I've been meaning to buy some history books, but it's difficult for me to judge whether something is worth the money or not. So I'm here asking for opinions on the following titles.

Barry Cunliffe: Iron Age Britain
Peter Harbison: Pre-Christian Ireland: From the First Settlers to the Early Celts
Hornblower & Spawforth: The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization
Rene Grousset: Empire of the Steppes
J.E. Curtis: Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia
George Rawlinson: Phoenicia: History of a Civilization
H. G. Rawlinson: Bactria, The History Of A Forgotten Empire
Romila Thapar: Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300

Are these good reads, on their respective subjects, for a layman with an interest? If not, can you recommend better books on these subjects (anything that isn't hideously expensive that is)? Thank you in advance for any replies.