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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

#ThreeBodyProblem. Not read proper SciFi in a while. Really enjoyed this. Combined Chinese history with an existential crisis in a fun way with some great ideas. More subtle than the TV series. #Booksof2026. NO.13

Cover of the Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu. A pyramid in a sci-fi landscape

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Great Leap Forward propaganda has the same energy.

A poster from the era of the Great Leap Forward in China. The poster has Chinese text and happy-looking ordinary people carrying implements and walking through a field of wheat.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

An epic history of the global environment and our place in it. Extraordinary breadth of scope & range of evidence. Magnificent. 1 strand was that human civilisations usually collapse in the face of environmental challenge, even if the species lives. #Booksof2026 no12. @peterfrankopan.bsky.social

Cover of "The Earth Transformed" by Peter Frankopan.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Helpfully an obscure toy company has given us a clear understanding of what they looked like.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

#Booksof2026 No11. #CutThroatTrial by the #SecretBarrister. A great thriller with a super structure and compelling characters. Loved the use of (un)reliable narrators. Also useful as a critique of the criminal justice system. Super stuff.

Cover of the Cut Throat Trial by the Secret Barrister.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

#Booksof2026 No10. #BattleforSpain by #AnthonyBeevor. Reading this for IB history. Epic in scope and breadth, focusing on the tragedy of the Civil War. Exhaustive detail and while authoritative I feel the wood is sometimes missed for the trees. Some very useful bits I'll use in class.

Cover of The Battle for Spain by Anthony Beevor on a kindle, held up near a swimming pool. The photo shows some Spanish soldiers preparing to attack

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

#Booksof2026 No9. #TheKiteRunner by #KhaledHosseini. Been meaning to read this for a while. Really enjoyed the mise-en-scene; life in pre-Russian-invasion Afghanistan is well drawn. Characters are well developed. Not fully convinced by some plotting in 2nd half; too deus ex machina.

Cover of The kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini by a pool. The cover image shows a young boy of indeterminate age peeping round a corner.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

#Booksof2026 No 8. Biography of the #Rolling Stones by #ChristopherSandford. Long on gossip of love, chemical stimulants, and descriptions of gigs. Short on the historical context of the eras; why the Stones suddenly make it big, for example. The author loves his subject but I wasn't satisfied.

Cover of The Rolling Stones by Christopher Sandford. White capitals and unfussy text over a photo of the band from the 1960s

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

#Booksof2026 No.7 #CharlesRoss #WarsoftheRoses. A really good summary of the era, capturing with brevity some quite thorny pieces of history. Some excellent moments which I'll endeavour to use with students. Casts the Wars as a fight between elites for reasons of character and power. Great stuff

Cover page of Charles Ross "The Wars of the Roses". The image is apparently an illustration of the Battle of Tewkesbury, 1471. A king, with a crown is leading a charge on horseback. There are knights in armour aplenty.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

This is a collection of lectures and other writing by lauded History teacher #McFarlane. It was a bit of an idiosyncratic journey, and sometimes a slog. His brilliance is not really evidenced here but there is a good chapter on the WarsoftheRoses. #Booksof2026 No.6

Title cover of England in the Fifteeth Century, collected essays, by K. B. McFarlane. Black text on white paper with a black border.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

@ottoenglish.bsky.social Really enjoyed this take on some of the individuals society sees as heroes, but who weren't. And the challenge of grappling with a valued body of work by very, um, flawed people. A great read, thanks #OttoEnglish #FakeHeroes. #Booksof2026. No.5

A hand holds a Kindle, showing the cover of Otto English's book Fake Heroes. Mother Theresa, Che Guevara, and JFK are pictured

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Cognitive Load Theory / Learning Styles / Dual Coding #EduSky

Three people sitting down at some sort of sports event. The Man in the centre has a baseball cap and a moustache. He is spreading out his legs to dominate the space of the women either side of him

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

What an extraordinary novel. Plenty of echoes here of events throughout history and of today's world. Lots to unpack, but a very elegantly told story how ordinary people act to control others. Magnificent. #HandmaidsTale #MargaretAtwood #Booksof2026. No. 4

Elizabeth Moss starts out at you from the cover of Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

If you see this, post a character from space.

