Who is the Historian?

by Nigel A Raab

Who is the historian? What do historians do? Where do their explorations take them? What is the impact of the digital age on historical research?

In an affable style, Nigel A. Raab answers these questions for those intrigued by the past. Each chapter describes a specific aspect of "doing history," beginning in the physical spaces of archives and libraries around the globe. Readers are then introduced to the sources—texts, oral interviews, films, and objects—which historians interpret. Raab points out that historians do not work alone with their materials; rather, archivists, librarians, and others play a crucial role in what he calls the web of the historian's work. Readers will also learn about the skill set imparted to those pursuing a historical education. In the final chapter, Raab brings all these themes together to demonstrate the value of the historian in the contemporary world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published January 8, 2016

Reviews

[Shaymaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The historian no longer operates behind closed doors in Nigel A. Raab’s Who Is the Historian? Through an exploration of historians’ work, the spaces in which they do it, and the diversity of sources and methods they employ, Raab effectively dispels the tired stereotype of the scholar in isolation and offers a more detailed and vivid account of what the work of a historian really entails. As the author’s central argument proposes, the historian “is more than just an individual who works tirelessly behind the scenes to produce pages and pages of typescript” (119). In addition, during a time in which universities are increasingly fixated on achieving measurable returns on their investments, history and the humanities in general have become victims of budget cuts and have had their value questioned while the sciences are placed on a pedestal. However, Raab makes it clear that the humanities have an undeniable influence in understanding our selves and the world around us, and the historian is a vital player in interpreting our humanity.

A recurring argument throughout the book, Raab stresses that the study of history is not simply an activity pursued in isolation. Referencing Friedrich Nietzche, Raab emphasizes that “the study of history could not be an abstract, intellectual exercise but had to be attached to life itself” (91). To some degree, the historian must be immersed in the physical environment to develop an understanding of the groups that inhabit it. I particularly appreciated Raab’s juxtaposition of academic spaces like libraries and archives with the social settings right outside their doors. The example of the South California Library seen as an unwelcoming or foreign space by minority groups in its neighbourhood illustrated this point well. As Raab points out, “the doors of the library were open to all, but not everyone felt comfortable going in” (4). The physical space where the historian intends to study can be a source of understanding in and of itself. This reinforces again that historical work cannot be removed from the very humanity that makes up the subject of its study.

Raab’s principal strength in this book plays out in his use of anecdotes to illustrate arguments. By making parallels to his own work as a historian, Raab not only establishes himself as an authority on this subject, but also renders the text much more grounded in lived experiences while simultaneously making it an enjoyable read. In addition, Raab offers no shortage of examples to give the reader a sense of the countless possibilities open to a historian. What is particularly impressive, for instance, is how the author offers ways in which a plethora of sources can be interpreted using the five senses in his chapter “The Sources We Use.” Raab situates history as a multi-sensory experience and demonstrates how multifaceted the interpretation of sources can be. Specifically, his writing on sound in history was astounding, bringing to the fore that in “most written documents the soundtrack is missing” (36). I definitely saw the historical practice in a different light upon reading this chapter.

While Who Is the Historian? is a book worthy of praise, it does invite some critique. Raab’s writing on the travels of the historian in the opening chapter seemed to overly romanticize the experience with talk of wanderlust in pursuit of greater knowledge. Admittedly I grew somewhat envious of the historian’s peripatetic lifestyle, though I do now conceive that travel plays a considerable role in the work of a historian. Overall, Raab’s literary travelogue of the globetrotting scholar comes off as too whimsical at times. However, the author quickly follows this chapter with a dose of reality as he discusses the many challenges regarding sources and the complications that the historian can face when it comes to the quality of these sources, their interpretation, and their preservation. Another element of the book that is an interesting addition is Raab’s choice to switch between the gender pronouns he and she when referring to “the historian,” perhaps in an effort to further shatter the notion that history is only his-story. However, when it comes to his many references to the work of other historians, the examples Raab has chosen come overwhelmingly from male scholars, with the exception of a handful of references to female scholarship interspersed throughout the book. This is not to discredit the work of male historians due to their gender, but to point out that when working to move beyond the trope of the male scholar, female historians’ contributions should be emphasized and acknowledged more, as this in itself would have been more effective at helping readers reimagine the historian than simply changing pronouns.

Raab’s chapter on “The Historian in the Digital Age,” which presents more questions than answers, opens up even further issues concerning digital content that have yet to be tackled, let alone resolved. While the utopian view of the Internet celebrates the democratization of information, there is an interesting power dynamic at play today involving users who want the web to be more open-source, as opposed to private interests that have a stake in being gatekeepers of information. Raab slightly alludes to concerns of ownership when it comes to servers, but this issue has interesting ramifications for future historians and requires more in depth exploration (81). In addition, Raab’s tone in this chapter sometimes comes off as technologically deterministic, making it seem like the historian is at the mercy of technology, scurrying to learn and adapt to each new advancement in order to stay in the loop. While technology certainly is advancing at an overwhelmingly rapid rate, I think historians can exercise greater influence in how they want to use technology. Considering that the preceding chapter had just praised and emphasized interdisciplinary work between the historian and countless other fields, historians can potentially have a deep impact on technology and interface design that is sensitive to the work they do and how they do it, such as digital archiving and the like, by working closely with those in computer science and media communications.

All in all, Raab has successfully demystified the work of the historian and dispelled the stereotype of the elitist tweed-clad, middle-aged white man inspecting antiquated texts in his private study— an image that many of us with no knowledge of the extents of the historian’s work may have initially had. It will be interesting to see future editions of this book adapt to the changing times, perhaps dedicating more work to the historian in digital space. Who Is the Historian? should be required reading for all first-year history students whose idea of a historian may not necessarily be fully developed. History professors themselves can benefit from reading this text to better help their students navigate the field of historical exploration. Raab’s book can expose students to the infinite paths available to them that transcend the traditional notions of who a historian is or should be.

[Breanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Who is the Historian, written by Nigel A. Raab is considered to be an influential reading towards History majors, and potential historians who are interested in the past. The book itself, has many great qualities which lead into it’s potential advantages for future historians and also exhibits some weaknesses towards their future as well.
    As previously mentioned the book exhibits strengths towards the future historian. This is demonstrated through the selective chapters given discussing where the historian works, the sources used, the assisted help they receive, and through the mindset of the historian. As noticed in the first chapter, Nigel Raab mentioned that if someone was to ask another where the local archives were displayed in their local community, the answer they would receive would be a blank. This is considered to be disappointing towards historians because their work is essential in understanding history. It is stated throughout the first chapter that the, “movement of archival materials complicates life for the historian because she does not always know where the documents are, or even if the location is known.” (Raab, 7) With this mentioned, the author is strengthening the argument of where the historian's work and when they can actually work due to the availability of these sources. The introduction of physical spaces given displays the availability of libraries today which give the historian an open atmosphere. Another advantage of working as a historian, is the sense of adventure for many to travel the world. It is mentioned that if the historian does this their work, to find a historical document or to study a particular culture affects the historian's research for the better.
According to the second chapter, there are many different sources which historians are able to choose from which helps to strengthen their research and inevitably find research on their topic. Agreeingly with Raab, sources can come from any shape or size which includes, “telegrams to personal letters to imperial letterhead..which the historian can create a web of interactions from the past.” (Raab, 20) With the many sources found on a certain topic, this allows the historian to develop further analysis and also strengthens their work. Discussed in the second chapter is oral history which historians use and study for their work. This can be a strength due to the stories being past down and to understanding the attitudes of an individual.
“Historical research is to a large degree team oriented, and the historian relies on, and in her turn helps, a web of professionals who remove barriers, suggest new paths, and offer assistance.” (Raab, 45) The advantage for the historian is the help of librarians, curators and archivists. This is to be mentioned that librarians, curators and archivists also need the help of historians as well. With the help of librarians they assist on, “the directed collection of books, the purchasing of older manuscripts, the development of search engines, collaboration on research projects, interlibrary loan systems, and the sharing of information,” (Raab, 48) this is to be known that librarians assist the historian wherever they need it. The curators are considered to be a participant in helping historians find their research. This is an advantage for the historian in assisting in finding sources and explaining the history of photographs to incorporate its factual status. An archivist is another prime example of an advantage towards historians because without their help, the documents being selected would be wrong, as well as the sources would represent different topics entirely. Archivists give the historian a way through the documents such as a navigational tool, “without the help of librarians, curators, archivists, and other professionals, historians would keep writing the same books...and would have fewer books, and fewer documents to leaf through.” (Raab, 61)
The last advantage for historians in, Who is the Historian is through the skill set of the historian. Critical thinking is a skill which historians should possess to help further their research and give the historian an increased set of qualities. The way in which future historians are taught is considered to be a strength towards historians through the topics of global trade and through the emphasis of bodies of water. The skill set of historians also comes from the numerous museums which they have access to, along with the people in the museums whom offer their assistance. With the knowledge of languages, can also assist the historian in several research documents due to the translating and historical background information regarding these sources. The majority of languages, besides english, is considered to be important in other places of the world and are located in their museums. With a greater knowledge of these languages, a historian could not be stopped in his or her progress of their research.
A disadvantage that I believe is demonstrated in this book is the fourth chapter which talks about the historian in the digital age. This chapter is to show how many historians do not know how to use digital archives and/or documents. Throughout this chapter, the author specifically mentions that the complexity of historical practises is considered to be changed. Personally I would like to actually go to a museum or a library and find the information myself without the additional information on the internet. Some people may see this chapter as an advantage for historians today because it makes their life simpler, however, there is no sense of adventure to the historian whom just looks on the internet for answers.
    In my own opinion, Who is the Historian, shows the many advantages for a historian to have and shows what a historian does. The historian depends on others for help with their research and others depend on historians as well. The book written by Raab, demonstrates who the historian is and is essentially everyone who contributes. With the numerous chapters in this book, along with the many examples of states and countries whom give the reading an extra advantage, this helps readers fully understand what Raab is speaking about. The initial examples allow the reader to further make observations about the book and the historian themself.

[Lisa Oversby · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his introduction, Raab mentions the two important lessons he has learned over his years of teaching. The first being that most people do not realize what career paths there are in the field of History (besides that of a professor) and second, that people do not understand the benefits of having an education in the humanities or how they apply to life in general (xi-xii). Most people believe that the only path for a historian is that of a teacher or professor but that is just not the case. Within the field itself, there are the options of an archivist, a librarian or a curator and outside of the field, there are many more opportunities presented by the fact that a history degree develops students who are versatile, knowledgeable and adaptable to any job setting. The possibilities multiply when the student knows multiple languages or takes on another major or minor in another area of study. He sets these two lessons as his goals for this book presenting them in a way that transforms the common misconception of a historian sitting at a desk and reading through boring old documents to the exciting profession that it is for all those that have chosen it as their career while also outlining the challenges that a historian faces all while encompassing this information in a way that is entirely inclusive.

