Practicing History

Selected Essays

By: Barbara W. Tuchman

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

Master historian Barbara W. Tuchman looks at history in a unique way and draws lessons from what she sees. This accessible introduction to the subject of history offers striking insights into America's past and present, trenchant observations on the international scene, and thoughtful pieces on the historian's role. Here is a splendid body of work, the story of a lifetime spent "practicing history".©1981 Alma Tuchman, Lucy T. Eisenberg, and Jessica Tuchman Matthews; Introduction copyright 1981 by Barbara Tuchman (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A book to celebrate...A delight to read." (New York Times Book Review)
"Persuades and enthralls...I can think of no better primer for the nonexpert who wishes to learn history." (Chicago Sun-Times)

Enjoyed Barbara Tuchman’s Views

Excellent collection of works by a great historian who expounds on what she has learned from family connections (her grandfather was very rich and powerful and became an ambassador) and research. Great analysis on a wide range of subjects, including Israel, China, Vietnam, Woodrow Wilson, and Nixon. Truly she had a great meaningful career as a historian and voice of caution and reason for the present and future.

Wonderful!

I read this book back in the mid-90"s, a few years after the author's death. When I saw this work was available as an audio book, I decided it was time to reconnect with this insightful historian. Some of her assessments have turned out to be incorrect, but her analysis is still incisive. She could not have foretold some events would take a different turn than she anticipated. I also snagged the audio versions of her other books, all of which I read back in the day. I recommend The Bible and the Sword as especially relevant right now. Barbara Tuchman was a popular historian in the manner of Doris Kearns Goodman...before DKG (no dis to DKG--I love her work as well)! Special compliments to the narrator. Her delivery is just right. Tuchman was American and she did not have a British accent but, based on this performance, she SHOULD have.

Surprisingly Relevant and Well Narrated

Tuchman’s perspectives on citizen involvement in the military and the power of the presidency are prescient. Great narration!

Missing Table of Content :(

Such a simple thing as providing a Table of Contents is sadly missing making navigating impossible.

Delightfully crafted essays

Closely observed essays, great prose, outstanding reader. What’s not to love? Yes, she has opinions and designates them as such.

A mixed bag but definitely worth reading

There are some pieces that are absolutely fantastic and some that have aged less well. My highlights were the review of Kissinger’s book, most of the first third on how to write history, and the watergate pieces at the end.

Diverse collection of insightful essays

This book is a series of essays, including speeches, by well-known historian Barbara Tuchman. Respected books of hers include The Guns of August, A Distant Mirror, The First Salute, and The Zimmerman Telegram. In Practicing History’s collection of diverse writings, she covers a lot of ground. Of particular interest to me were her commentaries on writing history, the inevitability of bias in history, the uses of history for present day decision making (rather difficult she contends), and other aspects of her difficult trade. She also presents a variety of essays that, to me, appear to be subjects of her research that for the most part never developed into full blown books. She expounds on subject matter as diverse as Mao Tse Dong, Richard Nixon, Woodrow Wilson, the Israeli military, and Vietnam. Knowing her work, I found her insights and commentary to be quite fascinating. Loved it!

Hard to argue with Tuchman

I know this piece was written decades ago, but as a fan of most of the things Tuchman has written, I cannot help but thank her for putting this body of work for us to read. She explores topics and her point of view in a way that frankly, I was not smart enough to know I didn't know, and then once I knew, felt nothing but thankful to her for placing it so delicately so I could follow. I'm not sure there are the right words, especially as Tuchman talks at length about the importance of using the language well, to even review something with so many important insights into the brain/work of an amazing artist. Sometimes, as those who can govern no appropriate will power to even attempt this kind of work, I just have to read this in awe. A piece with so many parts, so many views into the behind the scenes of her books, an so many incredible little nuggets of knowledge. I'm not a historian, nor a writer, nor am I smart enough to understand most that she writes... but for me this collection of Tuchman's work so much informs her other books that it makes me even more a fan.

A Great Mind Shares a Lifetime of Experience

One of the great historians of the Twentieth Century meditates upon the methods of her craft and the lessons of our history.

Excellent and entertaining, but cut short

Barbara Tuchman’s prose is highly entertaining and the content highly enriching.

Unfortunately, it is cut short (in mid-sentence) at the end. Perhaps the administrators could investigate.