Reading a new-old mediaeval history book

I've been reading and rereading medieval history books again. As always, "A World Lit only by Fire" is good as a snapshot of the age. I've finally resolved to plow my way through Edward Gibbon's "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" as daunting as that may be. Someday when I learn Jedi-like powers of discipline maybe I'll tackle Will Durant's "The Story Of Civilization" volumes I-XCIX. *

Right now I'm reading H.S. Bennett's "Life On The English Manor." I have a paper-bound edition I found in a second-hand shop that's been languishing on my shelves for ages. Having read the first third I'm reminded of W.S. Davis' "Life on a Mediaeval Barony." Bennett's is written more for serious scholars in search of extensive footnotes, untranslated Old French, Latin, and other tongues, and a bibliography that would crush a grad student's soul. His scholarship is excellent and his appreciation for fine detail brings clarity to some topics I've wondered about. In particular chapter 5 "Rents and Services" gives me a better understanding of the labor relationship between peasants and lords. The services were variably light or heavy but always an inescapable aspect of feudal society. I'd compare the duty owed by a peasant to work for his lord very similar to a combined income tax, property tax, sales tax; you get the idea.

All governments have some form of taxation, and in mediaeval Europe rents and services were it. Money weren't a big a deal in a society where most of the people either grew or made everything they needed and few consumer goods were available. What was important was land and the labor necessary to do something with it. You didn't ask peasants for coins you asked for sweat. If you want to know more pick up this book and see for yourself. Now its time to run off to bed and read some more of my dead friend Gibbon's words. I see in the biographic sketch in the preface to my edition that he was a soldier. Judging by the descriptions of his (to put it kindly) excessive corpulence he wouldn't have lasted five minutes in the 82d Airborne Division when I was there. (segue to old memories of some sergeant hollering at me "Run, fat-boy!" Gee, those were the days.
* not really 99 volumes, it just seems that way on the shelf.
update; edited for poor spell-check usage