Throughout the book, the author compares being a historian to being an adventurer or explorer, always travelling and discovering new bits of information and conveying them to the world. This portrayal exists in contrast to the common idea that historians sit in an office and read all day. However, as exciting as this portrayal is, it does seem over fantasized with a degree of bias as the author is himself a historian. That is, until he starts to discuss the challenges that a historian can encounter. His analysis of the challenges grounds the work to properly represent the field in order to steer away from being over the top and unrealistic. It offers insight into the difficulties that could develop from new forms of sources, such as the internet and film, in addition to analyzing the relevance and challenges of traditional sources. He goes on to outline the skills that historians develop but also the skills that other disciplines can contribute to the field and relates history to the much larger concept of the world and how historians affect it. He also dispels the idea that the historian works alone when in fact the historian relies on the expertise of others, such as an archivist, to help find sources or even to inspire new aspects to research. Raab does a fantastic job of conveying the magic a historian feels behind all of the effort and time that goes into their work while also discussing its realities. He has formed the perfect balance.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of his work is his determination to be inclusive not only in terms of possibilities of career paths, skills and sources but also in terms of gender. Raab does not try to define a historian as one gender or another nor does he restrict himself to the pronoun of his own gender as many authors do. Instead, he utilizes both male and female pronouns when needed but in most cases avoids using pronouns at all in order to avoid defining a historian as being of a particular gender. In one instance, he utilizes a male pronoun, for example, “When the historian understands these multiple lives, he gains a greater toehold on the past” (33) (from his section describing the use of objects as sources) while in another he uses a female pronoun, such as “the young historian can pick from hundreds of roads that lie before her” (90) (from his discussion of the different roads a historian can take). He applies this same tactic of not assigning a gender to other professions and roles throughout the book as well. The use of pronouns also serves to portray historians as real people instead of making them seem imaginary by repeating 'the historian' throughout the work. His desire to be inclusive only extends to the career paths, skills and sources he describes as well though this decision is more to describe as many possibilities to the reader in order to show the breadth that the field contains.

As Nigel Raab states in his conclusion, “Whether an archivist, a librarian, or a history professor, this individual is a traveller and an explorer, an adventurer into unknown circumstances. The individual is a reader and a scourer and a translator and an interpreter...the historian is more than just an individual who works tirelessly behind the scenes to produce pages and pages of typescript. You can't judge a book by its cover, and you hardly get to know the historian by reading the book” (118-119). This quote embodies all that Raab sets out to do in his work. From dispelling the misconceptions of the life of a historian to demonstrating the various paths and benefits associated with obtaining a history degree. The author reveals the hidden career paths available to a historian in addition to the benefits of a degree in the Humanities in a completely inclusive way that shows the historian in a new light while also presenting the challenges that historians face. This book has my highest recommendation particularly for first-year university students who are looking to explore their options in order to determine the path they intend to take. I would also recommend the book for upper year high school students interested in history as a post-secondary education but who are unsure of their choice and where it will take them. This book is even a good choice for parents that are unsure of the future of their child within the field of history. In summary, the work is essentially a how-to guide to being a historian with a thorough analysis of the field as it stands and of how it could develop in the future. It is well written and inclusive and therefore is a work that is a must read for students and historians alike.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raab, Nigel A. Who Is the Historian? University of Toronto Press, 2016
Dr. Nigel A. Raab explores and exemplifies all the corners of what a historian is. He does this in a way that comes off as a non-intimidating academic publishing. As one begins the journey that is Who Is the Historian?, a story is introduced. One which narrates how research is carried out in the classical and contemporary fashions, the way in which students of history are educated in the same respect, as well as the societal illustrations of historian’s contributions. Dr. Raab covers the academic and social timeline of historians over these last couple centuries, focusing primarily on why modern historians are the way they are. Interestingly, the book provides a sort of history lesson in and of itself, while additionally revealing tips and guidelines for the aspiring historian.
All throughout the coarse of the read, Dr. Raab presents this movement from conventional historical research to contemporary. Comparisons are made between the traditional historian who would travel from archive to archive to research studies, to the new wave historian who uses loads of digitized documents while traveling to digital libraries. Not to discredit past methods of research, as in many cases Dr. Raab is sure to maintain the authenticity and irreplaceable excitement that comes from field studies. Spread through the text are constant references to archives around the world and vivid recollections of Dr. Raab’s own experiences in them, all while fueling this fire of interest that any historian would feel during the read. He refers to a time where a curator-historian responded to a house call to investigate old photos in a dim-lit basement in New York. It is here that Dr. Raab notes how, “the historian had an exciting adventure in an unexpected work environment.” (8) This idea of historians completing field work specifically in archives is overrun with a variety of other locations one may find themselves in while researching. A noteworthy theme Dr. Raab drives home is that of historical studies coming full circle. Dissecting the notion further, essentially he points out how classic field studies in archives has grown into using photographs, films, furniture, people, and the internet as reference-worthy sources. Mentions of the historian’s traditional workspace as a ‘four walled room’ are overcome courtesy of the new dimensions of study. The theme mentioned, ‘studies coming full circle’, however, directly relates to the digital network of historical studies, and how such information is accessible from a historian’s office, otherwise thought of as a ‘four walled room’.
The education process from mandatory history class in elementary school, to high school, up to an undergraduate, masters, or PhD in history has grown, adapted and will continue to. Something very interesting that this book touches on is how the same text that students are required to read in school, was developed by a historian who also was once required to read a similar historic text. Such information often times is biased and limited to the geographic location of the school and the author(s) of the texts. Dr. Raab refers to the idea of a ‘global community’ quite a bunch. This idea is not only what fuels education, but it is the foundation of a proper historical society, and society in general. A sort of ‘global coffee shop’ makes reference (in part) to a literal coffee shop which serves its purpose as a common social place of gathering primed for the exchange of thought and opinion. With seven-billion humans in world, it would be a shame to not utilize all that potential, which is something that comes across in Who Is the Historian?. Historians from a variety of cultures, who communicate in multiple languages, and all have differing backgrounds provide fantastic fuel to load into the rocket that is the progressive world. Much comparison between the sciences and the humanities is a part of this read. I found the relationship between the two vastly relevant in both historic and contemporary society. While the book is sure to give credit to the sciences and point out the field’s positive reputation among the masses, Dr. Raab does not shy away from the fact that “we need both” (117), in reference to historiography being of equal relevance to science. The general conclusion he makes is that historians are constantly evolving and equipping themselves with the latest technology to keep up with other disciplines, and they continue to provide relevant knowledge to a society that does not entirely find historical work on its own as valuable as it once was considered.
Countering the idea that not all contributions are as valued as they should be by society, Dr. Raab thoroughly notes the less-blatant historical influences. Without the efforts of historians, people may believe that horses were native to North America, and that spices did not move around, and they would be sorely incorrect. Dr. Raab rather interestingly makes reference to the combined efforts of historians and architects to construct airports and businesses alike. How, through the study of previous social tendencies, a historian is able to detect why a road system is not working to its full potential, or why it is that people in plainly constructed airports find themselves experiencing negative emotions. It is these subtle adaptations and growth, like the properly pathed roads, the attractively designed airports and such buildings, along with the knowledge behind animals and food product origins, that contribute to this attractively educated populous. One literacy technique I particularly enjoyed was how Dr. Raab consistently switched between ‘he’ and ‘she’ when referring to a historian. It was very neat to read a book that so subtlety pushed equality among historians. I would constitute the trait itself as a contribution to society coming from a historian.
I consider Who Is the Historian?, though concise, an intriguing book that provides insight into a modern historian. Briefing the reader on the history of historians in a way that fuses the title into a current and relevant point of interest. I found the book an interesting read, and it touched on things I had already known or thought, like the ‘global village’ and the greatness that is achieved through interdisciplinary study. It smoothly elaborates on a historian’s research techniques, educational growth, and concurrent relevance. The references to the multiple archive sites (L.A. and Russia) really solidified his points on this world of knowledge that when blended together, only produces positive growth. Lastly, the hope that a reader gains by the end of the book is refreshing; this idea that history as a field can and does lead to a multitude of valuable professions filled with societal contributions and self-satisfaction

[Katherine Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Electrical engineer turned historian, Nigel A. Raab writes a compelling narrative discussing who the historian has traditionally been, and who the young historian can aspire to be. Raab’s open and sincere writing style can appeal to young students who are interested in a career in the humanities, but may feel underwhelmed with the field’s job opportunities. The approachable and easy to read chapters of, “Who is the Historian?” slowly introduces the reader to the diverse facets of history that new comers to academia may be unaware of. This short book not only introduces the young history student to different career paths, it also illustrates how history is becoming an interdisciplinary study of geography, music, philosophy, statistics, technology, literature, oral traditions, and visual arts.

While there are many stereotypes the historian may fall under, Raab’s paperback attempts to remove the idea of an introverted man in a tweed jacket from the modern readers mind, and replace him with an adventurous and extroverted historian. Somehow, the author is able to sell the historian as an interdisciplinary world trotter who is educated in everything from mathematics to geography (75). Constantly comparing the old historian to the new, young historians are not necessarily encouraged to remember dates anymore, but rather how to pick up unexpected sounds or significant historical treads in order to decipher new meanings. Modern historians do not find value in the memorization of dates, but instead find value in understanding the significance of the historical string of dates. Raab encourages his young readers to seek out and revisit the lost voices in history. Perhaps adding new perceptions or researching the underappreciated ones can somehow make us feel like there truly is more to discover. The general public have come to the false assertion that, “everything worth discovering has already been found.” This book aims to challenge that perspective and prove that the new historian is keen on discovering forgotten histories.
The author combines his narrative voice with an educational one resulting in an approachable, yet very informative text. I was able to learn about history as I was learning about historians. This was something I was never exposed to before and found this approach very unique and clever. I was introduced to stories about historians and many different kinds of history that I would not have otherwise been exposed to. For example, Patricia Kennedy Grimsted tracked down millions of rare German books residing in Moscow, and made it possible for the catalogue to be preserved. This is a fabulous example of not only how women have contributed to the preservation of history, but also how historians are forced to consider the international and legal dimensions surrounding their archival documents (8). Not only does the author have worldly stories to tell, Raab periodically contributes a little bit of himself to his book. The author does not hesitate to include personal antidotes about reading in an obscure library in St. Petersburg, or about his own lecture material (11, 93).

Instead of teaching the reader how to research an artifact, Raab encourages the reader to relate to the people where the artifact may have originated from. Instead of focusing on the rural village sawmill, Raab asks his reader to wonder, “[did the sounds of the mill] enter the villager’s dreams?”(36). This approach to guiding students on how to philosophize about history is radically different and more empirical than researching the mechanics of an 18th century sawmill. It enforces the overarching scheme Raab has devoted this book to, and that is to resurrect history. Most artefacts or written documents are missing their accompanying sound tracks, and Raab dedicates many pages in his book in order to explain how one cannot conceptualize history without integrating an analysis of sound (40). The inclusion of sound will help the historian empathize with the people they are researching.

Raab continues to emphasize how important life is to history, and how the new discoveries and interruptions of different lives throughout history can change modern life. Universities in North America are fundamentally changing how they teach history and how the courses are presented to students. What was once called, “Antebellum America” could now be titled, “Race, Repression, and Modes of Resistance in Antebellum America” (91). This is due to a new found embrace of thematic history and professors becoming more open to the idea of teaching students a global perspective. Memories and how we reflect on them are being studied differently in the historical field as well. An image of a WWI German solider means something entirely different in 1925, 1955, or 1995 (33). Historians are cognitively aware that their current interpretation or perspective of an image may change in the next ten years, because our perspective of the past is always fluctuating.
“Who is the Historian?” is a refreshing and relatable piece young historians ought to read for a number of reasons. Firstly, the author switches between feminine and masculine pronouns when referring to professionals throughout his book. In some sections, historians are referred to as women while librarians are referred to as men. As an aspiring female historian, I sincerely appreciate the use of my appropriate pro-noun and the inclusion of my gender in an overwhelmingly male dominated discipline. Raab comfortably includes tales of men and women throughout his discussion of historians and humanity’s professions alike. Secondly, Raab heavily relies on the work of influential philosophers and how they approach history. Each chapter includes at least one mention of a famous and well established philosopher, while nearly every chapter includes continental philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. There has been a budding relationship between history and philosophy for last two hundred years, beginning with Georg Hegel. Since then, the reinterpretation of history with the use of philosophy has become increasingly popular in academia. Michel Foucault’s work has gained significant popularity since his death in 1984, and the relationship between history and philosophy is only growing. I appreciate how Raab is incorporating and properly citing philosophers for their work in epistemology, language, and history.

