AcclaimedhistorianMargaretMacMillanexploresherethemanywaysinwhichhistoryaffectsusall.Sheshowshowadeeperengagementwithhistory,bothasindividualsandinthesphereofpublicdebate,canhelpusunderstandourselvesandtheworldbetter.Butshealsowarnsthathistorycanbemisusedandleadtomisunderstanding.Historyisusedtojustifyreligiousmovementsandpoliticalcampaignsalike.Dictatorsmaysuppresshistorybecauseitunderminestheirideas,agendas,orclaimstoabsoluteauthority.Nationalistsmaytellfalse,one-sided,ormisleadingstoriesaboutthepast.Politicalleadersmightmobilizetheirpeoplebytellinglies.Itisimperativethatwehaveanunderstandingofthepastandavoidtheseandothercommontrapsinthinkingtowhichmanyfallprey.Thisbrilliantlyreasonedwork,alivewithincidentandfiguresbothgreatandinfamous,willcompelustoexaminehistoryanew--andskillfullyilluminateswhyitisimportanttotreatthepastwithcare.
