The Uses and Abuses of History
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- £3.99
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- £3.99
Publisher Description
The past is capricious enough to support every stance - no matter how questionable. In 2002, the Bush administration decided that dealing with Saddam Hussein was like appeasing Hitler or Mussolini, and promptly invaded Iraq. Were they wrong to look to history for guidance? No; their mistake was to exaggerate one of its lessons while suppressing others of equal importance. History is often hijacked through suppression, manipulation, and, sometimes, even outright deception. MacMillan's book is packed full of examples of the abuses of history. In response, she urges us to treat the past with care and respect.
Customer Reviews
Thought provoking read
Really excellent exploration of the uses and abuses (mainly abuses) of history for the vested interests of individuals and the nation- state. Her conclusion is perhaps undeservedly bleak, however. Some simplification of history is necessary and popular consumption is vital for history to have any uses at all. We must approach history with care, as she advises, and learn to view historical issues in a more complex wat