In conclusion, not only was the author successful in reminding his audience how alive and diverse the field of history is, he was able to modernize the discipline and generate excitement for the future of history. The new historian does not need a doctorate on her wall; she need only be “a traveler, an explorer, and an adventurer” (119).

[Darryn Walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

The role of the historian is vast and their job title comes with a lot of work that many do not know is being done. Nigel A. Raab, author of Who is the Historian, not only examines the historian, but explores the many stereotypes placed on them and gives readers a look into what actually comes with the job title. Raab makes sure readers know that the role of a historian is much vaster than what many people think it is. It is a very diverse field and throughout the book, each chapter looks at different aspects of the job and eliminates the stereotypes, while educating readers on what it is they actually do.
Firstly, the book examines the spaces in which historians work and addresses the stereotype that historians sit in libraries and archives for hours on end, pouring over books conducting research. While this is true of historians at times, it is much more complex than that. Raab address the fact that the ‘office’ of the historian takes on many forms, and while the library and archive are good examples, it is not limited to these two. The book gives the example of the State Archive of the Russian Federation, also known as the GARF, and the Southern California Library for Social Studies. The GARF in contrast to the Southern California Library, is much more traditional and intimidating. Many pass by it daily, but few know that it is an archive and holds a collection of Russian documents and once considered secrets, inside. It is far less welcoming of an environment than the Southern California Library which is located in the heart of a neighbourhood and whose outward appearance is more inviting and less intimidating. The Southern California Library is a space that encourages local participation, and its role in the community was once a depository and now can be accessed by anyone (6). The author does a good job describing the settings in which historians work and provided many more examples of libraries and archives worldwide that contrast each other. Some being inviting and modern, and others being old and bearing rooms upon rooms of books. Some that can be accessed by anyone, and others, such as the Huntington Library which you need to apply to access certain materials.
Raab also examines the many sources the historian uses and goes into much detail to open the eyes of readers to more than just books and documents. While documents are definitely a great source for historians, others such as: novels, film and photographs, and music, are also agreeable sources. New sources for historians emerge very frequently and Raab enlightens readers of the less traditional but equally as accepted sources. How historians gather their research is also touched upon, being that the historian cannot simply work alone to produce work. Raab examines the interdisciplinary relationships of the historian. This also poses the question of ‘Who can be a historian?’ A historian cannot simply be limited to those who have studied history and received a degree in the field. Can librarians and museum curators also be looked at as historians? Raab addresses this issue and outlines their need to work alongside historians. The historian often collaborates with people in other fields to aid them in research. The book gives the example of William McNeil, who wrote Plagues and People, which explored how diseases affected the development of human civilizations (66). This allows readers to understand that the historian is not limited to what he/she can study, and makes it known that you don’t have to have the skills of a doctor to study medicinal history or a musician to conduct research about music.
Who is the Historian, also looks at the history in conjunction with technology, which is changing the way history is researched daily. While the digitization of documents and even books makes research much more easy, it also provides new tools and methods such a using YouTube to gather information. Raab also touches upon the difficulties of digital age historians
today now live in, such as not being able to see the context of documents since you cannot physically see them or where they came from. This section of the book also eliminates the stereotype that historians sift through books and documents daily as the sole method of research. Shortly after this section of the book, Raab also looks at what skills one needs to be considered a historian and the training they receive. As stated earlier, a historian is not limited to those who have studied history in school. Historians will quickly understand that scholars in many fields write journals and books on historical topics. Raab gives the example of school curriculums changing the way they present material. For example, people now study world history to get a different look at cultures from a non-Eurocentric point of view (91). Reading and going to school are not the only ways the book looks at on how skills of historians are obtained. Going to museums, talking to curators and exploring the physical world we live in today are also methods of gaining skills. A good example of this is a course at the University of Windsor, History of Detroit Architecture. Instead of sitting in a classroom and studying the architecture of Detroit, Michigan, students are taken in buildings and around neighbourhoods to receive a different perspective of conducting research.
Overall, Raab does a great job engaging readers by challenging the many stereotypes placed on historians, and brings to light all that comes with being a historian. This book encourages readers to continue studying the historian by providing a list of further readings which can give readers other sources and information on the topic. I personally believe that one downfall to this book was that it provided too many examples that were often repetitive, especially in chapter one where Raab listed many libraries and archives which all contrasted each other in similar ways. The book was successful, however, on making it easy for readers to
understand all that the historian does and eliminated the different stereotypes that the historian has acquired over the decades. I would recommend this book to first year university history students, so that they can understand what historians, and maybe themselves, in the future can do. I would also recommend this book to other disciplines, for it provides readers with alternate forms of sources to explore and methods of conducting research.

Word Count: 1075

[Adam D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The purpose of studying history and that of the historian are often debated within the discipline and criticized from outside. Nigel A. Raab aims to eliminate the stigma of the historian who sits behind a desk, in an office, reading a dusty book. Not only does he accomplish that, in fact he goes on to further explain the paradigm between the historian, those who aid in their academic work and society as a whole. He takes one of the broadest and quite honestly the dullest topic for any book relating to history but manages to break it down and explain his opinion in such a concise and fascinating method that it completely changes your outlook on the simple question, “who is the historian?”. I intend to comment upon his view on history as a profession. Furthermore, I will acclaim his explanation of the interaction of history with other disciplines.
Throughout the book Raab slowly breaks down the conventional stereotypes associated to the historian and reveals the many overlooked key elements of the historian. Each chapter encompasses their own individual concept, never directly answering the question with a one dimensional answer of who is the historian but instead progressively paints an accurate representation of a historian within your mind. He explores the many different environments in which the historian does research, using the juxtaposition of a historian’s uncomfortable experience at the State Archive of the Russian Federation to the hospitable environment of the Southern California Library for Social Studies or the journey through maze-like archives and libraries. Raab covers the broad spectrum of sources that are emerging in the evolving study of history instead of just the ordinary books and miscellaneous papers. The interactions and symbiotic relationship of the historian and archivists and librarians is reflected upon showing a dynamic that would otherwise be unknown to the average person. The conventional skill set of the historian being solely based around “critical thinking” is debated by the evolving study of history that instead of focusing only on traditional history, courses entwining history and prominent social themes are emerging and becoming more and more prevalent within post secondary studies. This easily transitions to the next section that discusses the social influence that historians have had over the course of modern society. Notably, the ideas that history can: contextualize the progression of science to cultural changes, overcome political influences over a population by debating corrupt national history and slowly change social norms.
While the book’s intent is to focus on the many aspects of the historian, Raab does an excellent job introducing the many different varieties of historians other than the traditional paths of a history professor or a teacher. Instead of going through a plain list of options, he alludes to their impact on the historian and the study of history and delves deeper from there. The while the allusions are extremely simple they open a completely new way of viewing the world for example, “When we visit museums, we tend to forget all of the preparatory work behind the hanging of a painting”. (94) To me this was rather profound; I have frequented museums like the DIA and never truly pondered just how much effort the curators have to put into assembling an exhibit. While the descriptions may be small, condensing the history of a piece and deciding what is most important is not a simple task. He then references less thought about jobs historians have within museums, from escorting valuable pieces safely during transit or restoring them without compromising the historical importance. He notes that the combination of a background in history mixed with other skills lead to many new possibilities. History majors can branch off to acquire a Masters in library studies or archival studies. With the addition of linguistic skills a historian can set out to become anything from a diplomat to a social activist abroad.
Where Raab excels at the most is describing the interdisciplinary relationship between History and a vast range of other studies. Instead of focusing only on how history impacts other disciplines, he seeks to show how other studies work alongside history or even introduce new ways of studying history. The coexistence of the historian and libraries or archives is described as a give and take relationship. While librarians and archivists collect and sort out sources the vast amount of work cannot be done by them alone. In return, historians often make note of important documents within the masses but he admits that ‘”our libraries would exist without historians, but the historian could not exist without the library”. (48) Raab uses the example of Schorske’s essay “Explosion in the Garden: Kokoschka and Schoenberg” to make note of how interdisciplinary work is not without small flaws in the other discipline but often still well received. He pays homage to those of other disciplines who directly incorporate their work into history; he explains the impact of a political philosopher Jürgen Habermas. While Raab indicates that Habermas’ work was initially highly criticized by historians, his work greatly influenced a generation of historians showing how easily an outside source can introduce a new way of interpreting the past. Similarly, the description of William Mcneill’s Plagues and Peoples’ scientific and medical approach to history managed to highly undermine the Eurocentric theories behind the conquest of the new world.
Raab’s Who Is the Historian? is overall a very well thought out book presenting more than just the traditional view. In his final paragraph he leaves a particularly good parting remark “You can’t judge a book by its cover, and you hardly get to know the historian by reading the book.” (119) The Further Reading section at the end of the book is a pleasant addition to the book that provides more sources related to the book, and all of the historical works that were referred to. In my opinion this would be a particularly good book to read for first year history majors to read in order to get an understanding on their future experiences.

[Arielle Gagnier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arielle Gagnier

