History, like language, is a tool. It is a tool that can be used for seeding a conceptual framework in the minds of the readers. It may be for political purpo

History, like language, is a tool. It is a tool that can be used for seeding a conceptual framework in the minds of the readers. It may be for political purposes, for entertainment purposes or for academic purposes. Facts, when artfully pieced together, can be used to tell many, many different stories. When I read history for entertainment, I always read several books by different authors to find the gist of the history described in those books. But even then, I know that the source materials themselves are most likely flawed, biased, incomplete and generally unreliable. History is important, but one has to do battle with it to gain anything useful.