Started "The Origins of Political Order". Really interesting read. So far he's talked about the rise of China from tribalism through the Qin and Han dynasties. Had no idea China was the first place to establish the modern idea of a "state" with institutions and a bureaucracy. Takes an interesting look on the development of political order through comparative analysis, and not the usual chronological "story based" look at how institutions were formed. Goes from basically pre-human times up to the French Revolution in this book, and he has 2 more volumes in the work. Good stuff so far, and very readable.