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What Is History, Now?

By: Suzannah Lipscomb, Helen Carr
Narrated by: Helen Carr, Peter Kenny, Suzannah Lipscomb, Sara Powell
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Summary

This groundbreaking new collection addresses the burning issue of how we interpret history today. What stories are told, and by whom, who should be celebrated, and what rewritten, are questions that have been asked recently not just within the history world, but by all of us. Featuring a diverse mix of writers, both bestselling names and emerging voices, this is the history book we need NOW.

WHAT IS HISTORY, NOW? covers topics such as the history of racism and anti-racism, queer history, the history of faith, the history of disability, environmental history, escaping imperial nostalgia, hearing women's voices and 'rewriting' the past. The list of contributors includes: Justin Bengry, Leila K Blackbird, Emily Brand, Gus Casely-Hayford, Sarah Churchwell, Caroline Dodds Pennock, Peter Frankopan, Bettany Hughes, Dan Hicks, Onyeka Nubia, Islam Issa, Maya Jasanoff, Rana Mitter, Charlotte Riley, Miri Rubin, Simon Schama, Alex von Tunzelmann and Jaipreet Virdi.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Suzannah Lipscomb and Helen Carr (P)2021 Weidenfeld & Nicolson
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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Critic reviews

"The history book for now. This is why and how historians do what they do. And why they need to." (Dan Snow)

"What is History, Now? demonstrates how our constructs of the past are woven into our modern world and culture, and offers us an illuminating handbook to understanding this dynamic and shape-shifting subject. A thought-provoking, insightful and necessary re-examination of the subject." (Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five)

"The importance of history is becoming more evident every day, and this humane book is an essential navigation tool. Urgent and utterly compelling." (Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland)

What listeners say about What Is History, Now?

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Chapter 14 missing, chapter 17 repeated twice.

I did a history and literature degree a few years back and read the original E H Carr's 'What is History?' but I'm now completing a dissertation for an Education degree around teaching history and wanted something up-to-date. Much of the content is about how we should be rewrite histories to give voices to the minorities and marginalised but they also point out that, for most, the sources don't exist for these people! Chapter 14 should have been 'How museums open doors to the past' but this was chapter 17 'Why history should always be rewritten' which is then repeated again at chapter 17! Very annoying but I have the paper copy coming so I will have to read it later. Other than that it was ok, I would have liked them to discuss the difficulties in teaching history in schools but hey-ho!

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Interesting content but chapter missing

Having read ‘What is history?’ by E H Carr when doing my degree, it was very interesting listening to this updated work and I found some parts were illuminating. However, on the version I listened to, the chapter on museums was missing and instead there was duplication of the rewriting history chapter. I would have liked to have heard the museums chapter. The narration was OK, though I’m not particularly partial to the male narrator’s style. But remind me not to listen to anything narrated by Helen Carr again as her mispronunciations of some words were more than a little irritating. This is the second book I’ve listened to which has her featured as one of the narrators and it’ll be the last.

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An excellent study of historiography

This is not a history book.

This is a book about History the discipline.

A previous review seemed much annoyed that any development in Historical theory and studies happened. Which proves why this book is important, and that they probably never read it.

As we continue to study history, we need to ask questions and recover marginalised or forgotten voices, explore the implications of records in the archive, understand the differences between our own period and the Past. This collection of essays is accessible both to the academic Historian, the Student, and the "Lay" person.

One issue with this audiobook. A chapter repeats for what is meant to be a different chapter. This may have been a download problem or something up with the file itself.

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White man bad

As a HIstory teacher I am beyond tired of this myopic and woke agenda that is being forced by eduTwitter. This is an awful text and a bore to listen to; it may as well carry the title white man bad. The entire text is littered with criticism directed towards men, being white, heterosexual and the British Empire. The authors are obsessed with intersectionality - and by intersectionality they focus on the experiences of being black, gay, trans or disabled. There is a complete absence of commentary towards the Asian experience - why is this? Is it because 'yellow too pale a colour to shout about?' to quote Vera Chok in the Good Immigrant. The book is unashamedly woke and carries a heavy political agenda.

Avoid.

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3 people found this helpful