Nigel A. Raab wrote a very interesting analysis of what it means to be a historian. He explores questions surrounding physical elements such as, sources and places in which they work, as well as the intangible such as, the overall value of studying history and the ways in which disciplines collide in the field of history. In this review, I will focus on how well Raab manages to answer the big question, Who is the Historian? I will also examine this book in a more literary manner and discuss the format, structure and style of the work as a whole. This book examines very complex and large issues in the field of history. It not only asked who the historians are, but what they do, how they do it, and if their work holds any value. In a very small amount of space Raab gives a very informed and concise answer to these questions, while also taking the time to consider the impact of new technologies on the study of history which is a very relevant issue that is often not given the attention it deserves.
In trying to discover who historians are, Raab first considers the tools used by historians such as their sources and the physical spaces in which they work. At many points he references the emergence of oral history and its new found importance in the field of history. This stands out due to the ingenuity of recognizing oral history as a valid form of historical data. He makes the excellent point of that for what oral history lacks in certainty it makes up for in content. It shows how people feel about an issue or story and how it has helped shaped a community or culture and because of this oral history can be critical for creating an accurate social history of an area (43). Raab’s attention to oral history is also important because it helps shed the image of a historian as someone sitting alone at a desk surrounded by books. Instead, it promotes the image of the historian as a traveler and an active member of the community. He also broadens the classic idea of a historian by discussing the interdisciplinary aspects of field. His discussion of William McNeill’s Plagues and Peoples, (66) is incredibly eye opening to the importance of exploring sources from other disciplines to get the full picture of a time period. While the Spanish did have guns which gave them a significant advantage over the natives, the European diseases they brought to South America caused up to 90% of the indigenous population to disappear. This exploration of disease in relation to human civilization certainly shed new light on a number of topics in the field of history and could not have been accomplished if McNeill was not willing to explore other disciplines. This discussion on the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation adds significant depth to what it means to be a historian and the importance of studying history. In the chapter titled, The Web of the Historian’s Work, Raab makes answering the question of ‘Who is the historian?’ much more complex. He moves into more obscure areas of history such as music history, and film history that could not be fully explored if historians did not explore sources traditionally used in other disciplines. This leads to the conclusion that the historian is someone who takes things and historicizes them. Any item such as a photograph or a piece of music when put in their historical context opens the door to exploring the past. This exploration of the past is what defines the historian. Raab uses this book to show that this exploration does not start or end at a desk necessarily but it is a job that can take individuals to the farthest corners of the globe, as well as the library.
The structure of the book was decent. It used unchallenging language while still maintaining an academic tone. I enjoyed the constant references to Russian history, as it is Raab’s main area of study. It shows the passion he feels for the subject and made his position on what it means to be a historian stronger. Chapters were often split up into a few main points that would be discussed in the opening paragraph. This made it easy to follow and left no question of what he was trying to convey. My main criticism would be that the chapter titled, The Digital Age would have fit better if it followed the second chapter titled, The Sources We Use because of its focus on how the internet has made sources limitless and difficult to sort through. It touches on how this will cause a need for more collaboration at the end of the chapter, which would have made it a better lead into the chapter on the interdisciplinary aspects of the study of history as opposed to following it. The book did posse a very clear question and answered it which is more than I can say for many books I have read. The structure of the piece was very complimentary to the message the author was attempting to get across as a whole.
The book, Who is the Historian? is an insightful look into the field of history. It really questions what it means to be a historian and provides a new perspective on the traditional image of a historian. This book is the perfect reply to anyone who believes that studying history is boring. It would be the perfect addition to any first year historiography class because it really defends studying history and explores the many tools that can be used to study history. For any person dealing with people constantly questioning the value of their field of study, this book is a message of encouragement. The fifth chapter titled, The Skill Set of the Historian cements this positive message by discussing the idea of ‘critical exploration’ as opposed to, ‘critical thinking’ (90). By critical exploration, he means that we as historians have to attach the study of history to life itself and avoid viewing it as something abstract and separate from the world around us. We have to use our skills as historians to challenge science and explore philosophy. Raab believes that historians can change the world with their knowledge and because of this it is detrimental that we continue to study it regardless, if we become professors, businessmen, or musicians.

[Dayne Lesperance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raab, Nigel A. Who Is the Historian? University of Toronto Press, 2016.
With imagery and powerful persuasion Nigel A Raab does an excellent job of answering the question in the title of the book Who is the Historian? One may believe the answer is rather straightforward, yet that could not be farther from the truth elegantly displayed by Raab. When an outsider thinks of a historian they picture an individual tucked away in a library with their head buried in books. Raab challenges this picture and explains that while that is one of the things a historian does there is much more required and expected of them. It was an eye-popping read for myself as it exposed some of my own weaknesses as an aspiring historian. While I am perfectly comfortable reading books, I have rarely travelled to archives or tried to cultivate an oral history of a specific person or place. While I have not always been given the opportunity to visit Rome and perform archeological work, I still have to be prepared to leave the comfort of the library behind and eventually start writing and discovering my own history. Raab has simply provided me with an epiphany on what a historian is and in turn who I should strive to be.
Raab’s work does an excellent job of not just stating who the historian is, but what their work encompasses. Sources are examined in earnest and the spaces historians work in like archives and libraries are given magical detail one would expect from a Harry Potter novel. Raab takes the reader on a trip to the dreary State Archive of the Russian Federation in Moscow, and compares the academically restricted Huntington Library and the very much public Southern California Library. (2-5) The comparisons show that archives are just as diverse as the documents you will find in them. Raab’s examination of archival documents and other sources of importance for historians is masterful. He explains that even if films like The Birth of a Nation are not historically accurate they can still tell a lot about the society that produced them. (25) This analysis was another revelation for me. Sources are not one dimensional according to Raab and all require critique. Photographs are a primary target of Raab’s criticism as he states many historians fail to take the photographer into account and I am personally guilty of this. (29) Finally, Raab introduces the idea that sounds are in fact sources for historians which is a very unique take and one I was ignorant of. (39)
Raab continues his excellent work by reviewing the network historians create and work in, and the relationships historians have with people of other professions and academic fields. Raab uncovers the truth that historians need archivists, curators, and librarians to facilitate their accumulation of knowledge. The impact other academic fields have had on historian’s work is also examined in the book. Raab provides the example of William McNeill using epidemiology to create an argument that plagues have had a major impact on history and European resistance to them was a major factor for their eventual dominance. (66-72) On a similar note Raab also displays the impact outsiders have had on the historical world. He points to the work of Jared Diamond, a geographer, and how his book Guns, Germs, and Steel challenged historical thought by stating that the geography of an area impacted history just as much as humans. (70-72) Both Diamond and McNeill are dismantling the Eurocentric nature of history, and opening new paths for historians like myself. Raab’s work paints a beautiful portrait of a reciprocal academic world full of people willing to share knowledge and use other fields to better their own.
Raab’s opinion of the future for historians is one filled with optimism but also questions. New sources are also emerging from the internet such as the hilarious example of bar reviews provided in the book. (82) Online reviews can give the future historian so much information on the society they were written in. However, reviews and other internet derived sources are incredibly hard to sift through and change. That is where the questioning comes in from Raab. He intelligently points out that there is almost too much information on the internet and digitally based archives will be required in the future to preserve it. (86) Raab also wonders if the future historian will revert to the desk seeing so much information can be found on the internet. (81)
Raab does believe that history is changing for the better though. The previous Eurocentric ideology in history is becoming more open and accepting. Courses offered to history students no longer are chronological such as “The French Revolution,” but more so thematic and dive deeper into social issues. (91) I have personally noticed this when applying to courses at my university. Raab also states that the aspiring historian needs to work more on outside academic fields and a second language is powerful. (100) I personally would love to learn a second language if the benefits are as robust as Raab states. At times Raab does seem to almost ask too much of the aspiring historian and seems to almost be patronizing the reader. However, I do believe Raab is sincere and is just very passionate about history.
I have personally always been critical of my own decision to major in history. I wondered if it was profitable and if I could possibly make an impact on a field so saturated. Yet, Raab’s book has reassured me in my decision in countless ways. He states that the historian has enough power to reshape history and change the future. Raab portrays the humanities as a noble cause and shows that historians have fought for the rights of women and homosexuals for many years. (112) For me Raab has made history less daunting and much more open. I have been tremendously inspired by this book and believe it has opened my eyes to many aspects of history I have been ignorant of. The book reads like a lecture on why history matters, and how one can become successful in the field. I would highly recommend the book Who is the Historian? And I believe this book should be a required text for first year history majors.

[Addie Dycha · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Nigel A. Raab’s latest work, he tackles a question that might come off as a bit daunting: Who is the Historian? As Virginia H. Aksan of McMaster University praises on the back of the book, “In these thoughtful reflections, Nigel A. Raab reminds us that in a world awash in digital information, historians remain integral to the interpretation of our humanness” Raab’s in depth study discusses the history of the historian and the continued role they will play as society moves forward.
When it comes to studying history, one of the first elements that is needed to be successful is The Places in Which we Work. Raab discusses the two main places where historians find their information are libraries and archives, however, Raab also discusses that historians can work with the world around them to further their studies. While libraries are always useful in helping to further research, Raab also states that, “…many researchers choose their documents from more familiar locations, therefore influencing their research” (6). Raab also suggests how location plays a role in how the historian does their research, this is because different areas of the world house different libraries that can be easy for a historian to get lost in, such as the libraries of San Francisco, Julliard, and St. Petersburg to name a few examples Raab lists (10-15). In addition, Raab shows the reader about how the space in which a historian works is constantly evolving, such as how, “with the advancement of audio and video technologies, oral historians have tools that are vastly more complex than the traditional pen and paper” (16). Raab shows the reader that a historian’s job is more than just sitting in an office reading books all day, but how their research ignites a spark that wants them to explore the world and the how the past plays in a role in today’s world.
Raab continues to investigate what it is that makes up the historian by looking into where historians can get their information in the chapter titled, The Sources We Use. Throughout time, the ways that we gather sources has changed dramatically, and Raab shows us the progression of sources and collection of information. Raab makes mention that the types of books we use have changed over time, especially when it comes to primary sources. Raab states that, “One major shift was the willingness of historians to employ novels as primary sources…the novel informs historians about societal values, a growing new readership and, when corroborated with other sources, social habits in the provinces” (21). Furthermore, research for historians has moved from print to film, as Raab makes note that while many historians might look at film clips of important events, there is lots to be learned about history from just watching movies as well, using examples such as Gone With the Wind and Star Wars (24). The notion of film has become even more accessible with the invention of television, as well as the success of the internet site YouTube.
Furthering his delve into the historian, Raab continues his research with the chapter The Web of the Historian’s Work, searching for the link of interdisciplinary studies, Raab shows how many other people play an important role in the historian’s work. This ranges from librarians, to museums, as well as fellow historians tudying in other fields, which Raab touches on, “Interdisciplinary historians can adopt visual, musical, philosophical, statistical, and medical approaches to answering intriguing questions” (62). Raab uses the idea of interdisciplinary studies to further shed light on how history is more than just an examination of the past, but an examination of many different areas of study.
The next chapter discusses what might be Raab’s most interesting topic, which is how modern technology affects a historian’s work. What might be the greatest advancement in digital studies of history is the internet, which Raab praises while also showing its issues, “If we accept the working assumption that the servers holding today’s data will not evaporate into thin air, historians will have to satisfy themselves not with a slice or ever a sliver of the past, but with the disconcerting feeling that the more access they have to sources the more fractioned and fragmentary their presentation of the past will become” (83). What is most important about the digital age we live in is how the internet can bring other historians together to further their research, “Historians already share ideas with each other, and publishers issue collections of related essays, but the vast amounts of materials will make co-authorship much more important” (85). This is also connected with The Skill Set of the Historian, which Raab believes must be complex and vast, “If we limit the historical education to purely intellectual and contemplative exercises, then pacing slowly around the classroom is up to the task” (103).
In conclusion, We come to the chapter History, Historians, and the Humanities, in which Raab emphasizes the idea of a community, “The term community suggests a local dimension, but the humanities have been equally effective in cultivating an international and global outlook” (114). In a world filled with information, Raab ends his in depth look at the historian with a stress on the incredible amounts of work they do, “This is all to say that the historian is more than just an individual who works tirelessly behind the scenes to produce pages and pages of typescript” (119).
Raab takes an in depth, well researched look at what it means to be a historian. He shows the reader that the historian can be man or woman, as in different chapters he refers to the historian by switching back and forth in pronouns such as, “she” and, “he”. If you are a student who is just beginning your studies in history, or are well into your undergraduate degree, Raab’s chronology of the historian is a key and helpful book in fully understanding what it truly means to be a historian.

