Starting points for reading naval history

What books are good starting points for learning naval history?

Start with a synthesis matched to the period or navy of interest, using authors such as Nicholas Rodger, Andrew Lambert, Robert K. Massie, John Jordan, and John Lundstrom.

The recommended starting text depends on the reader's specific interest. Nicholas Rodger covers broad and Age of Sail history, while Andrew Lambert's work on admirals, Robert K. Massie's First World War books, and John Jordan's treaty-era studies offer more focused routes. Norman Friedman's treatment of the Great War at sea and John Lundstrom's carrier-air-war history add further paths into the world wars. Theodore Roosevelt's history of the War of 1812 should be read with its navalist and political purpose in mind.