How can I gain more knowledge of History? - Page 2

HansMustermann · 22nd December 2012, 12:42 AM

Well, please don't take it as an attack or anything, but basically if you're going to pick a hobby that'll take many many hours, I think you should pick something you like doing. Otherwise it won't be fun. I.e., I think the first question you should ask yourself is whether you really want to. It seems to me like if you had found it fun to read about exactly how did the Normans use cavalry at Hastings or WTH did happen at Kadesh or such, chances are you would be already doing that. If you'd rather do something else, then keep doing something else. IMHO.

SpitfireIX · 22nd December 2012, 05:15 AM

Originally Posted by mike3

What do you mean by a "real degree"? In history, or what?

A degree that can get you a job that pays enough to support yourself and you family. Not to be confused with history, unless you're knowledgeable enough, smart enough, personable enough, hard-working enough, and/or lucky enough to be able to become a professor, which I was not.

Plan B is to become a secondary-school history teacher, which is generally not as difficult as becoming a college teacher. However, at least in Indiana, the only way you can really do that is to be very good at at least one sport, and become certified to coach that sport. Because history/social studies is generally considered the easiest area in which to become certified, that's what most coaches teach.

Note that the above is my personal experience; prospects may be better in other states/countries.

Gawdzilla · 22nd December 2012, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by SpitfireIX

A degree that can get you a job that pays enough to support yourself and you family. Not to be confused with history, unless you're knowledgeable enough, smart enough, personable enough, hard-working enough, and/or lucky enough to be able to become a professor, which I was not.

I got a job based on my history degree. I made the point that history requires that you separate fact from fiction, and determine what happened based on those facts.

Wolrab · 22nd December 2012, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by marplots

Live a very long time.

Or die. Then you are history.

Seriously though, go to school, college, university, or just study. There are no shortcuts.

SpitfireIX · 22nd December 2012, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Gawdzilla

I got a job based on my history degree. I made the point that history requires that you separate fact from fiction, and determine what happened based on those facts.

I know. Apart from my comments about hard work, skill, and luck, I was partly discussing the consequences of only having an undergraduate degree; I probably should have clarified that. I should also point out in fairness that I suffered from an undiagnosed learning disability (attention deficit disorder; undiagnosed partly because it was only beginning to be understood in the 1980s, and partly because I have the rare form that isn't accompanied by hyperactivity).

pakeha · 22nd December 2012, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by anglolawyer

If they're still around, your grandparents are a living, breathing repository of social history (or more if one of them is like Kissinger or somebody lol).

I'd recommend this advice, too.

dafydd · 22nd December 2012, 02:51 PM

Reading lots of history books worked for me.

StankApe · 22nd December 2012, 02:53 PM

do a little research to locate THE definitive biography on famous figures in history. (I say "THE" biography, cuz there are hundreds of em, and many are not very good)

Fitter · 24th December 2012, 03:48 AM

Don' complicate matters with books, just invent your own time machine.

Gawdzilla · 24th December 2012, 04:05 AM

Originally Posted by Fitter

Don' complicate matters with books, just invent your own time machine.

You've just invented the Inverted KISS Principle. Well done!

fitzgibbon · 27th December 2012, 12:38 PM

Read and listen widely. I came to an abiding interest in the War of 1812 by way of a Stan Rogers tune ("Billy Green" FWIW). Being Canadian, I'd never heard of him (Tecumseh, Laura Secord and Sir Isaac Brock won the war). I Googled his name and one thing led to another and I'm now a Charles Plenderleath (and Battle of Stoney Creek acolyte.

Fitz

Polaris · 28th December 2012, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by lionking

That's what I try to do, and it works with biographies as well. In Dublin we stayed in the house Wellington was born in (now the exquisite Merrion Hotel), saw his tomb in St John's and the academy he attended in France. This prompted me to read several books about him, and has led me to conclude he was one of the world's greatest ever generals.

And while you're there, if the history you're interested in was relatively recent, ask around if people know locals who were there for events.

When I was in Arnhem in 2002, I got to talk to a man who was a boy during the Market-Garden battle there, and it was fascinating to hear him talk about seeing the planes fly over.

MaGZ · 30th December 2012, 07:22 AM

Go to Wikipedia and hit random article.

RoseMontague · 4th January 2013, 05:07 AM

Some great suggestions here, it's hard to get excited about reading history if you don't have a connection to or interest in the subject matter. The one about inventions is good, I enjoyed History of the World in Six Glasses. Who can't connect with beer, wine, and coca-cola? Salt was an interesting book as well. Historical fiction is a good start, especially if it is well-researched. Then you can look up information about that time and place. Reading a good biography is also a way to learn history, especially if it is someone you admire or have a connection to. Going to the museum can be fun as well as a learning experience. I have also enjoyed going on tours to historical places in Charleston and Chicago, for example. It gets you interested and then you can explore what other information is out there.

