Thanks for this insightful interview Joel. I will pass it on to my teenage son, who has hopes for becoming a history professor. The recommendation for private secondary schools is helpful and also what we had gathered from the current climate. Will try and get my hands on Nathaniel's Nutmeg and see if it has a similar effect on my son.
Also, would love to join that dinner party (although only as silent observer enjoying the conversation:)
You’re welcome! Nathaniel’s Nutmeg is a riveting read. And I’d love to be at that dinner as well. I’d say the same for all the Q&A subjects so far. Every one of these exchanges would be fascinating to crash.
What a wonderful interview of one of my favorite historians working today. Every one of his books is very much worth reading, and in most cases, rereading. Well done.
Thanks for this post. I've always loved history; I set out to become a history professor thirty plus years ago, but that only lasted a semester!
My favorite historian is A.J.P. Taylor and my favorite theme of his is that to understand history we must remember that all past events were once in the unknowable future. It's hard to have that mindset when you know what happened, but it explains lot about why leaders acted as they did.
Great insight. It’s funny because that sense of the inevitable is only possible after the fact when we can impose it on events—but any occurrence could have gone countless different ways.
Thanks for a great interview. I was in my 40’s when I started reading history. The book that inspired me was The Conquest of Mexico by Bernard Diaz Del Castillo, a first hand account of the invasion of Mexico by Cortez.
I've read articles by Thomas Kidd, but I confess I've read none of his books. Which one would you recommend to start with?
I think it’d be hard to beat his Jefferson biography. Franklin would be a great place to start as well.
Thanks for this insightful interview Joel. I will pass it on to my teenage son, who has hopes for becoming a history professor. The recommendation for private secondary schools is helpful and also what we had gathered from the current climate. Will try and get my hands on Nathaniel's Nutmeg and see if it has a similar effect on my son.
Also, would love to join that dinner party (although only as silent observer enjoying the conversation:)
You’re welcome! Nathaniel’s Nutmeg is a riveting read. And I’d love to be at that dinner as well. I’d say the same for all the Q&A subjects so far. Every one of these exchanges would be fascinating to crash.
What a wonderful interview of one of my favorite historians working today. Every one of his books is very much worth reading, and in most cases, rereading. Well done.
Thanks, George! He’s doing some amazing work.
Thanks for this post. I've always loved history; I set out to become a history professor thirty plus years ago, but that only lasted a semester!
My favorite historian is A.J.P. Taylor and my favorite theme of his is that to understand history we must remember that all past events were once in the unknowable future. It's hard to have that mindset when you know what happened, but it explains lot about why leaders acted as they did.
robertsdavidn.substack.com/about (free)
Great insight. It’s funny because that sense of the inevitable is only possible after the fact when we can impose it on events—but any occurrence could have gone countless different ways.
This was great!
Glad you enjoyed it, Zach!
Now I just need 1,000 years to read all the great books. 😂
No foolin’! Maybe in Eternity.
Thanks!
My pleasure!
I'm not familiar with Perry Miller, but a conversation between Dostoevsky and Lewis would really be something to witness!
Yes! I bet it’d get fiery at points.
Thanks for a great interview. I was in my 40’s when I started reading history. The book that inspired me was The Conquest of Mexico by Bernard Diaz Del Castillo, a first hand account of the invasion of Mexico by Cortez.
Once you get the bug, it’s hard to shake. And who’d want to?
It’s a great expression and a good reminder how provisional most of our historical judgments are.