John Charles Chasteen, Born in Blood and Fire (2006). A lively and well-written account of Latin America’s turbulent history since the sixteenth century.

Jack Goldstone, Why Europe? The Rise of the West in World History, 1500–1850 (2009). An original synthesis of recent research provided by a leading world historian.

David S. Landes, The Wealth and Poverty of Nations (1998). An argument that culture largely shapes the possibilities for industrialization and economic growth.

Robert B. Marks, The Origins of the Modern World (2007). An effective summary of new thinking about the origins of European industrialization.

Peter Stearns, The Industrial Revolution in World History (1998). A global and comparative perspective on the Industrial Revolution.

Peter Waldron, The End of Imperial Russia, 1855–1917 (1997). A brief account of Russian history during its early industrialization.

Bridging World History, Units 18 and 19, http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/worldhistory. An innovative world history Web site that provides pictures, video, and text dealing with “Rethinking the Rise of the West” and “Global Industrialization.”

“A History of Women in Industry,” http://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/industry/womenindustry_intro.html. An exhibit of the National Women’s History Museum that provides commentary, images, and primary sources about the lives of American women during the Industrial Revolution.