looking for book and topic reccomendations

[Rascolnikova]

This could just as easily have gone in learning, but I figured I'd post it here where the hardcore history types would be sure to see it. I'm trying to put together something of a reading program for a basic radical-left oriented history education. I would expect it should cover the following topics:


(history of) Russia

China

Cuba

South-East Asian politics

French Revolution

Spanish Revolution

Paris Commune

Edit: Just realized I forgot South America, which possibly should be three or four categories?



Labor Movements and Collectivization Efforts

Biographies of key figures

Other books that are particularly good to read because of their perspective, rather than the relevance of their subject matter (I. E., people's history of the United States)



I'm here asking you: What books should be listed under each of these topics? What topics should be here that aren't? With the exception of the last three categories, which could basically subdivide infinitely, I'm looking to narrow the field to 1-3 books per category.


Thanks in advance. :)