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yungwonk's review against another edition
4.0
It was a very good primer on many different spots of European, North American, and to a slightly lesser extent Asian history and on how it had been used throughout history. It did not mention much of South nor Central America, which is why I detracted a star.
She has a very approachable way of writing that does not intimidate the reader (something I find frequently in history books).
If you want to start getting into history, or are new to the subject, definitely read this ASAP because it will help you contextualize, warns you not to trust everything you're reading, and best of all: it's short. I read this in a day, which is both a testament to its length and its quality.
She has a very approachable way of writing that does not intimidate the reader (something I find frequently in history books).
If you want to start getting into history, or are new to the subject, definitely read this ASAP because it will help you contextualize, warns you not to trust everything you're reading, and best of all: it's short. I read this in a day, which is both a testament to its length and its quality.
beckykeister's review against another edition
3.0
Summarizes many of the reasons why it is important to learn history, providing many examples along the way that are quite accessible to the average student of history. I think this would be a good read for people who are just beginning their intentional journey toward understanding the past.
happinessisalltherage's review
3.0
Read in a week for a graduate class on History and its uses in international affairs, this is a fine book full of real world examples on that subject. I enjoyed the last chapter the most. I found a couple of MacMillan's comments requiring a citation or to be rather simple generalizations of complex historical topics. For example, she claims the Soviet policy of glasnot led to a loss of faith in the Soviet project and to it's disunion. I'm no Soviet scholar but that seems quite simplistic.
A quick, breezy read, but not an essential one.
A quick, breezy read, but not an essential one.
michael_k's review against another edition
3.0
More like 3.5 actually. It is a book that basically examines if and what history has taught us and how to critically approach it. It is written in a clear language and I think it is a must-read for all of us who enjoy history.
moris_deri's review
4.0
The teaching and the literary values of history have become George Orwell’s nightmare come true. History is written in a way that helps justify repressive regimes, religious authorities, wars, etc. It is a close examination of how erroneous the story-telling is, and the author blames it on mainstream historians who have relegated the duty of critical analyses to amateurs, preferring to work on the sidelines instead (such as to study the history of Queen Elizabeth instead of the royal family lineage as a whole). It is a cautionary literature on how identity can be an ersatz construct built by someone else who is not privy to the impugned events. Best read together with [b:The Undivided Past: Humanity Beyond Our Differences|15792475|The Undivided Past Humanity Beyond Our Differences|David Cannadine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377898464l/15792475._SX50_.jpg|21514356].
hollyleaf's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Interesting, nuanced discussion of history in culture and the narratives created around them