History: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) | 
|  | | | Title: | History: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) | | Author: | John H. Arnold | | Publisher: | Oxford University Press, USA | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 15 June, 2000 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 019285352X / 9780192853523 | | List Price: | $11.95 | | You Save: | $2.39 | | Amazon Price: | $9.56 | |
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| Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
There are many stories we can tell about the past, and we are not, perhaps, as free as we might imagine in our choice of which stories to tell, or where those stories end. John Arnold's addition to Oxford's popular Very Short Introductions series is a stimulating essay about how people study and understand history. The book begins by inviting us to think about various questions provoked by our investigation of history, and then explores the ways in which these questions have been answered in the past. Such key concepts as causation, interpretation, and periodization are introduced by way of concrete examples of how historians work, thus giving the reader a sense of the excitement implicit in discovering the past--and ourselves.
The aim throughout History: A Very Short Introduction is to discuss theories of history in a general, pithy, and accessible manner, rather than delve into specific periods. This is a book that will appeal to all students and general readers with an interest in history or historiography.
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Customer Reviews:
• A Short And Quality Book About History 04 May, 2006
John Arnold has written an excellent book about history and what history is really all about. History is an argument and Arnold points out some of the issues throughout history (was history created by a great person or did a great event make a person seem great?). It's an easy and very informative read for history majors and non-history majors. It will make you think about history in a new way and provides great information about how and why history is so very important to all of us.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3DRSOGQJRX10
• Few Pages, Many Ideas, Enlightening-even For A History Grad 22 November, 2004
What is contained in the pages of this text far surpasses its size, and its worth cannot be adequately represented by its low cost. I found that, using this book as part of my preparations for school, as a required reading, that it surprised me. Although I had read other books in the series before, and both enjoyed and profited from the time spent engaged in such, I must admit that I felt a certain amount of disdain for the idea of reading a book with the title -A Very Short Introduction-. After all, had I not just recently graduated with a degree in history? Did I need to be told what history was? Apparently I did, because the "history of history" contained in its few pages enlightened me as to where what I do came from. It breaks down the most fascinating evolution of theory from Thucydides to today, from each fracture and faction formed along the way, to the theories that resulted in the eventual outcome. Today, history is broken into many smaller disciplines, and if you are thinking about pursuing history in college, or just like to study it from the armchair, this book will open your eyes and entertain your mind...for two to three hours...but leave you with information that will give you an idea of just how deep the rabbit hole truly goes into the depths of time. The examples the author uses to illustrate his points are interesting (although they tended to focus on his own research area of Medieval history), and, altogether the prose was neat and the style fluid and conversational - a combination I very much enjoy!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2N3ZEKGMUIE9Q
• Excellent Reader 28 August, 2003
Like others in this series, this pocket tome exposes the reader not only to an overview of the discipline of History, but also to the tone and writing style of Historians. A fine, quick read that seems to give the flavor of both History and Historians.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1LX9GSMN66L7E
• A Thoughtful And Valuable Essay 11 April, 2006
John Arnold shares his passions and cautions about the joys,relevance and sometime misuses of history.The reader is treated to a visit with a true intellectual.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AI15CIU9HW3ZX
• A Short History Of History 29 May, 2005
Arnold takes 'historiography' to be the process of writing history, and 'history' to be the result of that process, i.e. to be a set of true stories about the past. If you enjoy reading history, then you should read at least something about historiography, to help you evaluate and interpret what you read. This short introduction to the subject is probably as good a place as any to start and for many readers will be as much historiography as they think they need.
Major figures such as Thucydides and von Ranke are discussed and central issues in the philosophy of history, such as the extent to which people of other times were essentially different from us, are introduced. Arnold presents a wide range of opinions on these various topics, but has a bias toward the politically correct.
His style is readable, if sometimes clumsy. The British spellings and usages may annoy some American readers. But overall this little book succeeds admirably in its task and contains a wealth of information and opinion. It is recommended for anyone wanting to get beyond the 'true stories' to what history really is.
- Reviewed by customer ID: ABTUNH7645QJL
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