History or politics book - special buy

Had no idea what to call this thread so sorry if title is misleading. A friend is turning 40 recently and although they have asked for no presents I wanted to get something for them. She loves politics and history and i don't mind spending up to maybe €60 so just wondering if anyone has come across a book which made an impact on you?

"Postwar: A history of Europe since 1945" by Tony Judt http://www.amazon.co.uk/Postwar-His...=1432333166&sr=8-1&keywords=postwar+tony+judt

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001IDZJ2W/ref=rdr_ext_tmb (The Great Upheaval; America and the birth of the modern world.)
The best history book I ever read.
It discusses the birth of the modern nation state and the close relationship between the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the groundbreaking writings of Rousseau and the woman who had such a large impact on all of them; Catherine the Great.