Customer Reviews
Interesting book - By: PhilosopherKing, 18 Nov 2008 
This was an interesting & thought provoking book suitable for either history students or just people with an interestin history.
It touches on various topics e.g. how cats were highly valuedin Ancient Egypt but tended to be ill-treatedin Middle Age & Early Modern Europe. This illustrates that attitudesin different times & places vary.
Also interesting was a discusion about how historians can use documents made for one purpose to obtain information about something different provided that they take care. I think that this book goes well with R J Evan's book " In Defence of History".
A Short History of History - By: Peter Reeve, 11 Jun 2005 
Arnold takes 'historiography' to be the process of writing history, & 'history' to be the result of that process, i.e. to be a set of true stories about the past. If you enjoy reading history, then you should read at least something about historiography, to help you evaluate & interpret what you read. This short introduction to the subject is probably as good a place as any to start & for many readers will be as much historiography as they think they need.
Major figures such as Thucydides & von Ranke are discussed & central issuesin the philosophy of history, such as the extent to which people of other times were essentially different from us, are introduced. Arnold presents a wide range of opinions on these various topics, but has a bias toward the politically correct.
His style is readable, if sometimes clumsy, but overall this little book succeeds admirablyin its task & contains a wealth of information & opinion. It is recommended for anyone wanting to get beyond the 'true stories' to what history really is.
Essential reading for anyone interested in History - By: , 09 Jun 2002 This is an excellent, well written & thought provoking book about what it might mean to do History (and most other things). Students & readers of all ages will find it a valuable aid to reaching an understanding of the many different kinds of history there are & of how to go about choosing, reading & enjoying them.
A must for anyone who's even vaguely interested in history. - By: , 01 Feb 2001 This is a lively, provocative book. Arnold introduces,in a very personable & readable manner, some central questions about what history is, & can claim to be, & how it can be "done". He explores these questions through some entertaining & refreshing examples of historical source material.
Arnold strikes a balance that carries the reader through the complexities of the issues at hand without descending into patronising simplification, or bewildering jargon. He obviously has a passion for his subject, & this comes across very stronglyin the book.
If you think history is all "kings & battles" & BBC2 programmes about archaeology, read this book- it might change your mind.
