After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection

by James West Davidson, Mark H. Lytle

In Good condition!

Genres: History, Nonfiction, School, Read For School, American History, Teaching, Textbooks

487 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

James West Davidson is a historian, writer, and wilderness paddler. He received his Ph.D. in American history from Yale University and writes full time. He is also co-editor, with Michael Stoff, of New Narratives in American History, a series published by Oxford University Press, as well as the coauthor of textbooks in American history. These include "Experience History," "After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection," and "US: A Narrative History" for the college level and "The American Nation" for the middle grades.

Reviews

[Checkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my old college history textbooks that I've managed to hold onto over the past twenty-seven years. Yesterday I pulled it off the book shelve and read it again. It's aged very well and it's still applicable. Teaches young historians how to "read between the lines" and apply some critical thinking to history. Very glad I've held onto it.

[Jon Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few textbooks and essays on interpreting primary sources and this is by far the best. It is written in narrative form and I often found myself sucked into the story - which is not a common experience for readers of history textbooks! For anybody wanting to learn how to appropriately interact with history and learn basic skills for interpreting primary source material, I highly recommend this book!

[Moses · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful and interesting book that uses specific historical events to show how certain historical methods developed and the insights they can give us. Like much academic historical writing, some chapters end with the pro forma conclusion "Everything is much more complicated and racist than you originally thought." However, I learned a lot that will be helpful to my studies, and since I read this book for a class, I can't ask for much more than that.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's probably cheating to rate this book when I never finished it, but it was an interlibrary loan that I had to return. Anyway, I am fairly certain that the last part of the book was as superb as the first. It is a fascinating view of the process of examining history, as applied to different famous historical events (Salem witch trials, etc.) and I plan to buy my own copy.

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read two of the chapters and it's a very informative supplemental book! I recommend it to anyone interested in this part of history!

[Andrea Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for a history class and as far as text books go, it worked well.

[Jim Yarin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for research, so I did not read every word. What I did read shows the authors did a good job keeping my attention, using historical moments to reflect on how and why we (readers of history) and historians (writers of history) reach the conclusions we reach. I would argue that the writers, like a lot of historians, don't give enough value to the unknown, those facts which when finally discovered (when they are discovered) jump up and bite the behinds of historians, defenestrating their previous work. Just when you think you really understand things, watch out!!!
Also, it would have been worthwhile to see in practice the hard work needed to track down sources, read through rolls of microfilm, query and re-query databases again and again, interview people for informartion, etc., etc. (I assume this was not added in later editions.)
I read the first edition, from 1982, but based on a glance at the TOC of the most recent edition (6th), it seems they have kept to the same general format, only adding in some more chapters to include a broader perspective of the world (e.g., gender).
I wanted to read this book to see how credentialed historians think about the art of historical investigation. I don't think there was a sufficient discussion of the nearly metaphysical efforts needed to discern the factual truth of past events, the process of selecting "evidence." Interpret/schminterpret--if you don't know what evidence is true or not your interpretation is worthless. I disagree that "history" is defined as what you make of past events; I think it is first and foremost the past events themselves. The historian then must present those past events as she finds them and suggest, not tell what the narratives might be that incorporate those events.
On the other hand, what do I know...

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book, combining traditional narratives of various moments in American history, with a deeper exploration of how historians question and deepen those narratives to uncover the true meaning of past events. Each chapter pairs a particular event with a particular historical approach such as grand theory, great man history or organizational theory models. Davidson and Lytle write accessibly, with two audiences in mind. This book could easily be used in an undergraduate or high school AP US history course, but is also geared toward the lay reader, especially those for whom history is synonymous with a simple record of the past.

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing book dedicated to historical methodology that challenges your thinking while also offering you small doses of important hallmarks in American history. I will be thinking about the lessons taught in this book for the rest of my career and cannot recommend it enough. Unfortunately, it does not address LGBTQ+ history, hope the next edition includes a case study around AIDS or Obergafell in order to maintain up to date on historical discourse. While it attempts to give a well-rounded view of American history it does fall short in bringing case studies surrounding minorities, only a handful revolve around women or people of color, but they are mentioned in every chapter.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say that this is the first assigned textbook that I LOVED reading. It spans American history, offering insights that actually blew me away. The authors introduced points and tied together concepts in logical, brilliant ways. Plus, there was a whole chapter about Jacob Riis, a super cool historical figure who doesn't get enough love in history books!

