Remedying ignorance

My approach to learning is probably more passive than it should be these days. I've fallen into a pattern of accumulating the stuff in passing rather than actively seeking it out. That's not to say I don't go looking for it - I do, but usually either as a result of an immediate need, or else because it lies in one of those small niches which intrigue me so. It's probably time I started hunting out knowledge for it's own sake again, starting with one of the many areas in which I have a mild interest but little insight. The history of the world and it's nations is certainly one of these, as I discovered today when I browsed through the CIA's factbook. It's offers more of a collection of facts and figures about the various nations of the world, rather than an in depth history, but it piqued my interest.

If anyone has a recommendation for further reading on this subject I'll be much obliged. A beginners guide perhaps - I suspect the complete history of the world will encompass a not inconsiderable body of material...