Squeak and his gang are just amazing. When someone recommends philosphical readings about Torah instead of light fiction, he blows a gasket because the recommended books don’t come from his preferred flavor of Orthodox Judaism.
Showing disrespect (bordering on sinah) towards ehrlich frum Jews (and even talmidei chachomim) who follow a different derech than yours, does not make you more frum. Instead it turns Torah and shmiras hamitzvos on its head.
To stay on topic, let me suggest a classic: The biography of Reb Aryeh Levin (A Tzaddik in our Time) is an amazing read. Besides being inspired by his tzidkus and ahavas Yisroel, you will get a good sense of the history of pre-state Israel.