{"product_id":"the-purpose-of-the-past-isbn-9780143115045","title":"The Purpose of the Past","description":"\u003cb\u003eAn erudite scholar and an elegant writer, Gordon S. Wood has won both numerous awards and a broad readership since the 1969 publication of his widely acclaimed \u003ci\u003eThe Creation of the American Republic\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith \u003ci\u003eThe Purpose of the Past\u003c\/i\u003e, Wood has essentially created a history of American history, assessing the current state of the narrative vis-à-vis the work of some of its most important scholars—doling out praise and scorn with equal measure. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this wise, passionate defense of history's ongoing necessity, Wood argues that we cannot make intelligent decisions about the future without understanding our past, offering a master's insight into what history—at its best—can be and its essential role in our culture.The Purpose of the PastIntroduction\u003cbr\u003e1. \"Influence\" in History\u003cbr\u003e2. Anachronism in History\u003cbr\u003e3. Narrative History\u003cbr\u003e4. The Lessons of History\u003cbr\u003e5. Continuity in History\u003cbr\u003e6. History and the New Historicism\u003cbr\u003e7. History as Fiction\u003cbr\u003e8. History as High Politics\u003cbr\u003e9. Microhistory\u003cbr\u003e10. Truth in History\u003cbr\u003e11. History Versus Political Theory\u003cbr\u003e12. History Without Ideas\u003cbr\u003e13. History and Heritage\u003cbr\u003e14. Comparative History\u003cbr\u003e15. Postmodern History\u003cbr\u003e16. Satirical History\u003cbr\u003e17. Multicultural History\u003cbr\u003e18. History and Myth\u003cbr\u003e19. History as Cultural Criticism\u003cbr\u003e20. Race, Class, Gender and History Writing\u003cbr\u003e21. Presentism in History\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIndex\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Essential reading for anyone who cares about history.\"\u003cb\u003e—Jonathan Yardley, \u003ci\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Illuminating . . . [Wood's] pitch-perfect erudition is legendary.\"—\u003cb\u003eDouglas Brinkley, \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eGordon S. Wood\u003c\/b\u003e is the Alva O. Way University Professor and professor of history at Brown University. His books have received the Pulitzer, Bancroft and John H. Dunning prizes, as well as a National Book Award nomination and the New York Historical Society Prize in American History. They include \u003ci\u003eEmpire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eRevolutionary Characters\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Purpose of the Past\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Americanization of Benjamin Franklin\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Idea of America\u003c\/i\u003e.","brand":"Penguin Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302781276389,"sku":"NP9780143115045","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780143115045.jpg?v=1767741116","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-purpose-of-the-past-isbn-9780143115045","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}