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History: Why It Matters
We justify our actions in the present through our understanding of the past. But we live in a time when politicians lie brazenly about historical facts and meddle with the content of history books, while media differ wildly in their reporting of the same event. Frequently, new discoveries force us to re-evaluate everything we thought we knew about the past. So how can any certainty about history be established, and why does it matter? Lynn Hunt shows why the search for truth about the past, as a continual process of discovery, is vital for our societies. History has an essential role to play in ensuring honest presentation of evidence. In this way, it can foster humility about our present-day concerns, a critical attitude toward chauvinism, and an openness to other peoples and cultures. History, Hunt argues, is our best defense against tyranny. Introducing Polity's Why It Matters series; in these short and lively books, world-leading thinkers make the case for the importance of their subjects and aim to inspire a new generation of students.
140 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
37 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Hunt
466 books83 followersLynn Avery Hunt is the Eugen Weber Professor of Modern European History at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her area of expertise is the French Revolution, but she is also well known for her work in European cultural history on such topics as gender. Her 2007 work, Inventing Human Rights, has been heralded as the most comprehensive analysis of the history of human rights. She served as president of the American Historical Association in 2002.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 9, 2023
Short book, which, according to the title, should show why history is important. Unfortunately, Hunt jumps from one subject to another, recycling quite a bit of her earlier work. She doesn't really get around to answering her central question. A missed opportunity. A little more in my History account on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
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October 21, 2024Failed attempt to put history back on the map. Cultural historian Lynn Hunt (Eugen Weber Professor of Modern European History at the University of California, Los Angeles) is not just anyone, but this booklet clearly is a job done in a rush. She begins by stating that historiography is not a science, but a literary skill. There are certainly arguments in favor of that, but I found it really too simplistic. She rightly defends the historical profession against the extreme criticism of postmodernism and postcolonialism. And her these that the focus on minorities has profoundly changed historiography at the end of the 20th century is creditable. But only at the very end, in her final paragraph, does she formulate briefly why history remains important, and even then, I think it's rather poor: respect for those who came before us; wisdom and examples to follow or not follow; and great narratives with beginnings and ends.
Frankly, I expected more. For a better, equally concise attempt, see J.L. Gaddis, The Landscape of History: How Historians Map the Past.
Frankly, I expected more. For a better, equally concise attempt, see J.L. Gaddis, The Landscape of History: How Historians Map the Past.
October 19, 2018
Glæný og virkilega góð. Um stöðu sagnfræðinnar í dag. Mæli hiklaust með!!
August 22, 2022
She makes some good points, especially at the end. It’s cool to see a “history of history”, especially because of how much it has changed in the last century.
3 stars because many of her examples were weak (e.g. History matters because of Obama’s birth certificate?? Wtf…), her biases were unabashed, ironically, she was dripping with Eurocentric energy, and her reasoning was missing much (in particular, it ignored the value of understanding for its own sake, focusing instead on history as a means to a textbook 😪😪).
3 stars because many of her examples were weak (e.g. History matters because of Obama’s birth certificate?? Wtf…), her biases were unabashed, ironically, she was dripping with Eurocentric energy, and her reasoning was missing much (in particular, it ignored the value of understanding for its own sake, focusing instead on history as a means to a textbook 😪😪).
February 5, 2024
I can’t tell if I learned something from this book. I think I did learn that studying history was for a long time exclusive to the cultural elites and that is def something to keep in mind as I do historical research. But a lot of this just book felt like common sense to me… womp womp
May 10, 2018
This book talks about aspects of history as a discipline, or a form of art come academic endeavour as Hunt describes it. It is beautiful in its simplicity and straight forward in its critique of history's shortcomings and celebration of its achievements.
History was done by elites for elites about elites until not too long ago, and then people started realising that just speaking of the polity and those who govern it are not enough to cover our relationships to our pasts and history branched to cover the governed and the marginalised from minorities, to women, to native peoples, to colonised people, to people of colour and it started to make much more sense.
