War, and Revolutionary War, will become sort of like a collective heirloom. This is something you can leave behind to your loved ones or, if you choose, donate to a larger collection.

Explore More Than Gun Parts Kits Here

While you can trust SARCO, Inc., for gun parts kits, there’s so much more for you to discover here on our website, notably our collection of military history books. Our collection is massive and contains hundreds of titles, some of which are fairly common and others which are much harder to find.

Also, what’s here is here, but we likely won’t get any restocks. Once what we have goes it’s gone, so if you are considering building a military history library, or any library, spend some quality time poring over our collection so you don’t miss a real gem.

And, of course, if you’re looking for a specific title, or anything by a certain author, feel free to get in touch with us at 610-250-3960 and we will be more than happy to help you find it.