Spindrift · 4th January 2013, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by MaGZ

Go to Wikipedia and hit random article.

Wikipedia is a good starting point. You can quickly scan almost any topic and usually get a decent overview of the topic. From there you can check out the sources were cited.

Polaris · 4th January 2013, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by MaGZ

Go to Wikipedia and hit random article.

I once had that feature return Molotov Cocktease.

LibraryLady · 4th January 2013, 01:47 PM

Two specific suggestions:

Home by Witold Rybczynski. It's basically a history of the chair, but what a fascinating history, taking all sorts of things into consideration.

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. It's a fictional recounting of how to do history research, and a fun read about Richard III.

AgeGap · 4th January 2013, 03:07 PM

Military blunders.
Richard Holmes and John Keegan are very readable.

22nd December 2012, 12:42 AM	#41
HansMustermann Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 9,846	Well, please don't take it as an attack or anything, but basically if you're going to pick a hobby that'll take many many hours, I think you should pick something you like doing. Otherwise it won't be fun. I.e., I think the first question you should ask yourself is whether you really want to. It seems to me like if you had found it fun to read about exactly how did the Normans use cavalry at Hastings or WTH did happen at Kadesh or such, chances are you would be already doing that. If you'd rather do something else, then keep doing something else. IMHO.
	__________________ Which part of "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" don't you understand?

22nd December 2012, 05:15 AM	#42
SpitfireIX Master Poster Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA Posts: 2,830	Originally Posted by mike3 What do you mean by a "real degree"? In history, or what? A degree that can get you a job that pays enough to support yourself and you family. Not to be confused with history, unless you're knowledgeable enough, smart enough, personable enough, hard-working enough, and/or lucky enough to be able to become a professor, which I was not. Plan B is to become a secondary-school history teacher, which is generally not as difficult as becoming a college teacher. However, at least in Indiana, the only way you can really do that is to be very good at at least one sport, and become certified to coach that sport. Because history/social studies is generally considered the easiest area in which to become certified, that's what most coaches teach. Note that the above is my personal experience; prospects may be better in other states/countries.
	__________________ Handy responses to conspiracy theorists' claims: 1) "I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." --Charles Babbage 2) "This isn't right. This isn't even wrong." --Wolfgang Pauli 3) "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." --Inigo Montoya

22nd December 2012, 05:59 AM	#43
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,485	Originally Posted by SpitfireIX A degree that can get you a job that pays enough to support yourself and you family. Not to be confused with history, unless you're knowledgeable enough, smart enough, personable enough, hard-working enough, and/or lucky enough to be able to become a professor, which I was not. I got a job based on my history degree. I made the point that history requires that you separate fact from fiction, and determine what happened based on those facts.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

22nd December 2012, 08:46 AM	#44
Wolrab Graduate Poster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Beautiful Finger Lakes Posts: 1,713	Originally Posted by marplots Live a very long time. Or die. Then you are history. Seriously though, go to school, college, university, or just study. There are no shortcuts.
	__________________ "Such reports are usually based on the sighting of something the sighters cannot explain and that they (or someone else on their behalf) explain as representing an interstellar spaceship-often by saying "But what else can it be?" as though thier own ignorance is a decisive factor." Isaac Asimov

22nd December 2012, 11:43 AM	#45
SpitfireIX Master Poster Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA Posts: 2,830	Originally Posted by Gawdzilla I got a job based on my history degree. I made the point that history requires that you separate fact from fiction, and determine what happened based on those facts. I know. Apart from my comments about hard work, skill, and luck, I was partly discussing the consequences of only having an undergraduate degree; I probably should have clarified that. I should also point out in fairness that I suffered from an undiagnosed learning disability (attention deficit disorder; undiagnosed partly because it was only beginning to be understood in the 1980s, and partly because I have the rare form that isn't accompanied by hyperactivity).
	__________________ Handy responses to conspiracy theorists' claims: 1) "I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." --Charles Babbage 2) "This isn't right. This isn't even wrong." --Wolfgang Pauli 3) "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." --Inigo Montoya

22nd December 2012, 12:24 PM	#46
pakeha Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7,994	Originally Posted by anglolawyer If they're still around, your grandparents are a living, breathing repository of social history (or more if one of them is like Kissinger or somebody lol). I'd recommend this advice, too.
pakeha Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7,994

22nd December 2012, 02:51 PM	#47
dafydd Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Belgium (Flatland) Posts: 31,478	Reading lots of history books worked for me.
	__________________ Yesterday upon the stairs I met a man who wasn't there He wasn't there again today I wish that he would go away.