One of my favourite aspects of the book is the "stages" of the historical discipline Hunt proposes: first history was to find exemplars for our being and conduct hence the extensive study by "gentlemen" of the Greek and Roman traditions so they would find the wisdom that they are to embody as they inherited their fathers' wealth and power, then came Hegel among others and proposed history as the linear progression towards a "goal" (he thought it would be the German form of liberty but we do not need to agree with the man), and then, Hunt proposes, comes the "whole earth time" sort of history that concerns itself with everyone and everything, from microbes to humans to machines, and that tells a story of the earth, the environment, and people... this one I do prefer.
She also talks about the tensions of historical disciplines, between the past and the future, the academic and the popular, the documented and the oral.
I loved the book... and despite its brevity and the fact that I would have loved for it to be more detailed, I think it is worth a read... I also ordered the other two books in the series about why anthropology matters and why linguistics matter, I hope they are as good.
History was done by elites for elites about elites until not too long ago, and then people started realising that just speaking of the polity and those who govern it are not enough to cover our relationships to our pasts and history branched to cover the governed and the marginalised from minorities, to women, to native peoples, to colonised people, to people of colour and it started to make much more sense.
One of my favourite aspects of the book is the "stages" of the historical discipline Hunt proposes: first history was to find exemplars for our being and conduct hence the extensive study by "gentlemen" of the Greek and Roman traditions so they would find the wisdom that they are to embody as they inherited their fathers' wealth and power, then came Hegel among others and proposed history as the linear progression towards a "goal" (he thought it would be the German form of liberty but we do not need to agree with the man), and then, Hunt proposes, comes the "whole earth time" sort of history that concerns itself with everyone and everything, from microbes to humans to machines, and that tells a story of the earth, the environment, and people... this one I do prefer.
She also talks about the tensions of historical disciplines, between the past and the future, the academic and the popular, the documented and the oral.
I loved the book... and despite its brevity and the fact that I would have loved for it to be more detailed, I think it is worth a read... I also ordered the other two books in the series about why anthropology matters and why linguistics matter, I hope they are as good.
January 26, 2024
It is good for all interested in history
January 21, 2023
This is really only okay. Extremely rudimentary, which I guess is the point, but even in its rudimentariness it kind of misses the point. Weird commentary on race, empire, etc. at times – which Hunt confesses to at one point, I guess, but then why not do better? Just kind of eh.
Read for HIST180 SC
Read for HIST180 SC
November 29, 2021
Interesting but would never read by choice
December 13, 2022
Un buen libro para conocer, como dice su título, la importancia que tiene la historia, con sus pocas páginas y un lenguaje muy sencillo es clara la idea de la autora con este libro.
En el primer capítulo, la autora afirma que hoy más que nunca hay un creciente interés por la historia, muchos datos lo sustentan, pero, también hay todo un debate en torno a ella. Para empezar presenciamos la aparición de personas que afirman la falsedad de ciertos hechos históricos, como el holocausto, algo muy perjudicial. Los monumentos son otro aspecto donde los debates no terminan, la destrucción de estatuas a ciertos líderes, genera debate, porqué estás estructuras reafirman el poder, la cuestión está en que conservar.
Los libros de texto escolar es un campo de batalla, los silencios y exclusión son continuos como el de las mujeres o afros, igualmente, está el enaltecimiento de ciertos elementos nacionales como el pasado imperial. La memoria también es importante, más que todo en países con un pasado violento, en el que las comisiones de la verdad son importantes para el tránsito hacia la paz y la democracia, como pasa en Colombia, en la memoria colectiva está el aumento de museos y experiencias que hacen sentir que uno está en esa época, la cuestión es que se empatiza tanto que se deja de lado la reflexión y crítica, como el caso de las trincheras, por ello la importancia del equilibrio entre rigurosidad y divulgación en la historia pública.