[Jenna Riddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his book, Who Is the Historian, Nigel A. Raab has used various aspects of a historians career in order to attempt to explain who a historian is. He succeeded in providing information on several different aspects of the historian’s job such as the work space of a historian, sources used, who historians interact with in order to provide adequate research, how the historians job has changed because of the digital advances, skills set as well as the historian’s relevance in the humanities. As a history student, I enjoyed reading this book because of how the information was presented and what information was presented, a lot of which I did not know before reading this book. It was also very eye opening when Raab discussed how the role of historians has changed throughout the years and how it may continue to change for future generations. Finally, as Raab explained the influence of several other disciplines on the work of historians, it helped give a better understanding of how many possibilities there are with a university degree in history.
After reading Who Is the Historian? I have learned a lot about all of the work entailed when a historian is researching certain events in the past. There are so many things that are not related to typical historical events that are able to help with the understanding and analysis of past events. An example of this is when Raab talks about how a historian was able to use the knowledge of a gardener of a botanical garden in order to further his research on European imperial powers. (50) Typically, a historian would not think to use such a source, they tend to stay focused on traditional sources such as documents from said time period, or books written about said events. Another aspect of history that I had never thought of before reading Raab’s book was how the relevance of certain documents and photographs has changed throughout time. He explains that certain documents will have different meanings and significance depending on the context in which they are being studied, as well as when they were produced. The example he gives, that I found very interesting was the example of a wedding photo. The meaning a wedding photo has to a newly wed couple, will be completely different to the same couple if they were to get divorced ten years later. (30) This could be the case with any kind of historical document and historians have to take those aspects into consideration when using said documents to further their research.
The second thing I would like to discuss that Raab talked about in his book is how the roles of a historian have changed throughout the years as well as how they may continue to change in the future. Within each chapter this subject was brought up because each aspect of being a historian has changed throughout time. The spaces in which they work has changed from sitting in reading rooms in archives all over the world, to being able to access the majority of this archives in the comfort of their own home thanks to the advances in technology. (77) Another change that historians are constantly facing is the documents in which they use and which ones they are able to consider credible and accurate. There are so many sources that historians are able to use today, that were not considered credible or effective sources several years ago. An example of this is the use of photography and videos as research sources. Photographs are considered a frozen moment in time and therefore historians did not believe that they could be helpful in understand the events taking place within the photograph. Once the historian takes everything that is going on in the photograph into consideration including the position of the photographer himself, it then opens the eyes of the historian to possibilities that they had perhaps not thought of before. (28-29) Something I found quite worrisome while reading chapter four, The Historian in the Digital Age, was the possibility of change yet to come for historians. With documents becoming more digitalized there are very few documents that are actually being preserved within archives and the documents that have been placed in archives are being digitalized. Documents from the past 10 or so years have all been typed and uploaded to the internet in order to save them, therefore a historian is no longer able to look at these documents and analyze the writing of the author, or the condition of the document. They are simply able to read the content and draw conclusions from what they read. This could be a downfall and could limit the research of a historian. (80-85)
Throughout the book, Raab put a lot of emphasis on the influence of several other disciplines on historians. He included several examples of scientists, philosophers, sociologists, mathematicians and geographers that have worked together with historians in order to further research for both their discipline and for the historian. I found this aspect of the book extremely eye opening. As a history student, I am constantly being asked what I will do with my degree, or people are assuming I’m going to teach because not very many people understand that there are other options with a history degree. It is always possible to list other jobs a historian can get with his or her degree, however, when shown that there are so many other professions that depend on historians to help better their discipline, it is a very comforting feeling.
Who Is the Historian? was a very good read for historians but I would also recommend it to non-historians that do not have a full understanding of what the role of a historian is and the complexity of a historian’s job. This book definitely helps eliminate the stereotype of a historian who simply sits in an office or a library all day reading books about the past. This is important for non-historians to understand because without the work of historians learning about the past, we would simply continue to repeat it and to make the same mistakes.

[Graham Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Nigel A Raab’s Who is the Historian, the reader is presented with an array of content that sets out to answer the fated question, who is the historian? This is a question that is constantly pondered by those who are beginning their journey into the humanities, and historical analysis specifically. It can be a daunting ask to define an entire focus of the humanities, but the author does so in a format that also allows the reader to develop their own view in defining, who is the historian? Raab’s writing presents a wide range of important topics, from the sources used and their attributes, to the people involved in the process of helping the historian in recreating the past. Raab’s organizational skill in his writing shines throughout the book, his presentation of content in such an organized manor allows the reader to comfortably stay on track of the ideas that the author presents, while also inspiring critical thinking. Throughout this review of Who is the Historian, I will comment on the organization of Raab’s content, his style and the information that Raab discusses in his book, one that is akin to a field guide for the budding historian.
The first two chapters of Nigel A Raab’s book first probes the sources historians use and where there are to be found. While exploring the location in which the historian resides, Raab vividly recreates the quiet reading rooms in government controlled archives, libraries big and small, museums with ranges of content, and community run collections, driven by local passion and interest. While touring these locations, the reader is transported to the many spaces that are integral to the historians work. Raab is sure not leave out the smaller, seemingly less important spaces, he treats them with the same respect and coverage as the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, doing so by giving in depth examples of the ranging working spaces. As Raab begins his book with the spaces in which the historian works, he begins to present the main theme that can be found throughout the rest of his work, being the “numerous subdisciplines that exists under the umbrella term ‘history’” (15)
The reader of Who is the Historian may initially assume that exploring the growing interdisciplinary field of history, while also presenting the reader with an answer to, who is the historian, may become very confusing. Thankfully, Raab’s writing style, and organizational skill presents the wealth of information in a digestible manor. The style that Raab uses throughout the book sees a repetition in the presentation of ideas. The style initially presents what the broad topic he will explaining to the reader what will be covered in the following pages, following a brief breakdown, Raab works through the content topic by topic with the help of many both in depth examples and short side quips.
The aforementioned examples that Nigel A Raab uses help explain and give context to the range of primary sources and physical spaces that the historian encounters during the research process. These re-occurring examples range depending on the information being presented. I found that as the book progressed, Raab’s examples became more and more drawn out and bordered on unnecessary filler. At the start of the book Raab focused on primary sources and locations that the historian works. In this section of Who is the Historian, examples of source types and their stories helped with understanding the ideas being presented. As the book progressed into more philosophical and inward content, the examples diverted reader’s attention away from the main point, instead of inspiring critical thinking. Raab’s constant use of examples for almost all of the points presented increases the risk of the reader losing interest or pace. Furthermore, Raab’s personal education, that being Russia history based, is very obvious as any of the examples he gives for the various topics relate to Russian institutions and stories.
As Raab moves his writing from term and definition based content toward answering the deeper question of who is the historian, doing so by exploring the skills and connections the historian have. As the content changes, Raab begins to add open-ended questions at the end of his paragraphs. Raab’s use of incorporating questions into his writing after presenting ideas of his own inspires the reader to explore the ideas presented in a critical and often much more personal manor. The questions motivate the reader to forge their own idea of who the historian is in the grander setting of the humanities and academia. The use of these questions adds an interesting dynamic to Nigel A Raab’s Who is the Historian, as it changes the pace of reading in a positive way. When the reader comes across a thought-provoking question, they may pause their reading to ponder the question Raab asks, while also incorporating the information that the author has presented prior. The questions presented relate to the content offered which helps personalize the exploration into answering who the historian really is, instead of simply taking the information Raab presents then moving on the next paragraph.
To conclude, Nigel A Raab’s Who is the Historian is a hopefully look at the professional historian and the overall study of history. Raab’s positive and unpretentious style draws the reader in and keeps their attention by inspiring critical thinking toward the range of content covered. As a student of history, Raab’s writing gave me hope for the future through contextual examples and questions, as well as essential topics such as the importance of interdisciplinary study and Chapter 5 The Historian in the Digital Age, which focuses on the access and diversity surrounding the digitalization of sources. Raab takes an age-old question and allows the reader to come to his or her own ends through both the explanation of the rudimentary topic in history such as primary sources and the exploration into the future of the study of history.

[Maria van Duinhoven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raab, Nigel A. Who is the Historian?. University of Toronto Press, 2016
Nigel A. Raab’s book is meant to make the reader think “outside the box” and the stereotypical view of an historian as male, an academic, usually quiet, sitting in the bowels of a library surrounded by mountains of old documents going painstakingly through each one looking for the gold nuggets among the stones, rediscovering long-forgotten texts, and interpreting artifacts. There are two short personal comments at the top of outside back cover of the book written by academics. The first, being from McMaster University, sees Raab’s book as reminding the reader that “historians remain integral to the interpretation of our humanness” and the latter, from Purdue University, that the book “will help students understand their own humanity through the sights, sounds, and physicality of their relationship with the past.”. The synopsis of the book contents, right below the comments from McMaster and Purdue universities, states that the different chapters discuss specific aspects of “doing history”. The chapters are broken down into specific themes: the physical spaces of archives and museums around the world; the sources which the historian interprets; the cooperative nature of historian’s work with those outside the historical field; the skills which are learned by those pursuing an education in history; and the final chapter demonstrating the value of historians in the contemporary world.
In his introduction Raab gives an overview of what he will discuss in the upcoming chapters. For example, Raab explains that the stereotypical version of an historian is that of an academic historian working in the history department of a major university. Having this narrow view of an historian thereby marginalizing those who use the knowledge gained from a historical education in other environments. According to Raab “At a very minimum, historians are travelers and wanderers.” (xv). In the introduction Raab takes a quote from the late Eric Hobsbawn regarding his physical commitment to the lived environment “[s]ome personal contact, however slight, with the people and even the places about which the historian writes, is essential if he is to understand problems which are exceedingly remote from the normal life of the British university teacher.” (xiii). From there Raab weaves a tale for the reader beginning with the places most often associated with history and historians – archives, libraries, and museums. Raab begins easing the reader into thinking outside the box with the example of oral historians. Oral historians learn about the past through oral histories. While Raab does not go into an in-depth discussion on oral histories and oral historian he makes you realize we are both tellers of oral history and oral historians. All you have to do is think about all the stories your grandparents or parents have told you when you were a child, the ones that always started with “When I was your age …”, that we have heard, and that as adults we have in turn said to our children “I remember the stories your grandma (or grandpa) told me about their childhood, and she (or he) told me about …”. In this way every story about the past we have listened to is an oral history, and by listening and repeating we are oral historians passing on that information to a future generation.
Each successive chapter expands on the question Who is the historian? takes the reader deeper into the historian’s world using examples to help clarify his points. The use of examples is one of the main strengths of the book. When discussing films and television one example Raab uses is the television series Happy Days airing in the 1970s as it suggests how people of that period wanted to envision gender roles and social structures of the 1950s. Raab takes the reader through the various material sources including the usual items associated with history an historians and ones that we never even considered sources that can be used by the historian to learn about history. Starting with the second half of Chapter 3 Raab looks at the interdisciplinary partners of the historian such as librarians and botanists. In the 21st century or, as the book synopsis refers to this time period the contemporary world, the computer and more specifically the Internet, has opened up a whole new set of sources such as YouTube which can be used by the historian. Even more importantly is the ability to digitize historical items thereby saving them from damage and who the Internet making them available to everyone instead of just the selective few. One thing that Raab does throughout the book is very subtle and can be easily overlooked, in every chapter you can find at least one time where Raab uses the pronoun “she” for the historian, dispelling the belief that to be a historian you must be male. The last chapter of the book talks about the role of historians, those who study history, and an education in the humanities overall help make the world a better place. While this last chapter explains the quotes made by the two academics at the top of the back cover of the book it requires a person to actually purchase and read the whole book to make that connection. For a potential reader who is intrigued by the title Who Is the Historian?, has never read the book or been told about it by friends who have it, and is considering buying it, the quotes can be confusing as they do not explain anything about the content of the book or how interpreting our humanness or understanding our own humanity answers the question posed by the title. The synopsis of a book is usually the decider on whether or not to spend money on a book so it should be the first thing the potential buyer reads, unless of course the book is required reading for a class then it does not matter what the back cover says.
I would recommend this book to any interested in history.

