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A review by evamadera1
Practicing History: Selected Essays by Barbara W. Tuchman
3.0
I didn't know what to expect of this book when I started reading. I don't know much about Ms. Tuchman and her historical philosophy. After reading this book, I have very little doubt.
I liked the earlier essays, the ones on historiography. However, the overall coherence of the book degenerates after the first part. I kept expecting the anecdotes about various events in recent history to lead to explanations of how this affected her historical philosophy. I had no such luck. The final three or four essays actually made me laugh. Her political views (at least in my opinion) are pretty close to absurd and at several points conflict with her earlier stated historical philosophy.
My disappointment with the book boils down to one major point. The compilation of essays lacks coherence. Nothing connects the first essay to the last or any of the few in between.
I liked the earlier essays, the ones on historiography. However, the overall coherence of the book degenerates after the first part. I kept expecting the anecdotes about various events in recent history to lead to explanations of how this affected her historical philosophy. I had no such luck. The final three or four essays actually made me laugh. Her political views (at least in my opinion) are pretty close to absurd and at several points conflict with her earlier stated historical philosophy.
My disappointment with the book boils down to one major point. The compilation of essays lacks coherence. Nothing connects the first essay to the last or any of the few in between.