El segundo capítulo es sobre la verdad histórica, compuesta por dos elementos: los hechos y las interpretaciones. Es interesante, el ejemplo del documento de Constantino al papa como una prueba de que hay muchos hechos que pueden ser falsos, los avances científicos y nuevas fuentes hace que desestimamos hechos que antes eran ciertos. En el campo de la interpretación varía según el historiador y el contexto, muchas veces nuevas interpretaciones lleva a descubrir nuevos hechos. Otra cuestión es que la verdad histórica por muchos años ha estado dominada por discursos nacionalista y eurocentricos, dejando de lado otros aspectos. Por ello la importancia de la crítica y el debate.
En el tercer capítulo, se aborda como la apertura a las mujeres en las facultades de historia así como de otras "minorías" como afro posibilitaron el desarollo de otros enfoques históricos y el interés por la esclavitud y el género en la propia historia, también el acercamiento de la historia con otras disciplinas es importante para el estudio de nuevos temas como la historia cultural o social.
El último capítulo, aborda Hunt, la importancia de la historia global, en la que la historia local es importante, porqué está última compone la primera, otra cuestión importante a destacar es el "presentismo" hay un gran interés por estudio del pasado reciente, pero muchas veces con miradas desde el presente, haciendo que se caiga en anacronismo, por ello, el respeto de las personas al pasado. Finalmente, el acceso más fácil a fuentes, que cada vez son más, implica que indaguemos sobre las mismas, la historia, no puede predecir el futuro, pero es importante conocer nuestro pasado, así sea solo fragmentos de este.
En conclusión un libro que sigue mostrando que la historia es muy importante, la prueba más importante a nivel global es como la invacion de Rusia a Ucrania estaba justificada supuestamente por argumentos históricos, también se ve en los países con los discursos nacionalista. Importante esa bibliografía final recomendado otras obras.
En el primer capítulo, la autora afirma que hoy más que nunca hay un creciente interés por la historia, muchos datos lo sustentan, pero, también hay todo un debate en torno a ella. Para empezar presenciamos la aparición de personas que afirman la falsedad de ciertos hechos históricos, como el holocausto, algo muy perjudicial. Los monumentos son otro aspecto donde los debates no terminan, la destrucción de estatuas a ciertos líderes, genera debate, porqué estás estructuras reafirman el poder, la cuestión está en que conservar.
Los libros de texto escolar es un campo de batalla, los silencios y exclusión son continuos como el de las mujeres o afros, igualmente, está el enaltecimiento de ciertos elementos nacionales como el pasado imperial. La memoria también es importante, más que todo en países con un pasado violento, en el que las comisiones de la verdad son importantes para el tránsito hacia la paz y la democracia, como pasa en Colombia, en la memoria colectiva está el aumento de museos y experiencias que hacen sentir que uno está en esa época, la cuestión es que se empatiza tanto que se deja de lado la reflexión y crítica, como el caso de las trincheras, por ello la importancia del equilibrio entre rigurosidad y divulgación en la historia pública.
El segundo capítulo es sobre la verdad histórica, compuesta por dos elementos: los hechos y las interpretaciones. Es interesante, el ejemplo del documento de Constantino al papa como una prueba de que hay muchos hechos que pueden ser falsos, los avances científicos y nuevas fuentes hace que desestimamos hechos que antes eran ciertos. En el campo de la interpretación varía según el historiador y el contexto, muchas veces nuevas interpretaciones lleva a descubrir nuevos hechos. Otra cuestión es que la verdad histórica por muchos años ha estado dominada por discursos nacionalista y eurocentricos, dejando de lado otros aspectos. Por ello la importancia de la crítica y el debate.
En el tercer capítulo, se aborda como la apertura a las mujeres en las facultades de historia así como de otras "minorías" como afro posibilitaron el desarollo de otros enfoques históricos y el interés por la esclavitud y el género en la propia historia, también el acercamiento de la historia con otras disciplinas es importante para el estudio de nuevos temas como la historia cultural o social.
El último capítulo, aborda Hunt, la importancia de la historia global, en la que la historia local es importante, porqué está última compone la primera, otra cuestión importante a destacar es el "presentismo" hay un gran interés por estudio del pasado reciente, pero muchas veces con miradas desde el presente, haciendo que se caiga en anacronismo, por ello, el respeto de las personas al pasado. Finalmente, el acceso más fácil a fuentes, que cada vez son más, implica que indaguemos sobre las mismas, la historia, no puede predecir el futuro, pero es importante conocer nuestro pasado, así sea solo fragmentos de este.
En conclusión un libro que sigue mostrando que la historia es muy importante, la prueba más importante a nivel global es como la invacion de Rusia a Ucrania estaba justificada supuestamente por argumentos históricos, también se ve en los países con los discursos nacionalista. Importante esa bibliografía final recomendado otras obras.
September 5, 2023
Rating: 2.5
Read this for class, dry theory on academic history some of which was interesting some of which was not.
Read this for class, dry theory on academic history some of which was interesting some of which was not.
January 24, 2024
Es un libro breve y ameno. Trata sobre la historiografía, sobre cómo ha sido el estudio de la historia en el pasado y cómo va a evolucionar con el tiempo. También trata sobre el papel que ha desempeñado y desempeñará el historiador en el futuro.
January 4, 2026
No es mal libro, pero tener que leerlo para un examen habiendo 24263 millones de cosas que estudiar pues hace que no lo valore igual.
Si el examen sale bien lo valoraré más positivamente.
Si el examen sale bien lo valoraré más positivamente.
December 10, 2022
i'm not going to lie i didn't *really* read this. maybe like a chapter or two. but we studied it in class enough for me to feel like i know it cover to cover. anyway, it was pretty good!! i love almost everything written by women (especially history) so if you do want to know why history matters i would definitely recommend this book
April 3, 2025
Entiendo las buenas intenciones de la autora, pero lo cierto es que el texto no aporta ningún concepto o noción de verdadero calado.
El tratamiento de algunos dilemas y conflictos dentro de la academia es cuanto menos simplista e ingenuo, además de que ciertas aseveraciones resultan propias de reflexiones de la ESO.
La selección de las fuentes históricas es notablemente ingenua, a pesar de un tono de (falsa) modestia.
El punto más interesante, cuando decide negar la Historia ciencia, está tristemente desaprovechado a falta de una argumentación sólida.
En fin.
El tratamiento de algunos dilemas y conflictos dentro de la academia es cuanto menos simplista e ingenuo, además de que ciertas aseveraciones resultan propias de reflexiones de la ESO.
La selección de las fuentes históricas es notablemente ingenua, a pesar de un tono de (falsa) modestia.
El punto más interesante, cuando decide negar la Historia ciencia, está tristemente desaprovechado a falta de una argumentación sólida.
En fin.
October 19, 2021
สนุกมากสำหรับคนเรียนประวัติศาสตร์ เดี๋ยวไว้เขียนรีวิวยาวๆ สักที
November 10, 2018
This book attempts not to teach people how to think historically. It is not a research methods book, nor is it really about the history of historians, although that comes up a bit. This book does talk about how historians started off writing mainly political history and then branched out as we moved into the mid 20th century. But Hunt never explicitly talks about social history or cultural history. She attributes the change of focus less to research methods and more to the diversification of history students and faculty.
The point of this book is to explain what the stakes are when we think about the past. I would say the book has two really good uses:
1. Lets say you are teaching a research methods class to undergraduates. You want these kids to know that they declared an important major. You want them to realize that being an historian gives you certain authority, but it also comes with responsibilities and a set of professional ethics. Research methods can wait a couple of weeks. This stuff is crucial to understand from the outset. This book is a good way to get people to know what is at stake when we think historically.
2. Let's say you have decided to pursue a degree in history, or decided to start your Masters in it. But family members don't know why you are doing this career rather than being a lawyer or something of that sort. Well, for those whose opinions matter, giving them this book might help them develop an understanding of (and respect for) why you care about history.
I read it relatively quickly. This is my main field of study, after all, so a lot of it was familiar to me. I therefore have a slightly harder time evaluating whether certain bits would be above people's heads. I personally think her brief explanation of Hegel was good and her talking about ideas like "progress," but I don't know if the way she's explaining it would work for everyone. However, when she gets into really concrete controversies, like monuments, textbooks, holocaust denial, and the like, it's pretty clear what she's doing.
I will say, Hunt doesn't seem to care much for Donald Trump (not that many scholars do). His stoking the "birther" controversy and then lying about stoking that controversy seems to have been personally offensive to her. After all, his saying Obama's birth certificate could be a forgery undermines confidence in official documents and our ability to cite them as evidence, even when there is no reason to disbelieve them. There are a few things like that peppered through. I'm not saying I disagree with her on these topics (I generally do agree), but not everyone will agree with those portions of the book.
The point of this book is to explain what the stakes are when we think about the past. I would say the book has two really good uses:
1. Lets say you are teaching a research methods class to undergraduates. You want these kids to know that they declared an important major. You want them to realize that being an historian gives you certain authority, but it also comes with responsibilities and a set of professional ethics. Research methods can wait a couple of weeks. This stuff is crucial to understand from the outset. This book is a good way to get people to know what is at stake when we think historically.
2. Let's say you have decided to pursue a degree in history, or decided to start your Masters in it. But family members don't know why you are doing this career rather than being a lawyer or something of that sort. Well, for those whose opinions matter, giving them this book might help them develop an understanding of (and respect for) why you care about history.
I read it relatively quickly. This is my main field of study, after all, so a lot of it was familiar to me. I therefore have a slightly harder time evaluating whether certain bits would be above people's heads. I personally think her brief explanation of Hegel was good and her talking about ideas like "progress," but I don't know if the way she's explaining it would work for everyone. However, when she gets into really concrete controversies, like monuments, textbooks, holocaust denial, and the like, it's pretty clear what she's doing.
I will say, Hunt doesn't seem to care much for Donald Trump (not that many scholars do). His stoking the "birther" controversy and then lying about stoking that controversy seems to have been personally offensive to her. After all, his saying Obama's birth certificate could be a forgery undermines confidence in official documents and our ability to cite them as evidence, even when there is no reason to disbelieve them. There are a few things like that peppered through. I'm not saying I disagree with her on these topics (I generally do agree), but not everyone will agree with those portions of the book.
September 5, 2024
*2024*
I wouldn't say this book changed the trajectory of my life, but it was the first book I read that got me thinking about history (something none of my history teachers had managed?) so something about it being assigned reading in my university history course got me feeling some kind of way.
*2019*
This is the 7th non-fiction I've finished this year and I suck at reading non-fiction so I'm super proud!
*3,5?*
This was a really short and esay read and it's definitely more of an introduction than a deep dive into historical methods (though there is a 'further reading' section in the back and I can't wait to check out some of those).
I'm split on how to rate it though because parts of it was so interesting and I learnt a lot and it got me thinking a lot about my past history education and unknown biases. On the other hand, I found parts of it really dry and uninteresting (mainly the chapter about the history of history).
I wouldn't say this book changed the trajectory of my life, but it was the first book I read that got me thinking about history (something none of my history teachers had managed?) so something about it being assigned reading in my university history course got me feeling some kind of way.
*2019*
This is the 7th non-fiction I've finished this year and I suck at reading non-fiction so I'm super proud!
*3,5?*
This was a really short and esay read and it's definitely more of an introduction than a deep dive into historical methods (though there is a 'further reading' section in the back and I can't wait to check out some of those).
I'm split on how to rate it though because parts of it was so interesting and I learnt a lot and it got me thinking a lot about my past history education and unknown biases. On the other hand, I found parts of it really dry and uninteresting (mainly the chapter about the history of history).
October 26, 2018
This was hit-or-miss by chapter. Some actually seemed to fall into the "boring history" trap of names and dates with little context, but then others are totally spot-on (so much so that I copied out a really great paragraph for further reference.)
Early on Hunt makes the mistake (IMO) of using Obama's birth certificate issue as an example of the facts/history/alternative facts situation which is unfortunate because I think it is a polarizing example that will cause some folks who really need to read it to shut it down before it even begins.
It's a quick read and reaffirming for those of us working to properly un-erase important histories and to make history accessible for all.
Early on Hunt makes the mistake (IMO) of using Obama's birth certificate issue as an example of the facts/history/alternative facts situation which is unfortunate because I think it is a polarizing example that will cause some folks who really need to read it to shut it down before it even begins.
It's a quick read and reaffirming for those of us working to properly un-erase important histories and to make history accessible for all.
July 18, 2019
First half was great, the second half started to get boring with a high amount of stats. Ends pretty well. Gives a good overview of the development of history as a thing, field, then discipline. The importance of history and why it matters to find the "truth." The importance of having debates and not just memorizing an encyclopedia of facts. End with, why history will be important in the future. Lynn Hunt makes great arguments and uses great historical examples and analysis to support her ideas. A good read for anyone interested in the development of history and the importance of history.
March 10, 2020
En 1974, Lynn Hunt fue la cuarta mujer en ingresar en el departamento de historia de la Universidad de Berkeley, donde ya trabajaba la gran Natalie Zemon Davis. Cuando, diez años más tarde, se convirtió en profesora titular, era la única mujer en ostentar ese cargo frente a cuarenta hombres (Davis, entretanto, se había ido a Princeton).
Hoy nos cuenta por qué importa la historia y, con conocimiento de causa, desgrana que uno de los retos que marcarán su futuro es el de la inclusividad. La reseña completa, aquí: https://chs.hypotheses.org/927.
Hoy nos cuenta por qué importa la historia y, con conocimiento de causa, desgrana que uno de los retos que marcarán su futuro es el de la inclusividad. La reseña completa, aquí: https://chs.hypotheses.org/927.
January 17, 2019
This book starts with a quick intro on why the study of the past is so important, since it is the collective memory of a nation or people. Good examples include why governements interfere so much in the creation of history textbooks. The largest part of the book actually describes the history of the academic discipline of history. Starting with Von Ranke and then moving up towards more contemporary research methods/paradigms. Interesting book, written from a slight progressive stance.
August 29, 2018
The first half of the book was great as it focused on issues like text book debates, Holocaust denial etc. Second half of the book was not much fun to read as it was primarily about the stats/trends of history degrees, history of history degrees etc. However, as it was very concise I would recommend it for a long lunch reading session.
January 24, 2022
En otroligt läsvärd bok även när den inte ingår i obligatorisk kurslitteratur. Jag vet inte riktigt varför vi ska läsa den på svenska snarare än engelska men översättningen var bra så det spelar ingen större roll mer än att jag förväntade mig lite mer nordiskt innehåll eftersom den är på just svenska.
September 17, 2023
Every historian needs to read this book! I love Lynn Hunt and I’m so happy I read this
December 23, 2025
does not explain why history matters
February 6, 2021
Historia ¿Por qué importa? (Lynn Hunt, 2018
Hoy en día, la historia es una de las prácticas más importantes de nuestros días. No lo digo porque soy historiador, sino por lo que demuestra Lynn Hunt en su libro. La historia esta hoy en día más presente que nunca: las mentiras, los monumentos, los libros de textos en las escuelas, las guerras, la historia pública, la memoria colectiva.
Lynn Hunt, una de las historiadoras más respetadas hoy en día, no se detiene tanto a responder a los ataques a la historia como disciplina (me viene a la mente el giro lingüístico o las criticas poscoloniales) sino que se detiene a más mostrar su importancia, su desarrollo y sus logros. A partir de los tres primeros capítulos teje porque la historia es importante, como se construye la historia y cual ha sido el desarrollo de la misma desde una práctica de la elite hasta una con conciencia global (en el sentido amplio de la palabra). Todos los desarrolla con una buena cadencia de narración y con un lenguaje sencillo y ameno.