[Devin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who Is the Historian? Book Review

Raab, Nigel A. Who Is the Historian? University of Toronto Press, 2016

Nigel A. Raab's book look's to explore a question not posed by many, but also not known by
many, who is the Historian? Many people do not understand how historians work, and what they really do. Raab explains throughout his book what it means to be a historian and the academic process historians follow. Along side that Raab looks to show that History is not meaningless as some would believe, and it still has it's place as a topic for academic study. His book shows how much work goes into being a historian and that like any other topic of study such as the sciences, history is needed to improve the quality of life on this world. In particular Raab looks at the interconnectedness of history and other studies and just how reliant on each other they can be. Raab is successful in providing information on who the historian is and what it is they do, but he does not provided enough detail as to why historians are needed.

Raab spends most the book talking about the fundamental parts in the make up of a historian.
Raab looks at where historians work, what they work with, who they work with, and the skills of a
historian. This information takes up the majority of the book to paint the picture of a working historian. Raab focuses heavily on archives as they are a fundamental part of what makes a historian. Raab chronologically looks at some of the changes that has happened to the study of history and how it affected the historians. One such change, the use of novels as primary sources lead Raab to explain how historians changed their perspective on history. (21) A good thing Raab does in his book is explain how historians are constantly changing and adapting to to make it so the most information can be documented and preserved.

The strongest part of Raab's book is where he describes the interconnectedness of history to other fields of study. He does this throughout the entire book, but it is most prominent in his third
chapter, The Web of the Historians Work. Raab shows that on a regular basis historians have to move outside of the people in their field to further their studies with the field. In particular Raab mentions archivists, librarians, and museum curators. These people and their institutions are fundamental for historians, as Raab states “Our libraries would exist without historians, but the historian could not exist without the library.” (48) This shows the dependency historians have on institutions that collect information. Raab also writes extensively on the contributions in history form outside fields. One example of this is Jared Diamond who used geography and animals as a way to explain why cultures developed differently in different areas. (71) What Raab does not do in his book is explain the reverse of this. He does not look at how the use of history has helped make discoveries in other fields. Without this side being shown, it looks as if history takes things from other fields of study with giving much back.

In today's society the internet has become the single best place for any person to acquire
information, and Raab does not fail to acknowledge this. Raab writes about the good and bad parts of the internet and how it can help and destroy history. Raab critically looks at how exactly the web is going to change history for better and for worse. He writes about how there will be more information and sources at a historians fingertips now that so much information is online. (80) What is really interesting about what Raab argues about the internet is the bad side of it. Raab brings up the ideas that there will be so much information and sources that it will become hard for historians to sift through it all and find what is really important. (81) Raab also mentions how historian are going to have to be less independent. Due to the sheer amount of information, historians will have to collaborate. (85) This part of the book is the most interesting and raises the most questions. Despite being the smallest chapter in the book Raab brings up concepts that are foreign to many older historians. Once again historians find themselves in a position where they have to adapt to new way of processing information. While raab does not provide any answers in this part of the book as to how the internet will ultimately change history, Raab makes it clear that it will change history for better or for worse. I think that we will see a shift from Raab's travelling historian to his desk job historian. As Raab mentions the digital trail is much larger than the paper trail and it remains to be seen how historians will accommodate. (88)

Raab is successful in providing a working picture of who a historian is, and what it is they do. He goes as far as to tell the changes that historians but he does not provide his opinion on what he
thinks the historian will become in regards to digital history. Raab also fails to provide substantive
knowledge about why historians are needed. He provides some information but not anything mind
changing. Although this is to be expected as the book is titled Who Is the Historian, not why do we
need historians. I think it would have been beneficial in the book to have mentioned a historians uses in great detail. This book is perfect for a graduating high school student or a 1st year university student. This is because it will explain to people who may not know what history is all about what really makes up a historian. While it can be useful to history majors of all years, much of the information is redundant as a practising historian should know what makes up a historian.

[Alex Pare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nigel A. Raab uses this book to show readers the different methods of researching History, as well as the multiple forms of sources available to study when conducting research, as read in the book’s blurb. I have come to the conclusion that Raab’s Who Is the Historian is a good book to learn where History can be found, as well as who the behind the scenes helpers are when it comes to finding information and what the future holds if you have a History degree.

Already at the beginning of the book, Raab tells the reader that Historians do their research in “archives, libraries, museums, galleries, and outdoor sites to collect information from the past” (1). He then goes on to explain what exactly an archive is and how they can be found around the world, most of the time being completely ignored and walked by by the regular pedestrian. He explains that in today’s time, Historians are able to access archives online before physically going into a building and looking through all of their information. I enjoyed how Raab explained the archival system after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, as it was interesting to find out that guards were stationed around the outside of the archives. Places such as the Southern California Library were interesting to learn about, as the mural on the outside of the building presents much History in itself as the actual information within. Raab says, “It now organizes walking tours so local youth become invested in the past, present and future of the neighbourhood” (4), which I find interesting because it involves young people in their areas History and may make them interested in pursuing the research further. Raab says that there are many places all over the world to dig up History and these different places attract a vast majority of people, showing that people from everywhere are interested in what History and Historians have to offer. It is said that after the Nazi invasion of France, trained archivists were told to retrieve any valuable information and bring it back to Berlin, making it more difficult for people to find. Raab states that there are people such as Patricia Kennedy Grimsted who travel all over Europe to find these documents.

The amount of detail from Raab when he describes all of the different areas to retrieve information, as well as his reasoning as to why these archives exist is quite extensive. He does a great job of showcasing important moments in History while also serving the purpose of introducing key Historians who retrieve information and key Historical sites where you can find it. For example, he has a wide array of knowledge on different libraries around the world, such as the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, which is known for its size “[claiming] 30 million volumes]” (14). With Raab showcasing all of these interesting places, readers are sure to want to visit them in order to view their collection of History.

For the average student who does not know what exactly they could do with a degree in History other than teach or research in libraries, Raab states that, “they can travel to Rome [for example] and perform archaeological work or travel by sailboat in Polynesia to understand ancient migration patterns” (15). I myself did not know that you could do these things as a Historian, so it is nice to know that being cooped up in a building in a small cubicle does not always have to be the case. He also mentions that oral history is becoming much more prominent nowadays and that Historians are not able to just sit and wait for information to come to them, but they must go out and interview the public, as he enforces by stating “the homebody will have a harder time exploring the past” (17). This is a good way of showing how History is changing as we know it.

When it comes to sources, the ones that were once suspicious (oral history, films, photographs as some examples) are now being used as legitimate sources in formal papers and other books. A source I find interesting would be the novel, as I never realized you would be able to find History in a fictional piece until Raab brought this to light. A curious mind and a little more research would have to be used when it comes to “novels, pulp fiction, erotica, and science-fiction novels [as they] do not clearly set an agenda for the historian” (22).

A historian’s work is not usually done by only the historian themselves. There is often as web of people who help in the findings, as mentions Raab when he says “the web of a historian can include a librarian at an academic library…a curator at a museum, and even a trained gardener at a botanical garden” (46). As for the skills to become a historian, Raab highlights that many students only take minors in history nowadays. Briefly, the only real skill a historian needs is the desire for knowledge.

All in all, I believe that Raab does a fantastic job of showing the young Historian that they do not always have to be in one place doing the same thing. They are able to travel to visit different archival sites, delve into archaeology, or study abroad in a field that they are most interested in. I got a lot of insight on how the methods of obtaining History are changing from sitting in an archive or library to read through books, to having to go out and speak with the public to learn about what is going on. He taps into how historians receive a lot of interesting outside workers (such as an expert in a botanical garden), which I found very interesting considering I would have thought they only spoke to librarians and people who know much about the historical events. The most interesting quote in the book to me is “the young historian can pick from hundreds of roads that lie before her”, as this shows that there is so much to do with a background in History if you set your mind to it (90).

[Jerriel Arguelles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Who is the Historian?

Jerriel Arguelles
History on the Web: 02-43-397-01
Professor Nelson
September 26, 2016
Word Count: 944

“Who is the historian?” by Nigel A. Raab is a book based on what the historian does, who the historian is, the humanities, history and much more related to who is the historian? My opinion of the book was that as a third-year history major, it made me think of history in a whole another way than ever before. You can’t judge a book by its cover and historians are more than just an individual producing pages of typescripts, they are explorers, computer experts, travellers and adventurers. Specifically, historians don’t have to be professional historians, have a doctorate, or work at a university, but as the book states, does have to spend part of their day contemplating the past (Raab, 118). As the above states the strengths of the book, there were no weaknesses that could have been addressed, as Raab did a good job in explaining in a variety of complex ways of who the historian is.
In the book, Raab breaks down his contents into separate sections which are: the spaces in which we work, the sources we use, the web of the historian’s work, the historian in the digital age, the skill set of the historian and lastly, history, historian, and the humanities. In explaining what the historian does, in chapter one, he explains that historians travel to many institutions such as archives, libraries, museums, and galleries to collect info about the past. However, we tend to ignore these historical places and bypass their significance (Raab, 1). Historians are also always searching for new sources, which are more diversified compared to the past in where the two most popular sources were archival documents and old books. Examples of sources include pictures, television, spices, music, and the diary. For the longest time, historians have been trying to implement an interdisciplinary approach to their works by interacting with different university departments such as sociology, philosophy, economics, and literature. These interdisciplinary methods help the historian think beyond a straight-forward thought and therefore, create a different approach to doing history. For example, author Paul Veyne in his book “Did the Greeks believe in their Myths” blended philosophy and history to explain Greek attitudes to their myths. Still on the topic what the historian does, technology in the digital age has changed the way historians do their research. Historians visiting a library are rare nowadays with the library itself along with archives, now becoming digital. Although, digital resources such as archives become more accessible and immediate than ever before, the frustration is evident by the infinite amount of sources available that historians much decipher between. It is still to be seen if all the info on the web will be neatly digitalized in the future to prevent present and future historians from becoming web surfers.
Who is the historian can vastly be explained by what the historian does which was already mentioned above, but it goes into more detail than this which Raab explains. First off, there should be no such thing as pure historians as anybody with a passion in thinking about the past should be one, for example why can’t librarians be historians? There is more than one path in becoming a historian and not everyone wants to teach it as a professor. That being said, there is also a change in the way history is taught, as no longer is history about the strengths of one nation over the other or a Euro-centric view of history, but more on the idea of the world as a whole. For example, there is a new emphasis on the world history of the bodies of water which help focus on the interactions between groups that are in or separated by a certain body of water. There is also a different historical learning such as “History of Walking” which is history outside the library or the archive, like local neighbourhoods for example. Being restricted to learning in classroom environments has its cons and adding the history of walking experience adds another element for the education of the historian as it helps complement the lectures and book readings learned in the classroom (Raab, 94). Also, it should be important to mention that to understand history and become a historian, the humanities must be understood which have profoundly impacted the word we live in today. For example, there is an emphasis on relativism which states that things such as homosexuality as not abnormal which is the opposite of society’s views in the past. It would be unthinkable of gay marriages in the 1960’s and without the work of humanities, this thinking would have been the same today.
In conclusion, Raab’s analysis of the themes in the book which was separated into sections was helpful in understanding of what and who the historian is. As said before, after reading this book, I now have a different understanding of historians and history in general. Although, Raab never states a clear answer to who the historian is due to the complexity of defining it which is seen through the sections that are broken down in the book, however, we do now have a better understanding of who the historian is after this read. I recommend this book to all future historians in high schools and universities or those that have a passion for learning of the past. Specifically, a good audience for this book would have to be first year history majors at universities as it gives them a good understanding of what the historian does, who the historian is, the importance of the humanities, history and more which will help further their interest and knowledge in doing history in the future.