I'm really glad I actually bought this book rather than rented it from the campus bookstore!

[Scott Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting approach to teaching history. 14 episodes from American history (the Salem witch trials, slavery, the decision to drop the atomic bomb, etc.) are recounted and each account is used to relate a different approach of researching (the study of photographs, the "great man" theory, etc.) Most of the accounts are well told, and although it does get a little dry in parts, it is still a fascinating read.

[Wyatt strawbridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covered a lot of interesting American history, but what it didn't cover much of was its topic: how history is written. There was always a brief note on how the chapter's history was specifically engaging with method in a new and helpful way, but aside from the intro, a brief discussion on photographs, and the final two pages, this was not a book on method, which is what I wanted it to be.

[R Bilder · Rating 4 out of 5]

You won't find answers here. This book is about how to look at history and view it within it's parameters. Like a detective looking for clues to the whys. The big picture. Interesting..... I got this book while reading, "Lies My Teacher Told Me". Also a good read.

[Susanna Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was actually a textbook for one of my history courses in college but my husband and I both have come to regard it as one of our all time favorites

[Frederick J · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and very readable introduction to the historian's craft.

[Elizabeth Vilchis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo. I loved this required reading. It should be assigned to all history majors.

[Steven Minniear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth reading. Non-historians will gain great insight into what the study of history is and is not. Added benefit: you don’t have to read the whole thing to get that insight.

[Alexander Jolley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully thought provoking. An important book for historians to read.

[Marielle Mullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

still thinking about who killed silas diane

[Joleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever look into how history is constructed, not just written. Each chapter works like a case study in skepticism, revealing the human fingerprints behind historical “truth.” Essential for anyone who wants to understand history as a living debate.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the Fact reinterpretation & reconstruction...over and again conventionally wisdom, status quo, accepted fact. The Point Of View (which is indeed the overarching theme of the work) of the historical subjects, events, etc...and the multipities of POV is what the historian must investigate. The raw data of the past has to be woven into history. These vinagettes are about questioning the text...asking questions you did not know they could ask. One engages in a thoughtful and imaginative puzzle. Although, at moments in this work, one is overwhelmed by the shear number of historical curosities and the race to incorporate as many connecting factors as possible. Nonetheless, it is an engaging piece of historical scholarship.

[Mark Flowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE: some thoughts on how to use this book to read other history texts are here: http://crossreferencing.wordpress.com...

This is one of my all time favorite history books. Davidson and Lytle go through American history, starting in Salem and ending at Watergate and pick out a variety of interesting cases through which to show how historians do their work--critical analysis of documents, grand theories, interpretative models, and more. Each chapter is a fabulous piece of history in its own right, and altogether they form a picture of how history should be done and how it should be presented to readers. Just fantastic.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for my seminar class in college and it drastically changed the way I viewed history ever since. The main premise - that the version of the story you are hearing is just that, a version, and must be subjected to critical evaluation - made me look at everything differently, from the news to stories people tell me at the dog park. No one can be completely objective in their telling of an event and what they say (and don't say!) is significant.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cool textbook. My professor didn't assign as many chapters as I would have liked, but what he did assign was really interesting. This textbook teaches you how to use certain sources and what questions to ask through really interesting periods in history. (For example, there were a lot of maps that displayed the socioeconomic status of the population and focal trading points of Salem before the witch trials began.) Overall, this was a pretty fun textbook.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing in this revisionist history book is easily accessed. The stories the authors tell are filled with little known details that make you, the audience, ponder the traditional versions of the history topic. Not only does the reader gain deeper understanding of specific historical events, she also learns new techniques for studying and teaching history in a more critical manner.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this look at historical study. It is good for any historiographyical approach towards history and looks in-depth at the study of history. An interesting book to read and really easy to follow.

[Alexander Monaco · Rating 2 out of 5]

In truth, this book probably wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't need to analyze ever single word for my history course in order to not get a B on every assignment. Not an awful book, but certainly drones on at times.

[Liston Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look as several periods in history that have been misunderstood. This book examines the way in which historians often make bad assumtions and as a result miss important details.

[Laura Petto · Rating 4 out of 5]

for APUSH...

[T. Smith]

Mine's the 2nd edition.