Author:Gordon S. Wood
Title: The Purpose of the Past
Publication Info:Blackstone Audio, Inc., 2008
ISBN: 9781433242137
Previously Read by Same Author: The Radicalism of the American Revolution
Summary/Review: This is a collection of book reviews written by the esteemed historian Gordon S. Wood. Many of them criticize history writers for presentism, post-modernism, political history, and scientific quantitative analysis. Coming under Wood’s scrutiny are authors I admire such as Gary Wills, Barbara Tuchman, and Simon Schama. Yet despite this, I like Wood’s well-written and well-supported take on how history should be told. Regardless of Wood’s ultimate opinion of these works, there are a lot of books I want to add to my reading list.
Recommended books: Practicing History by Barbara Tuchman
Rating: ***