[Michael Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his work “Who is the Historian” Dr. Nigel Raab hopes to explore some of the inner working of professional historians. He takes us behind the scenes to explore the sausage factory. We are all too often only presented with the final hotdog, a history that is well shaped and uniform. Dr Raab hopes to show us the many different meats that went into that hotdog, the many industrial processes, and stages of production necessary to place it in the cart outside of the ballpark. There are many kinds of meat that go into a historical textbook, and it is the historians job to make them all blend together into one appetizing sausage. That is not to say that his focus is primarily on the historical process, he simply provides that context so that the reader can appreciate his real subject: the professional historian.

Dr. Raab is mostly speaking to an audience of amateur historians, or students aspiring to be historians. I expect this book would be of very little interest to his fellow historians. His anecdotes about the process of historical work are informative to a student, or an amateur historian who is interested in a more inside look, but a professional historian would have many such anecdotes of their own. The first chapter (about spaces, such as archives) is particularly insightful to students that are today typically exposed only to digital documents. Dr. Raab puts these documents into a physical context, which can inform a lot about how they should be interpreted. The second chapter (about sources) also has insights for students, like his assertion that a photograph of a German soldier taken in 1915 will have very different meaning when viewed in 1925, 1955, or 1992. The meaning of historical documents and archives (and some times the location!) change over time, and it is important for students to understand this history of history to appreciate the final product. Dr Raab also does well to highlight the less glamorous (and often behind the scenes) professions that contribute to the construction of history. His highlighting of archivists and local curators speaks especially well to students that might be considering what they can do with their history degrees.

What can be done with a history degree (and history in general) is theme throughout the book. Dr. Raab is building a case about the value of the humanities as a subject of learning. He makes a good case in many respects. Arguing that the mere technical proficiency one receives from a science, math or engineering degree maybe be valuable (especially in today's technological age) but schooling in the humanities produces much more well rounded people, with a better capacity for critical thought. It takes an engineer to design a digital archive, or a book scanner. It takes a historian to figure out what to do with it. On this subject I think Dr. Raab makes a strong case, but I feel he is unnecessarily arguing from a position of weakness. He does not need to flagellate the humanities quite so much (as he does in the final chapter), I would hope anyone interested in this book would already understand that value of history and the humanities.

Dr Raab goes into some death about the new technologies that are effecting history. As this book was published quite recently (2016) is is actually quite up to date on many of the latest technological advancements. Digital History is a tricky subject, as any useful information will likely be useless in even 5 years time (and most definitely in 10). Dr. Raabs experience with physical archives proves to be invaluable in this subject, as he is well aware of the weaknesses and gaps that are often present in the digital archive. Students that are hooked on JSTOR might be shocked to find that large amounts of the information they need is currently undigitized. More importantly Dr Raab talks about the potential of the vast and almost infinite amounts of digital data available to future (and current) historians. Documents will not remain undigitized forever, and historian of the future will have to understand digital tools to access them. Historians may need to be engineers after all, or end up at the mercy of Googles byzantine algorithms.

I found conspicuously absent from the section on historians of the future any mention of the NSA spying database revealed to us in 2013 by Edward Snowden. This book was published in 2016 so Dr Raab should be more than aware of it. In one place he mentions the value of the Soviet secret police archives opened after the fall of communism. In another he talks about the harm European privacy laws could have to future historians and archivists. The NSA database puts the soviet secret police archives to utter shame, it is said to contain recordings of literately every telephone conversation made (allegedly). No doubt this database would be a most valuable tool to historians of 2060 (as the soviet archives are to us today). Perhaps he considers it too controversial a topic for an otherwise fairly apolitical book. I would have personally liked to see it mentioned, the NSA database (and similar national spying databases of its kind) will be extremely important components of future history.

Who is the Historian? is an entertaining read for a history student, or a prospective history student. Any amateur historian interested in how the sausage of history is made would also find this book valuable. It is well written and the author Dr Raab makes a lot of references that history students in particular will enjoy. A professional historian might not gain much from it, except perhaps an up to date overview of how technology is changing the field. They will have to read it quickly though, as the information will be outdated by next year!

[Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historian, Nigel Raab, explores the intricate question of ‘Who is the historian?’ that not only fits in the context of the past, but also in the analysis that dives into the current, and even future aspects of what is means to be a historian, and who these people are behind the ongoing craft. Raab undertakes the multi-layered question by breaking down the historian’s scholarly life into six unique chapters, all which give an in-depth analysis of what both constructs, and revolves around the mysterious life of the historian. In doing so, Raab guides the reader along a personal and critical journey by using his own personal stories and experiences within his journey of becoming a historian and his ongoing life of being a university professor, as well as, by employing a variety of historically themed case studies that correspond which each different chapter. The balance of personal and critical takes the reader along a personal journey that then reflects upon past, present, and future known, and unknown events and circumstances that historians alike have experienced or will throughout their own journey. From Raab’s take on tackling ‘Who is the historian’, I set out to evaluate how well of a job he does in brining along the reader through the complex world of the historian by critically analyzing how he constructs that ever changing world. In addition, I attempt to bring to light the major themes that Raab strives to connect with the reader – themes that are hidden throughout his writings. My review is a complete analysis of what Raab attempts to convey to the reader, and through that attempt of various stories, experiences, case studies, and themes, if he establishes a legitimate answer the complex question of ‘Who is the historian?’

As soon as the reader dives into Raab’s introduction, he or she will immediately notice the strong element of personalization that Raab incorporates into his work. By outlining his experiences, which are heavily attached not only to his introduction, but also to each individual chapter, it is clear that these detailed experiences (such as the time he broke away from the standard reading room in the archives of Russian’s National Library, and was allowed to venture into the actual labyrinth of the archive itself) that allowed me to develop a strong sense of connection to his journey in the world being a historian (10-11). One of Raab’s greatest strengths is his ability to personalize his writings; it humanizes him. In doing so, he makes the reader feel as if he or she is apart of his journey as the historian. Another prominent strength Raab displays is how he is able to convey to the reader the unknown problems that the contemporary historian faces in today’s society. Most notably, Raab addresses the mounting problem in the digital age: how much is too much in terms of what is collected digitally for the historian to use (82). A problem that now affects every current historian, but more importantly, one that directly involves the future historian – one who could be the reader.

In terms of Raab’s weaknesses, I found little as to what would stand out as a major flaw or gap in his writing. Yes, there is the repetitive use of personal case studies, such as trips to various Russian or Los Angeles archives, but they are used due the fact that those areas are apart of his journey as a practicing historian, and thus, are used to connection with the reader. Another area where the reader might be discontent with Raab’s writings is how little there is on Chapter four titled, ‘The Historian in the Digital Age’. However, it can argued that there is still not a clear and concise view – especially one from Raab – about how to tackle the constant and changing world between the historian and the digital age, and how the two coexist.

While is it easy to assess where Raab’s strengths and weaknesses lie in his writings, it is not; however, easy to point out the themes that are embedded within his work. After further analysis, I have discovered that there are three key themes hidden beneath the surface of his text. They are: the sense history as the physical, the sense of varied community within history, and lastly a sense of pride from the historian.
Raab physically removes the historian by from what is typically imagined as sitting stationary at their desk and reading, to traveling around the world and using a various primary sources such as sound or even people themselves (XV, 35, 43). The physicality manifests itself into the larger community where a variety of other professionals – archivists, librarians, and other scholars – and non-professionals – local volunteers, and everyday citizens – are not only there to assist, but also to learn from the historian (47, 57, 59). Altogether, the unique journey that every historian experiences, and the work they produce that affects society such as, progressing views towards gay marriage (108), is a fact that the historian should be proud of.

Nigel Raab directs his work towards the first-year undergrad history student whose curious yet unexposed mind leads them to question who is the historian is, and what their journey entails. As evidently seen in the text, Raab writes, ‘the history student has to pay careful attention to shifting interpretation, and understand how to emerge these interpretation with newly acquired primary sources’ (XX). Raab’s six chapters cover all aspects of what it means to be historian, from the moment they decide to spend their lives devoted to the craft. The various challenges, breakthroughs, and contemporary issues that they will encounter along their journey that defines who is the historian.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raab, Nigel A. Who Is the Historian? North York, ON: University of Toronto Press, 2015.
Nigel Raab wrote this book based on the developments within the field of history and humanities specifically the contemporary approach of modern historians. This exemplified by the transition of how historians and those studying humanities access information. Throughout the course of the book Nigel Raab there is the emphasis on the transition of physical study of history to a digital one and what that means for those who study history. Raab makes this text to fully encompass all those who study history and the many ways to study it. There is a conflagration of all aspects of the historian’s job and how it has changed. The writing touches on the idea that history has evolved from just writing down the stories of war, to become great archives online and offline that help catalogue all aspects of history. Raab brings up the concept that technology has widened amount of information at the disposal of a historian. With that he begins a debate that conflicts that whether that simplifies or complicates history. Then begins the analysis of how historians must be adaptable in their skill set so that way they may properly record and critique historical data. The Raab book introduces concepts that are very modernistic and are at the forefront of historiographical discussions. Yet there is the some lacking in the area of the negatives within each chapter and a stronger positive emphasis on digital history. This is an overall exemplary examination of the challenges and evolutions of the historian in the modern world.
Raab likes to point out the accessibility of archives in their physical form and how the surrounding environment such as economic status of the surrounding area and how natural disaster plays a role. This approach shows one of the first forms of historic study and how they have influenced the historian since archival emergence. There is a point however that states that a lot of these archives are overlooked such as the ones on music or are limited based on the country of origin such as in Russia (57). There is the bias that Raab emphasizes that based on what information available that a construed data may be present. This introduces answers to questions that are not normally asked when approaching an archive. He goes into detail of the importance of archives and how the vast well of information is available to historians. This well allows for historians to have access to a physical copy of information.
Raab does argue for the digital history based on the amount of negative aspects brought up during the opening chapter regarding archives. He favors the digital history databases based on the idea that history is so vast with so many different lenses that it is far more organized through the use of online. He does not explicitly state this but alludes to it by stating the vast number of sources that can be used to represent historic data. Then in the following chapter states how the digital age has revolutionize history with fairly few drawbacks. In an archive you need a space that can contain all of these documents where digitizing can keep it all organized and can have a collection of music, photos, art, and film. Raab then contradicts through his emphasis on archives previously because of how they can be specialized based on say music (15). He makes archival specialization seem unique way of historical collection but then in the next chapters states how the web does that very thing. This shows a slight inconsistency.
This book has a lot of trends that can be noted throughout which helps to make the book an easier read as it allows for the reader to track the pattern and therefore the tone. There are multiple microcosmic debates within his writings that fall under a much larger reasoning. One such example, is how historians must alter their means of study from Western and Eurocentric lens to a more global or universal form of study (91). The debate trend tends to appear multiple times in the text which shows the attempts to avoid a bias. Another trend is his comparison of arts within history as well as science. This helps to represent the diversity of history, but will also show how history falls under its own discipline yet be a mix of all disciplines. I have found through my studies that history is in everything and to understand the discipline that the history of it must be known whether art or science.
There is the age old discussion as to why history is important in society and is it a dying area of study? Raab does not overtly state that history is dying but simply examines how the viewpoints on history have changed since the avant garde approaches of Nietzsche(106). One thing of note made by Raab is Nietzsche was one of the last groundbreaking historians of the “modern” times thus far. Raab does not touch on the quiet role of historians in society that though the historical studies are not applied the skills and abilities of the discipline are. He often tries to not say whether history is dying or not but simply attempts to state there is a lack of modern historians which can be stemmed back to a lack of interest. He goes on to state that the modern society is built to science with big names like “Albert Einstein, whose last name has become an acceptable synonym for ‘brainy’” (106). The overall writings of Raab have proven to contain minor discrepancies, but represent a well written and concise historical analysis of the discipline as a whole.
Word Count: 952

