Try the iHome. It's compact and affordable.
I use a Cygnett. It is kind of a pain to figure out how to set the time, but the sound and aesthetics of the unit make up for that minor hassle.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.