seamar116, check out the magnificent trilogy by Eduardo Galeano called "Memories of Fire" - it is the whole history of Latin America from before Columbus to the 1980s when it was written.
But it is a unique book, like no other - it is in the form of very short vignettes - the story of this historical figure, of that government, of this community, a war here, a revolution there, the working conditions of an industry there. So you can't put it down. You have to go somewhere, work, do something else but you figure, "I can read one more short chapter and see what's next" and you keep reading.
Second, the writing is unbelievably good - the English translation is superb (so is the Italian translation for that matter) from the original Spanish and it reads like an epic poem in clear, simple language with structure of short bios and historical narratives.
One the best books ever written.