22nd December 2012, 02:53 PM	#48
StankApe Banned Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 4,643	do a little research to locate THE definitive biography on famous figures in history. (I say "THE" biography, cuz there are hundreds of em, and many are not very good)
StankApe Banned Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 4,643

24th December 2012, 03:48 AM	#49
Fitter Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Where the pavement ends Posts: 3,504	Don' complicate matters with books, just invent your own time machine.

24th December 2012, 04:05 AM	#50
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,485	Originally Posted by Fitter Don' complicate matters with books, just invent your own time machine. You've just invented the Inverted KISS Principle. Well done!
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

27th December 2012, 12:38 PM	#51
fitzgibbon Master Poster Join Date: May 2007 Location: Just west of the centre of the universe Posts: 2,545	Read and listen widely. I came to an abiding interest in the War of 1812 by way of a Stan Rogers tune ("Billy Green" FWIW). Being Canadian, I'd never heard of him (Tecumseh, Laura Secord and Sir Isaac Brock won the war). I Googled his name and one thing led to another and I'm now a Charles Plenderleath (and Battle of Stoney Creek acolyte. Fitz
	__________________ "Television is a circus, a carnival, a traveling troupe of acrobats, storytellers, dancers, singers, jugglers, side-show freaks, lion tamers, and football players. We're in the boredom-killing business! So if you want the truth... Go to God!" Howard Beale, "Network"

28th December 2012, 01:28 PM	#52
Polaris Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 5,169	Originally Posted by lionking That's what I try to do, and it works with biographies as well. In Dublin we stayed in the house Wellington was born in (now the exquisite Merrion Hotel), saw his tomb in St John's and the academy he attended in France. This prompted me to read several books about him, and has led me to conclude he was one of the world's greatest ever generals. And while you're there, if the history you're interested in was relatively recent, ask around if people know locals who were there for events. When I was in Arnhem in 2002, I got to talk to a man who was a boy during the Market-Garden battle there, and it was fascinating to hear him talk about seeing the planes fly over.
Polaris Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 5,169	__________________ "There's vastly more truth to be found in rocks than in holy books. Rocks are far superior, in fact, because you can DEMONSTRATE the truth found in rocks. Plus, they're pretty. Holy books are just heavy." - Dinwar "Roy Moore of Alabama. The world would absolutely benefit by him being run over by any vehicle." - Lowpro

30th December 2012, 07:22 AM	#53
MaGZ Suspended Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6,319	Go to Wikipedia and hit random article.
MaGZ Suspended Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6,319

4th January 2013, 05:07 AM	#54
RoseMontague Drama Queen Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 5,187	Some great suggestions here, it's hard to get excited about reading history if you don't have a connection to or interest in the subject matter. The one about inventions is good, I enjoyed History of the World in Six Glasses. Who can't connect with beer, wine, and coca-cola? Salt was an interesting book as well. Historical fiction is a good start, especially if it is well-researched. Then you can look up information about that time and place. Reading a good biography is also a way to learn history, especially if it is someone you admire or have a connection to. Going to the museum can be fun as well as a learning experience. I have also enjoyed going on tours to historical places in Charleston and Chicago, for example. It gets you interested and then you can explore what other information is out there.
	__________________ "I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right".

4th January 2013, 05:19 AM	#55
Spindrift Enturbulator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Right here! Posts: 8,449	Originally Posted by MaGZ Go to Wikipedia and hit random article. Wikipedia is a good starting point. You can quickly scan almost any topic and usually get a decent overview of the topic. From there you can check out the sources were cited.
	__________________ I've always believed that cluelessness evolved as an adaptation to allow the truly appalling to live with themselves. - G. B. Trudeau A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. - Kay, Men in Black.

4th January 2013, 01:22 PM	#56
Polaris Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 5,169	Originally Posted by MaGZ Go to Wikipedia and hit random article. I once had that feature return Molotov Cocktease.
Polaris Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 5,169	__________________ "There's vastly more truth to be found in rocks than in holy books. Rocks are far superior, in fact, because you can DEMONSTRATE the truth found in rocks. Plus, they're pretty. Holy books are just heavy." - Dinwar "Roy Moore of Alabama. The world would absolutely benefit by him being run over by any vehicle." - Lowpro

4th January 2013, 01:47 PM	#57
LibraryLady ...but not JUST a LibraryLady Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Building a house in the common ground Posts: 13,075	Two specific suggestions: Home by Witold Rybczynski. It's basically a history of the chair, but what a fascinating history, taking all sorts of things into consideration. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. It's a fictional recounting of how to do history research, and a fun read about Richard III.
	__________________ What would Hüsker Dü? I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about. Mildred Loving

4th January 2013, 03:07 PM	#58
AgeGap Master Poster Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: St.Helens, UK Posts: 2,386	Military blunders. Richard Holmes and John Keegan are very readable.