[Steven Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nigel A. Raab has written an overview on what it means to be a historian, and how a historian conducts their studies in his work, Who is the Historian? In an attempt to answer the question of “Who is the historian?” – Raab shows the reader the environments, the people, and the technology that a historian would interact with to succeed in their studies. As a historian, this book serves to strengthen some of the aspects of the study that we already understand, but also shows a well-rounded viewpoint, on what we may be taking for granted in our studies. Raab’s analysis of sources, the technological evolution of the study and the skillset of a historian promote the history study. Who is the Historian? is a good read for those who are considering a future as a historian, with it’s analysis of the behind the scenes work that a historian must endure.
A common misconception that I have come across with my peers that I enjoy that Raab pointed out, is that history is not completely sitting in a chair reading old documents (although that is a large portion of the study) however, historians analyze all types of art for it’s historical context. (18-38) Raab breaks the mould of his first chapter, in speaking about dusty archives in Russia reading obscure articles, which many believe to be the entirety of a historian’s study, to analyzing artwork of different eras. The dissemination of different art forms such as film, music and photos are important to the historical process in an attempt to gather the sentiments of the public during that time. As Raab pointed out, films are a good way of analyzing historical sentiments. The Soviet film, Battleship Potemkin, can be analyzed to show the perspective of the Soviets in 1925 on their revolution of 1905 – the year the film is set in. (26) A pseudo-reverse engineering of sorts on the movie, however, a valuable resource for a researcher studying the Soviet state, and how the Soviets perceived themselves. By reading between the lines of art forms, a historian can find different sources to further support their arguments, whatever that may be. Breaking this mould of a “boring” study, Raab gives an alternative and contemporary life to history for those who may have an interest in future historical studies.
Raab points out the technological advancements in the usage of databases for historical research. (77-81) Raab explains the copious amounts of information at ones fingertips can be exciting and at the same time overwhelming. Raab’s truthful assessment of working with databases is very refreshing. Instead of telling all that is good with historical studies, Raab shows more a downside to a great tool. The amount of information that is available to a researcher on the Internet is infinite, and for a researcher to pick and choose what is best for the research can be daunting. (81) Although not insurmountable, the amount of information historians have at their fingertips can be a blessing and a curse. With the infinite amount of information, research is simplified, and researchers do not have to travel to the specific locations to have the primary documents at their disposal.
Raab lays out the skills that historians must develop over their studies to succeed in their adventure as historians. In moving away from critical thinking, Raab moves into what he deems a “critical exploration,” or moving into a more finite study of history. (90-91) Raab focuses on the thematic diversity, focussing on the specifics of an era instead of the overwhelming prospect of world history in one semester (91-92) Drawing light on what is lesser known about the study of history is beneficial for the study. Instead of the broad overview of what is seen in more mainstream media of what history could be, focusing on the more niche studies of refined classes can make history seem a lot more comprehensive and exciting. The thematic diversity in history can touch upon different aspects of studies – any other study in fact – and putting more of an effort into these niche studies can bring more prospective historians into study.
For Raab’s analysis, working within archives shows potential historians the places in which they could work, and the interesting environments they could find themselves in. Disseminating the sources shows exactly how diverse the world of a historical study can be. However, with the onset of databases and technology, the diverse world of sources can be large and overwhelming. Although the infinite amounts of documents are overwhelming, Raab makes it clear that the documents are at the fingertips of the researcher, and deducting what is useful is not out of the realm of possibilities. The diversity of studies, being the different areas that can be analyzed as a historian, means the more people that can be drawn into the world of historians. Raab gives an enthralling look into the world of Historians, what it means to study history, and how historians conduct their work. For prospective historians, this read would serve as a recruiting tool towards their future as historians, to hook them into an area of study. As for already established historians, this work would serve as a good tool to expand on ones study, and to gather a different perspective on how to conduct their studies, showing different prospective sources. Raab’s work on Who is the Historian? is a good analysis on what it means to be a historian, and I would highly suggest it to anyone involved in, or interested in history.

[Matt Zahorak]

After reading the book who is the historian, by Nigel A.Raab, I can say the book is a great read. The book offers a very interesting look at who actually is a history. The book does not break down specifically who a historian is, but it is a accumulative of skills historians have. By the end of the book, you’ll have a much greater understanding of what a historian does, as well as different schools of thought. The author of the book, nigel A. Raab, goes into a detailed description about how he was pushed into history. For a man with an engineering degree history was not about the money, nor the nostalgia of having his name on a history book, but for the learning and the discovery. The book is a cumulative response to who a historian actually is. The book follows a logical sequence and you never feel lost in the book.
The book delves into the modern era with the inclusion of the internet. The author has a very good analogy of the internet saying “the servers holding today’s data will not evaporate into thing air, historians will have to slice or even a sliver of the past, but with the disconcerting feeling that the more access they have to sources the more fractioned and fragmented their presentation of the past will become”(Raab p.82). The author is trying to express that the online databases will be there forever, and the more access an individual has to one of the databases, the more information they can pull out. The internet data bases also allow for quick searching which saves time while looking threw a data base. The Author does bring up another good point, most of the large data bases online, are not publicly accessible. This can be very limiting for anyone trying to find sources on the internet. The author was recalling when he went to Moscow to look through there archives, and the archives in Moscow where open to the public. The pros and cons of online versus paper archives are very well laid out in the book.
The Author talks about the skills a historian should have. I found this very interesting because it focuses more on the exploration and curiosity; the it does on reading or writing skills. “A walk with a class through a neighborhood is instrumental in arousing curiosity and planting the seed of exploration” (Raab p.94). I find this very interesting that the Author focuses on the idea of exploration, as a university history student, we learn about history in class by looking at pictures, reading books, and listening to lectures, we never really get to explore any historical sites, unless its on our own time. The idea that a simple walk can intrigue curiosity is a wonderful idea, and with curiosity comes the motivation to research and to delve into that subject. “Typically, the perception that history may be lived outdoors but learned in the class room” (Raab p.95). This is idea is all too real for a history major, the Author encourages students to explore historical sites, to get out of the class room, as well as out of your basement and go for a walk.
The Author also mentions the clash between the humanities and science. The historians like to dig up information that the scientists tend to overlook, and example of this is, in the past scientists liked to do experiments on minority groups, now days thoughts studies are over looked, however the historian can still gain information by looking at the studies. These studies are also often forgotten and a scientist usually doesn't even know such a thing exists, the historian can find these documents and relate them to the time and place. Though most of these studies are found to be unusable because of the group of people they were carried out on. On a turn of events “numerous French historians where unwilling to explore the significant event of Vichy France, because it was an unsavory episode with disturbing stories of French complicity when only the Nazi were supposed to be to blame”(Raab p.111). I found this interesting how the French historians tried to overlook a moment in there dark past. The power that historians have to influence the thought of regular people about history is rather grand. As shown the prior example, historians are the people who write school history texts books, and they can leave out certain parts of history to be more
In conclusion I’d recommend this book to any history student. The book offers some very interesting point of views on the making, usage, and about the actual historian. The most interesting part about the book for me was when the author was talking going for a walk and finding something historical that interests you. The book is laid out chapter by chapter not answering who a historian is, but it’s a cumulative response to that question. The book delves in to the online world and how that affects the research and is maybe the future of historical research. The book is a good read, I think it will in insightful for history students, it will definably be a help a history student think outside the box a little, and may even give them new ideas for researching or finding different ways to research.

[Omo Oleko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is the Historian? written by Nigel A. Raab recounts the different skillset of an historian and embraces the true meaning of being a Historian. He vies the idea of being a historian as a whole. As you read through, you understand through the various sorts of explanations of stories how he shows you the different challenges a historian might encounter, solutions to the problem. He helps you justify history by using such things as archives, sources, false sources, sounds, etc. As I read through this novel, I kept thinking to myself as reading not a sort of History for Dummies but instead a survival guide of sorts. It is written in a manner which engages the reader to follow and teaches you also along the way. In my opinion, I deeply enjoyed this book and wish I had a book like this in first year of university. This book delves deeply in a different sort of analysis which is different and keeps the reader interested. It starts with the exploration of the archive and how archives can be found everywhere. It shows how important the archive is and it has changed over time. The second chapter is how we can differentiate sources from one another. As someone studies history, this was a very important chapter because of how relevant is today, because it is so important for a young history student. He helps also discover different ways people look at sources. The third chapter looks at the interdisciplinary approach and interaction of academic disciplines. The fourth chapter looks at the more digital age and the exploration of the digital database and how accessible it is for the historian itself. The fifth chapter explores the skill set of a historian through different techniques used by the historian. Lastly, the last chapter explores the humanities in history and how they coincide with each other and how it helps understand the past and the present.

After reviewing the book thoroughly, a recurring theme about the travelling historian with the whole idea of the archives found in museums or old documents. Raab does a great job linking information together throughout the book. The whole idea of the archive could be anything is a great example. The concept of research travels everywhere and archives can be found everywhere. So he says the historian travels destination to destination to get his research in Chapter 1. Later, Chapter 3 he explains how you can gain more information in museums with the help of curators and the conservators who help you with objects, photographs which he can help provide the historian with clues. He also says that the “archives assist researchers with this context by developing navigational tools.” (Raab, 55). It offers us a way to explore collections. Another great theme of the book that I found great was to way we look at sources and how we can find ourselves in certain sources. He explains how we organize sources, how they can be examined and how they can be misinterpreted as well. He explains how historians have been able to access sources and how they employed primary sources. Also, it is shown how the idea of sound and visuals can be interpreted as a source which was very interesting. He explains how people lean to taking bad interpretations form movies as research compared to actual historical films such as the Birth of a Nation which was noted for many historical inaccuracies. With the meaning of sound, he divides it into music, noise and sound and how it can all be used all be used by the historian and uses the example of Beyoncé’s inauguration song as something that will studied in the future.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book for 1st year students all the way up to 4th year students because of how many strengths I found in this book. Raab illustrates quite well the idea of the historian in all facets of researching and learning because he presents you with different skills that can hep any student. Reading this book, you find yourself being gradually because he does not present the information in a manner that feels quite worn out and aged. Most history novels can bore a history student, the way words are written and said can make you feel longing for something exciting to happen. Raab manages to keep your interest with always keeping you on your guard by constantly changing up the subject of argument while still being relevant to the main idea. It is a great thing that this book is written in 2015 because you don’t feel longing for explanation for words or ideas that escape you. Everything is very straight-forward to the point. Also, a great strength in this book is the use of examples and stories. All of the stories and examples were perfectly placed and were really informative. Even his personal stories made great sense because it pushes your learning forward and explains the subject even better which is always the good foundation of a book which discusses the study of history. Lastly, I greatly enjoyed this book because it served his purpose greatly and I wish I had this book in my first-year because it could’ve helped me establish a foundation for what I would learn later in my four years of history.

Word Limit: 900

[Olivia]

Read for my history class

[SB · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5✨

[Chris Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the books assigned for my PhD classes this semester. This is a detailed book, which covers the various ways history can be studied and/or used within diverse careers. It was an interesting and enlightening read.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, quick read. The book gives a glimpse of how historians can be found in more places than a college or university.

[Theo Anastopoulo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise