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The Uses And Abuses Of History. Margaret MacMillan (2010)

by Margaret MacMillan(Favorite Author)

3.47 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

184668210X (ISBN13: 9781846682100)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Profile Books(GB)

series

Modern Library Chronicles

review 1: I've had this shelved for a year or so and finally picked it up to give it a quick read. The new academic year will start at the end of this month, so I want to begin getting myself gradually into the mental flow of reflecting upon the critical nature of history. I'm giving this five stars not so much because it has the attributes of a profound and influential classic, although it is profound in an understated way, engagingly written, and accessibly describes examples from around the world that demonstrate how debates about what history should be told and how link the past with the present in substantive and meaningful ways; rather, it's a personal five-star rating because it corresponds so well with what I teach my own students - to the point that the content overlaps not... moreiceably. Whether I can assign the book to students in an introductory general education class is something that I'll need to give some consideration. MacMillan provides sufficient context for the historical references that she makes - but that's my assessment; many students tune out as soon as they encounter a reference unfamiliar to them, without recognizing that the relevant background is laid out in explanation there in the book. In any case, it's certainly a book that I would recommend for students entering undergraduate history programs.
review 2: Short, succint and covering some ground I've already seen, this is a book that I would recommend to people. MacMillan touches on the ways in which people utilize history in their lives, in their politics and to devices. Classic examples, such as how the German understanding of the end of WWI led to the rise of the Nazi's. Less well known examples; the struggles over the Enola Grey exhibit in the Smithsonian, the questions of how to deal with the French Revolution in French Schools. Ultimately it's an advocacy book for professional histories to pay attention to popular history and put themselves out more in support of their field. It's also a call for historical education that is multifaceted, teaching people the potential and varying 'stories' one can generate with regards to historical experience. It's not a 'deep' book in that it touches very lightly on the things it covers, but I think for those who aren't really aware of the 'history wars' or the underlying themes of the book, it's a good read. less

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