Tommy Scott from the Liverpool band Space singing.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

This didn't take long. An excellent view of the #WarsoftheRoses era which loses much of the soap-opera of Weir (which I enjoyed a lot) but puts back essential historiography and analysis. Very useful chapters on the era as a whole. Superb - useful for students. #DavidGrummitt #Booksof2026. No. 2

A hand holds a book. There is green grass in the background. The books has white text on black, "The Wars of the Roses" by David Grummitt. The image is of medieval knights fighting in battle; some on horseback and some on foot. This is an image of the Battle of Barnet in 1471.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Finally finished this. Life has been getting in the way. A great history as soap opera; long on gossipy detail and character, shorter on the wide angle analysis than perhaps I would have preferred. Cracking read though. #Booksof2026 No2. #AlisonWeir #WarsoftheRoses

Cover of the book "Lancaster and York, the Wars of the Roses" by Alison Weir. The image is of a hand holding sword, from a medieval painting.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Roses are red. My mind is tuned to "geek" www.newscientist.com/article/2517...

A screen grab from the New Scientist: Human brain cells on a chip learned to play Doom in a week. Neutron-powered computer chips can now be easily programmed to play a first-person game, bringing biological computers a step closer to useful applications.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

I *think* I have read this before. Fun, and didn't take itself too seriously. Rather like the TV show, it is a bit of a romp through a fantasy version of medieval Eastern Europe with monster tropes and a hero's journey. construction in places had a circular narrative. #Booksof2026 No1. #Witcher

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

@mrfitzhist.bsky.social Inspired by you I gave my Year 12s a starter to focus on causes of Henry Vs successes in France. As an experiment put pages from the text book at #NotebookLM and asked it to give me Infographics based on causes; icons from there. Seemed to work! #EduSky #AIEducation

A screen grab from a class handout on a pc screen. Title: Henry V causes of Success in France.

Icons related to the causes of Henry V's success with a space underneath for students to identify the feature.

4 factors are identified: Diplomacy, Luck, Military Capability, Leadership

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Really enjoyed seeing @theaieducator.io at #Ardinglyyesterday for our staff conference on AI in the classroom. Despite the chill we endeavoured to give him a warm reception! Especially liked the presentation about #NotebookLM

A man standing in front of a projector screen. There is an audience in front of him. The text on the screen gives information about him and his work on AI books in education

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

#Booksof2025 No18. #SarahJMaas. #KingdomofAsh. Rather epic and breathless. It's great to see strong female characters in a fantasy setting. The writing feels fast; lots of Mills and Boon moments crossed with sub LoTR fluff. Despite reservations about style and plotting in enjoyed it.

A Kindle shows the cover of SarahJ Maas' Kingdom of Ash. A stag is in the background, with flowers on the ground in front. At the back, behind the title text is a silhouette of a medieval castle

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

King Louis XIV would have taken a look at this and thought it was a bit much.

A flat listing in the USA for $7million. There is a photo of a room which looks as though someone wanted the furniture combinations to embody a headache

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Fun romp through a fictionalised Mongol hoard-inspired world. Still not sure of some of the world building and plotting, especially since the chief protagonist isn't actually in the book at all. Good to see some history in the background. An enjoyable romantasy. #SarahJMaas #Booksof2025 No.17

Cover of Sarah J Mass "Tower of Dawn"; White text over a picture of an imposing tower in a desert landscape. The image is black and white as it is being shown on a Kindle.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

If you see this, we IMPLORE you to post a picture from whatever device you're using without explanation.

1980s Kids's TV stars, Rod, Jane, and Freddy smiling at camera. Big hair and rainbows agogo.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

"You'll be visited by three spirits" The three spirits:

Rod, Jane, and Freddie. Childrens' TV entertainers from 1980s British TV. Smiles and rainbows and big hair.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

An easy read and helpful summary of medicine through the ages. Not really sure it told me anything I didn't know already but I may try to use bits in class with my students. #RoyPorter #Booksof2025. NO 16.

Cover of Blood and Guts, A Short History of Medicine by Roy Porter. Illustration is a painting of a gentleman in 18th Century clothes, long white socks, green trousers, waistcoat and suit. Parts of the body have the skin removed show human organs and the circulatory system.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

A good short summary of WW1. Some cracking moments even if I feel that there are more areas of debate than Stone mentions here. Will use bits and pieces for short quotes in lessons I suspect. #NormanStone #Booksof2025 No.14

A book cover; Norman Stone's World War One, a short history.
The image is of a German soldier on horseback. He wears a gasmask and holds a pike. The horse doesn't have any gas protection which does rather make the whole issue a problem and less than ideal in a war situation.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

#HelenCastor #Booksof2025 no. 14. A medieval family's letters give us a very clear sense of the very human drama behind the events of the late middle ages and Wars of the Roses. Castor combines the many threads very well and the era feels lived in; many books about this period fail to do this.

