The Lessons of History [Paperback]

Sir Michael Howard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 1992

This is a collection of the major articles and lectures of Sir Michael Howard during his time as Regius Professor of Modern History in the University of Oxford between 1980 and 1989. Some reflect on contemporary events, but most are more broadly concerned with the historical process which underlies international politics, and the nature of the insights which historians should be able to bring to the study of world affairs. In particular, they deal with the evolution of "nations" and of nationalism in 19th century Europe, and the relationship of that evolution to the transformation of agrarian into industrial societies; that process of "modernization" which, beginning in western Europe in the 18th century, was by the end of the 20th to encompass the entire world, and whose effects trouble us still.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This collection of essays and lectures, dating from Howard's tenure of the Regius Chair of Modern History at Oxford between 1980 and '89, reflects his interest in the connection between nationalism and war. In "War and Social Change" he argues that national self-consciousness was the driving force of international conflict in the 19th and first half of the present century. "The Edwardian Arms Race" examines the pre-WW I naval rivalry between Britain and Germany. "Prussia in European History" makes the point that the Nazi creed drew on many sources not specifically Prussian. Nationalism, in Howard's view, is "by far the most effective instrument of social mobilization . . . and so a most effective tool of war." This and similar observations are typical of the blandly general quality of the pieces.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 217 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (July 29, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300056656
• ISBN-13: 978-0300056655
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,632,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good essay collection with a few gems, June 8, 2005

By 

R. B. Bernstein "R. B. Bernstein, Adjunct Pro... (Brooklyn, New York USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lessons of History (Paperback)

Like all essay collections, THE LESSONS OF HISTORY can seem thrown together. The opening and closing essays, however, are true gems. In the opening essay, Sir Michael Howard reflects on just what it means to draw lessons from history; in the process, he goes beyond the stale and cliche-ridden stuff that most historians generate when asked to reflect on the question. In particular, readers should ponder Howard's enlightening juxtaposition of the mindset of the military historian, who focuses on the uniqueness of past events and their differences from the present, with the mindset of the military strategist or tactician, who wants to know the past so that he or she can apply historical knowledge to the present.

5.0 out of 5 stars Lessons from a Perceptive Historian..., January 16, 2012

By 

D. S. Thurlow (Alaska) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lessons of History (Paperback)

"Lessons of History" is a 1991 collection of lectures delivered by distinguished British historian Sir Michael Howard at Oxford University between 1980 and 1989. In the lectures, Howard discusses some of the major events of the last 100 years and attempts to derive some lessons about history as a craft and as a guide to future human developments. His approach, not surprisingly, is somewhat Anglo-centric and influenced by the experiences of the First and Second World Wars. What stands out here is his willingness to take a remarkably clear-eyed, even politically incorrect look at the 20th Century and what it might mean.

The individual lectures can be quite interesting, addresssing, among other topics, the founding of Israel and the concept of nationality, the impact of a militarized Prussia and Germany on Europe, the idea of race as a motivation for empire, and the development of ideology as a motivation for war. Military history tends to be a connecting thread in the lectures, and Howard typically avoids the polite easy answer. A dissection of the naval arms race between Germany and Britain before the First World War is revealing of his approach.

It is no part of Howard's intent to provide comfort. He is realistic, even at times cynical in his evaluations of human behavior. However, he is ultimately a believer in the idea that political freedom generally leads to better outcomes, although it is not immune to mistakes, even horrible mistakes. Along the way, he describes the basis for the decline of Europe, the challenge of the social welfare state, and predicts the rise of Islamic militant fundamentalism as a global threat.

"The Lessons of History" is very highly recommended to students of history and to fans of the writing of Michael Howard.