Simon & Schuster has released a pair of must-read, must-have books that offer fascinating history lessons . . . ancient and modern.

In Ten Caesars: Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine ($28), bestselling classical historian Barry Strauss tells the story of three and a half centuries of the Roman Empire through the lives of ten of the most important emperors, from Augustus to Constantine. The book illustrates the Roman Empire’s constant reinvention and adaptability, and examines its enduring heritage through the lives of the men who shaped it: Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, Vespasian, Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Diocletian and Constantine.

During these centuries Rome gained in splendor and territory, then lost both. The empire reached from modern-day Britain to Iraq, and gradually emperors came not from the old families of the first century but from men born in the provinces, some of whom had never even seen Rome. By the fourth century, the time of Constantine, the Roman Empire had changed so dramatically in geography, ethnicity, religion, and culture that it would have been virtually unrecognizable to Augustus.

After the Miracle: The Lasting Brotherhood of the ’69 Mets ($28) is the heartwarming inside account of one of the most iconic teams in baseball history: the 1969 New York Mets—a consistently last-place team that turned it all around in just one season—told by ’69 Mets outfielder Art Shamsky, Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver and other teammates as they reminisce about what happened then and where they are today.

The New York Mets franchise began in 1962 and the team finished in last place nearly every year. When the 1969 season began, fans weren’t expecting much from “the Lovable Losers.” But as the season progressed, the Mets inched closer to first place and then eventually clinched the National League pennant. They were underdogs against the formidable Baltimore Orioles, but beat them in five games to become world champions. No one had predicted it. In fact, fans could hardly believe it happened. Suddenly they were “the Miracle Mets.” Right-fielder Art Shamsky gets together with Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Ron Swoboda, and Bud Harrelson to reminisce on that life-changing year.

A home run in every way.