Customer Reviews

The Houses of History: A Critical Reader in Twentieth-Century History and Theory

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I found this book very helpful in understanding the methodologies behind the different "houses" of historiography. As the first reviewer stated, it can sometimes be tedious, but if you need to know this stuff, this is a relatively painless way to go about doing it. Finally, I would just like to pose a question: why would anyone trust a review by a college student who cannot correctly spell "nonsense"?

Great book. Before I read it, I had been confused by the various historiographical 'houses.' Now I know what's what. Anyone who's doing a historiography course at university should read this book because it (a) explains most things well and (b) makes it clear that there is a lot of conscious consideration behind how historians approach the past, which I think anyone who plans to study the past for a living needs to know. Jay's negative review shows he isn't willing to engage in a sophisticated analysis of the historian's influence on history.

The reason I recommend this book above any others on historigraphy, is that the chapters are succinct and virtually absent of pretentious academic-speak. In addition, each "house" of history comes with an example of the theory or methodology being discussed, which is useful for those of us who need "illustrations." While this work is extremely useful while taking an oft-painful historiography course, it is also a terrific handbook for developing the historiography section of a long research paper, thesis, or dissertation.

This book gives a good summary and example of different types of historical methods. The examples can be hard to read but the summaries on the methods are very helpful. Creates good discussions in class as well.

The Houses of History is a very complete book for those who are enthralled by history. Preferably, for those who like to understand first the big picture concerning our changing times. This unique book takes you throughout the stages of history during the twentieth century and better yet, through the different trends that those who record history have faced from the modern to the post modern times.It also includes interesting excerpts for each particular history theory. This product must be read by anyone who wants to understand nowadays' social, cultural and political movements.

The Houses of History was an interesting read. Many of the excerpts that the writers put forward I believe were intended to open readers to more ideas.

Informative on the different types of historagraphy. If you want to write history or research history this is a book that was written as a text to help.

I am a university student majoring in history. I was forced to endure the reading of this book for a course in historical methods. I found the book to be very dull in its presentation and arguments about the historical house. This is not just my opinion but that of my fellow students as well. In a class of thirty people only two or three found the book excellent to use the rest of us found it a disaster. There are numerous other sources out there that present this material in a more colorful and interesting fashion. I am no fan of this book. The book does present the very broad subdivisions of historical research. I disagree with anyone who is in the study of history that allows one book, one professor, or one course to mold their like or dislike for this discipline. I suffered through this book because it was mandated for the course. I did learn something about the topic. So in that way the book did have useful information in it. I just would like to suggest to those who want to learn about the historical houses of history that there is an abundant amount of material available both on the web and published that is much better in presentation then this book. For the dullness and lackluster presentation of the material I gave this book only 3 stars.

jargon free! HA! That's a good one. I had to read this for a second year historiography course. This is an extremely poorly written text which is very difficult to understand. The authors went out of their way to cloud the arguments in confusing language. I went into the course loving history. Now at the end of my second year I am switching majors because I would have to take a similar course in fourth year. History itself I love. Historiography is BORING. Such stupid debates permeate this discipline. gender history, oral history,... Forget this nonsence.