No obstante, es el último capítulo el que me ha llamado fuertemente la atención «El futuro de la historia» dado que plantea con gran sensibilidad cual es el futuro mismo de la disciplina. Desde como permite un espejo a nuestras preocupaciones actuales hasta como puede servir como una agenda para el futuro. Asimismo, plantea los retos que como disciplina tiene hacia adelante. Concluye con que un respeto por el pasado es necesario para sortear los desafíos que nos depara el futuro.
Hoy en día, la historia es una de las prácticas más importantes de nuestros días. No lo digo porque soy historiador, sino por lo que demuestra Lynn Hunt en su libro. La historia esta hoy en día más presente que nunca: las mentiras, los monumentos, los libros de textos en las escuelas, las guerras, la historia pública, la memoria colectiva.
Lynn Hunt, una de las historiadoras más respetadas hoy en día, no se detiene tanto a responder a los ataques a la historia como disciplina (me viene a la mente el giro lingüístico o las criticas poscoloniales) sino que se detiene a más mostrar su importancia, su desarrollo y sus logros. A partir de los tres primeros capítulos teje porque la historia es importante, como se construye la historia y cual ha sido el desarrollo de la misma desde una práctica de la elite hasta una con conciencia global (en el sentido amplio de la palabra). Todos los desarrolla con una buena cadencia de narración y con un lenguaje sencillo y ameno.
No obstante, es el último capítulo el que me ha llamado fuertemente la atención «El futuro de la historia» dado que plantea con gran sensibilidad cual es el futuro mismo de la disciplina. Desde como permite un espejo a nuestras preocupaciones actuales hasta como puede servir como una agenda para el futuro. Asimismo, plantea los retos que como disciplina tiene hacia adelante. Concluye con que un respeto por el pasado es necesario para sortear los desafíos que nos depara el futuro.
August 20, 2018
Noko uinspirerande og overflatisk gjennomgang av kva historie er og korleis det har utvikla seg som fag. Boka har tittelen «Why it matters» og første kapittel heiter «Now more than ever», men Hunt klarar aldri skikkeleg forklare kvifor historie har noko å seie eller kvifor faget er viktigare no enn nokon gong før.
Framfor å skrive om utfordringar for historiefaget i desse dagar, som eg trudde og håpa på den skulle handle om, skriv Hunt om den historiske utviklinga av faget sidan 1800-talet. Akkurat det er skrive før, og det er skrive mykje betre og meir interessant av andre. Mogleg boka kan fungere som ein kjapp introduksjon for ikkje-historikarar, men då ville eg heller ha prioritert Margaret MacMillan si «The Uses and Abuses of History» frå 2008.
Framfor å skrive om utfordringar for historiefaget i desse dagar, som eg trudde og håpa på den skulle handle om, skriv Hunt om den historiske utviklinga av faget sidan 1800-talet. Akkurat det er skrive før, og det er skrive mykje betre og meir interessant av andre. Mogleg boka kan fungere som ein kjapp introduksjon for ikkje-historikarar, men då ville eg heller ha prioritert Margaret MacMillan si «The Uses and Abuses of History» frå 2008.
September 11, 2024
Read this for a college class and would put it at 2 and a half stars. Definitely a good baseline to the matters of history, and I enjoyed the different sections of interpretations of how history is seen in a modern contexts (especially in that last chapter on how history is intermingling with other environmental aspects today). I wish a lot of these topics were fleshed out a little more and had more diverse historical examples. I also wish it actually answered the overarching question; 'Why history matters'. Made great points, but never directly answers that question. However, it did make some compelling ideas come to life, and I enjoyed how simple it was to understand these foundational concepts.
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