- Paperback: 194 pages
- Publisher: Profile Books (17 Mar 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0143054783
- ISBN-13: 978-0143054788
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 13.5 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,323,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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`short but brilliant book' - ***** review in Daily Telegraph --Daily Telegraph
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`A magnificent book, wise and timely' - Tribune
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a useful book to be read by the general public or by those beginning to study history at university/A Level. It shows how 'history' can be used to justify policies pursued by governments and pressure groups, as a prop to their arguments. Examples are taken chiefly from the 20th and 21st centuries. So we have Hitler appealing to the myth of the Germany army being betrayed by Communists and Jews in WWI, Bush junior referring back to appeasement in the 1930s, etc.
However, although briefly referred to, the author neglects popular culture. Most people will 'soak up' 'history' from films, TV dramas, novels and so forth. These products aim to entertain, not to educate, so we have such films as Titanic and Braveheart in recent times, to the Errol Flynn films of the 1930s and 1940s. As entertaining as all these are, they shouldn't be taken too seriously, but these misleading stories are equally an abuse of history as a politician's manipulation of it. Some chapters on this aspect of abuse would have been welcome.
Finally, why do we have a picture of Elizabeth I on the cover - the Elizabethan propaganda machine isn't even mentioned!
However, although briefly referred to, the author neglects popular culture. Most people will 'soak up' 'history' from films, TV dramas, novels and so forth. These products aim to entertain, not to educate, so we have such films as Titanic and Braveheart in recent times, to the Errol Flynn films of the 1930s and 1940s. As entertaining as all these are, they shouldn't be taken too seriously, but these misleading stories are equally an abuse of history as a politician's manipulation of it. Some chapters on this aspect of abuse would have been welcome.
Finally, why do we have a picture of Elizabeth I on the cover - the Elizabethan propaganda machine isn't even mentioned!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A book which, as the title suggests, looks at the way history is used and abused by those with their own agendas.
I am starting a Welsh history course in October and this has been a particularly useful pre-course reader. In one of its topics,it deals with the way nations "invent" their history.
In relation to Wales this was a particularly relevant topic; much of Welsh cultural identity is based on the ancient Bardic traditions but the real bardic traditions were lost. This book discusses the way that these traditions were reinvented in the 19th Century when the modern Eisteddfod was developed.So,in fact, what seems to be a very ancient tradition is, in fact, not much older than most modern football clubs.
There were many other examples like this of history`s use and abuse and it was a fascinating and illuminating read.
It is probably not for the academic reader with a deep knowledge of the subject, but for someone like me, about to embark on study, it was a useful and accessible introduction to the subject and it has encouraged me to develop a more thoughtful and questioning approach to history.
I am starting a Welsh history course in October and this has been a particularly useful pre-course reader. In one of its topics,it deals with the way nations "invent" their history.
In relation to Wales this was a particularly relevant topic; much of Welsh cultural identity is based on the ancient Bardic traditions but the real bardic traditions were lost. This book discusses the way that these traditions were reinvented in the 19th Century when the modern Eisteddfod was developed.So,in fact, what seems to be a very ancient tradition is, in fact, not much older than most modern football clubs.
There were many other examples like this of history`s use and abuse and it was a fascinating and illuminating read.
It is probably not for the academic reader with a deep knowledge of the subject, but for someone like me, about to embark on study, it was a useful and accessible introduction to the subject and it has encouraged me to develop a more thoughtful and questioning approach to history.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Macmillan, Margaret. The Uses and Abuses of History. London: Profile Books. 2009
Most people, who have given the matter any thought, are aware that events in the past are used to justify, explain or condemn actions in the present.
What is perhaps not so apparent is the extent to which it has occurred, and is occurring, or the extent to which historical events are "invented", inconvenient parts ignored or entire episodes erased from the record when doing so suits the purpose of the protagonist.
Macmillan is not the first to make this point (nor would she claim to be) but what makes this an excellent book is the way in which she categorises the many ways in which History is so abused and provides such a rich catalogue of supporting evidence in the form of examples; from the distant to the very recent past. Moreover it is her erudite and concise style that makes it a "page turner".
The author breaks down the manner in which "bad history" is used into six main types which correspond to her chapter headings.
She argues, for example that history is used for "comfort"; that in times of rapid change a sense of collective security can be gained by seeing the past through rose or sepia tinted spectacles where things seemed straightforward and simple. The cult of Winston Churchill, particularly in the USA and the propaganda of Stalin, Saddam Hussein, Mao and others are cited as examples.
