I'm hoping you guys can make some recommendations. I'm looking for some books that would be pretty comprehensive on the history of cigars, companies, factories, strains, personalities, etc. I'm not really looking for the usual cursory "guide" to cigars, I want something more in-depth. Does what I'm looking for even exist?
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Jesse - This probably isn't what you're looking for exactly, but I thought it was some good information/read. http://altadisusa.com/cigar-101
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Jesse- hit up your local Half Price book store. They tend to have at least 10 to 20 books about cigars and cigar history mixed in with the cooking books and hobby stuff. I found quiet a few there myself that were very interesting and only a few bucks!
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Jeff- I had seen that before, a good source of info but I am wanting more in depth.

Good idea Brandon, I'll have to see what I can find. I just didn't know if there were any books you all recommend specifically.
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While there are others that are more in-depth, I've found these two to be good references that go beyond the basic level which most books stop at, while still being reasonable to understand.

For general history:
The Cigar Connoisseur: An Illustrated History and Guide to the World's Finest Cigars by Nathaniel Lande
For tobacco history:
Cuban Cigar Tobacco: Why Cuban Cigars Are the World's Best by Eumelio Espino Marrero
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This may not be perfect but is a great start. http://www.amazon.com/Tobacco-Cultur...obacco+history

I am now starting joel sherman's book which promises to be what you are asking about. But, i cant say yet.

http://www.amazon.com/Nat-Shermans-P...=cigar+history
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You forgot Dick Hacker's book, Adam. :-)
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I was given a book called “The Cigar Makers of Nicaragua” for a gift over the holidays and found it to be an interesting read.

The book has a forward by Jonathan Drew, and Drew Estates sells the book on their website, but it has a good general history of cigars made in the Estelí region of Nicaragua.
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The videos on that site were great. Does anyone know of any documentaries on cigar production?
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Tons of videos on Youtube. Google is your friend. :-)
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With Wikipedia, be careful with what they say. Check their sources on the bottom of the page. I don't let my students use Wikipedia as a source because there is no verification on the material presented. Anyone can add material and "facts" and they are there for other searchers to see and the info can be complete false or made up.

Sometimes they use good sources (listed at the bottom of the page) and you can use them to get the info you want.
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Yeah, I'm not really looking for videos as I want something I can read in bed. I don't really consider Wikipedia a reliable source of anything.
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