“The Shortest History of Japan” is a quick but engrossing read that spans early Japan to early 2024. Once started, I couldn’t put this book down, and is a very good resource if you’re just dipping your toes into Japanese history.

This was a nice overview of Japanese history that was written in a way that would be very accessible for even people who don't have any prior knowledge of the country's history. I also appreciated that it didn't gloss over Japan's more recent controversial history, since it seems many people today have already forgotten it.