Macmillan believes that professional historians should be the "custodians" of History and if it is left to amateurs (e.g. politicians or ideologues) then "bad history" will be the likely outcome where facts will be squeezed into theories and inconvenient ones ignored. One example she gives is the way the Treaty of Versailles has been used to almost exclusively explain the rise of Nazism. Historians have a duty to make the subject accessible and not to use jargon.
"History and Identity" and "Nationalism" are fascinating categories and numerous examples of mythology to do with the origins of nation states, both ancient and modern, are cited
In the "History as a Guide" chapter the use and misuse of analogies with past events in order to predict, explain or justify the outcomes of current actions is considered. Had the USA administration understood more of the history of "French Indo-China" it may well not have adopted the catastrophic approach to the Vietnam War that it did.
The book is based on a series of lectures and is a collection of propositions that are substantiated by examples. There is little or no reference to texts and no footnotes. One sometimes gets the impression that the author assumes that the readers will agree with her. For example, she clearly doesn't have a very high opinion of Hugo Chavez and simply explains one of his decrees as "bandwagoning" without any further explanation.
In the final paragraph the author makes an appeal to historians to continue to be sceptical, self critical and wary of people who make "grand claims in history's name" or think they have unearthed the "truth". Who can argue with that?
Most people, who have given the matter any thought, are aware that events in the past are used to justify, explain or condemn actions in the present.
What is perhaps not so apparent is the extent to which it has occurred, and is occurring, or the extent to which historical events are "invented", inconvenient parts ignored or entire episodes erased from the record when doing so suits the purpose of the protagonist.
Macmillan is not the first to make this point (nor would she claim to be) but what makes this an excellent book is the way in which she categorises the many ways in which History is so abused and provides such a rich catalogue of supporting evidence in the form of examples; from the distant to the very recent past. Moreover it is her erudite and concise style that makes it a "page turner".
The author breaks down the manner in which "bad history" is used into six main types which correspond to her chapter headings.
She argues, for example that history is used for "comfort"; that in times of rapid change a sense of collective security can be gained by seeing the past through rose or sepia tinted spectacles where things seemed straightforward and simple. The cult of Winston Churchill, particularly in the USA and the propaganda of Stalin, Saddam Hussein, Mao and others are cited as examples.
Macmillan believes that professional historians should be the "custodians" of History and if it is left to amateurs (e.g. politicians or ideologues) then "bad history" will be the likely outcome where facts will be squeezed into theories and inconvenient ones ignored. One example she gives is the way the Treaty of Versailles has been used to almost exclusively explain the rise of Nazism. Historians have a duty to make the subject accessible and not to use jargon.
"History and Identity" and "Nationalism" are fascinating categories and numerous examples of mythology to do with the origins of nation states, both ancient and modern, are cited
In the "History as a Guide" chapter the use and misuse of analogies with past events in order to predict, explain or justify the outcomes of current actions is considered. Had the USA administration understood more of the history of "French Indo-China" it may well not have adopted the catastrophic approach to the Vietnam War that it did.
The book is based on a series of lectures and is a collection of propositions that are substantiated by examples. There is little or no reference to texts and no footnotes. One sometimes gets the impression that the author assumes that the readers will agree with her. For example, she clearly doesn't have a very high opinion of Hugo Chavez and simply explains one of his decrees as "bandwagoning" without any further explanation.
In the final paragraph the author makes an appeal to historians to continue to be sceptical, self critical and wary of people who make "grand claims in history's name" or think they have unearthed the "truth". Who can argue with that?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Use and/or Abuse
This is a slick and superficial little book that purports to inform the reader on the uses and abuses of history. Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2009 by Mr. C. Alverson
Short but sweet
My biggest issue with this book is I am not sure who it was written for. If you are new to reading history books then this is not the place to start, however if you spend a lot of... Read more
Published on 31 July 2009 by J. Duducu
All credit for a non-academic introduction
Ms Macmillans book gives a brief overview of how useful history can be and why it is important to us today. Read more
Published on 26 July 2009 by Mr X
Excellent and thought-provoking read
This a shortish book that brushes over a large subject and leaves a lot of questions hanging...in a positive way. Read more
Published on 15 July 2009 by Mr. Martin Willoughby
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