Ummm... 2 books to recommend, one I've read and the other I don't know if it exists!
The first is 'How to Construct a Battleship' or similar written in about 1913. Not readily available! I read it at Bristol's Great Eastern's dockyard library.
It was fascinating, not for the battleship element, but the insight it gives into imperial functionality. Battleships were the ultimate statement of Industrial nations at the time, and only a tiny number of countries had the ability to build them. It gives you an idea of all the other aspects, technology, administration, decision making, strategy, politics, etc involved in creating this massive status symbol. Considering that today we construct nothing of a comparable magnitude, what this book shows is the order of significance of processes involved, which is completely alien to our contemporary mode of thought. Hence its utter usefulness in opening one's mind to Ancient History, where things were done different, but battleships, triumphal arches, irrigation systems, palaces and temples are pretty much interchangeable.
The second book... same concept. I want to read a 'How To' book by an English Political Officer from Africa or India circa 1880 concerning ruling regions with minimal resources.
Basically dealing with the realities of day to day empire running. 'Sanders of the River' for real!
Pax Romana.. Pax Britannia.. Pax Americana..INTERREGNUM RHOOPSIUM