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> Nuanced and rigorous history requires careful and objective study to truly understand. It seems like the most objective account of history one can create is
by Seattle3503 5y ago
> Nuanced and rigorous history requires careful and objective study to truly understand.
It seems like the most objective account of history one can create is merely a recollection of all facts, with no room for editorialization. I've read some books by historians and I find it hard to follow when reading in the 20 minute increments my free time is divided into. Maybe that's just my problem, but it makes me understand why some people reach for pop history.
- UncleMeat 5y agoAcademic history is storytelling rather than a recollection of facts. This is why there are different analysis modes and multiple views of the same events can all be valid work. That said, it is definitely the case that academic history is written for other academics and is often terribly dry for people outside of the field. There are exceptions, but little about a book itself will tell you whether it is one of the ones that are well suited for amateur readers.
- chillacy 5y agoGiven finite resources (limited pages in a book), the decision to put some facts over others into said book is by nature a form of editorialization.