Cover of a book; Blood and Roses by Helen Castor. The image is of a medieval family (wimples and long outfits).

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Roses are red, Your life's work's an oeuvre,

Police focus on ladder placed against the side of the Louvre,
News headline with a photo of the Louvre with a highly suspicious ladder

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

#Booksof2025. #WarsoftheRoses #SkyStorians This is great. An assured, and modern, take on the Wars of the Roses. Weaves together narrative with analysis of historiography, themes, and putting it into context. Approachable and convincing. A good contrast to Carpenter. No.13

A hand holds a book cover. AJ Pollard "The Wars of the Roses". An imageof knights on horseback, attacking eachother with swords and lances. It is a stylised image from 1471, showing the battle of Barnet, one of the events of the Wars of the Roses.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

#QueenOfShadows #SarahJMaas. #Booksof2025 No12. Another in this fun series. Not fully convinced by the world building or some of the plotting, but a good high fantasy yarn with a strong female protagonist. Also, it's a nice contrast to the Wars of the Roses books I've been reading.

A hand holds a Kindle, showing a book cover; "Queen of Shadows" in white text in the centre with "Sarah J. Maas" in grey at the top. The image behind shows mountains with a path snaking up one of them with am imposing Castle at the top.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Another week, another book about #WarsoftheRoses. #RLStorey. Quite old hat, pub. in 1966. Lots of excruciating detail but few wide-angle explanations of how it all fits together. Some similarities to Carpenter, but without the scope or nuance. #Booksof2025. No.11

Cover of a book, The End of the Hoise of Lancaster, by RL Storey. Red text on white background. A red rose is above the author's name. An image of Henry VI is at the top; a white man with a plain face and simple expression.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

#WarsoftheRoses #ChristineCarpenter #Booksof2025 No. 10. #EduSky. This is a great analysis of this very complex era. Masterful control of Historiography, underlying causes and political intrigue. A superb contrast to Pollard or Hicks, and improves on both.

A hand holds a book. Red text over a yellow background reads: The Wars of the Roses, Politics and the constitution in England, c1437-1509.
An image of a white and blue rose is I the centre surrounded by a square that is divided into red and blue sections.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

#HeirofFire #SarahJMaas #Booksof2025 No9. A fun fantasy novel with a compelling central character, the mysterious, magical and capable Celaena Sardothien. Not fully convinced by the world building which is awkward at times.

A hand holds a Kindle, showing the cover of "Heir Of Fire" by Sarah J Maas. Two huge trees at at the side of the image, with white text in the centre. Two flying creatures are positioned above and below the text. One appears to be a dragon with long body and short wings. The other seems to be an Eagle.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

#WarsoftheRoses by #MichaelHicks. #Booksof2025 No 8. Next in a run of books for next term (new A Level course!). Better approach that Pollard, with good points about the WotR ending in about 1525 not 1485. Also, the influence of European politics too, which doesn't get covered as much as it should.

A white book cover with the lettering "Wars of the Roses by Michael Hicks" in red and black text. In the centre is an image from the late C15th of the beheading of Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset, in 1471. It is a stylised image showing men in armour and one with his head on a chopping block with a executioner raising his axe.

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

#Booksof2025 No7. #MedievalEngland #AJPollard. More of a text book than I'd like (it is a textbook), but a solid overview of the era 1399-1509. Best when discussing big changes than the political events. (integrate!)

Cover of a Text book, AJ Pollard's Late Medieval England 1399-1509. The illustration is of medieval characters with a King on horseback, several soldiers and courtiers

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Ben Jerrit FCCT History Teacher @benjerrit.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

#ThirdReichinPower by legendary historian #RichardJEvans. #Booksof2025 No 6. A very thoughtful investigation into the era, full of humane insights and command of the detail. A great companion to his 1st volume on the fall of Weimar.

A hand holds the cover of a book with the title "The Third Reich in Power" with the sub title "How the Nazis won over the hearts and minds of a nation". The cover is a slight cream colour and in the centre is a Nazi propaganda poster with a hand giving a Nazi salute and the words in German "dein Ja, den Fuhrer"

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