Dangerous Games: The Uses and Abuses of History

Written by Margaret MacMillan

Narrated by Barbara Caruso

The author behind the New York Times best-sellers Paris 1919 and Nixon Mao, Margaret MacMillan presents a remarkable treatise on history's importance. "MacMillan is a superb writer who can bring history to life."-Philadelphia Inquirer

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 3, 2009
• ISBN: 9781440759918

Margaret MacMillan

One of Canada’s most eminent scholars and writers, Margaret MacMillan is a Professor of History at the University of Toronto and emeritus Professor of International History at the University of Oxford.

Reviews for Dangerous Games

[maxernst11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Een verzameling lezingen uit 2007. Bevat niet zoveel nieuws, en op een bepaald moment pleit MacMillan toch wel heel eenzijdig voor zuiver academische geschiedschrijving . Maar de laatste hoofdstukken zijn dan weer erg interessant, met een analyse van hoe voorbeelden uit het verleden (zoals het trauma van M?nchen 1938 nadien in zeer uiteenlopende opzichten gebruikt en misbruikt zijn).En natuurlijk kan ik de slotconclusie alleen maar delen: ?If the study of history does nothing more than teach us humility, scepticism and awareness of ourselves, then it has done something useful. We must continue to examine our own assumptions and those of others and ask, where's the evidence? Or, is there another explanation? We should be wary of grand claims in history's name or those to have uncovered the truth once and for all. In the end, my only advice is use it, enjoy it, but always handle history with care.?

[themulhern · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There isn't all that much to this book, although it has a few good phrases: "... much use of history, but is history much use?" "distinction between a museum and a memorial." The thesis is that history is more nuanced than people generally pretend and that it is used to justify or to guide important actions. That is definitely a problem with history, not only does it seem fractal-like in its complexity, but radically different interpretations can be put on just about any age or event and conflicting explanations can be given for almost anything. And I'm already very aware of specific instances where history is used to justify all sorts of things, from the existence of Israel to various assaults on civil rights in the US. I knew less about the analogies that George Bush and Tony Blair drew between various political leaders and situations from the past and various current ones; they seem too facile for such serious business as going to war.

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Een verzameling lezingen uit 2007. Bevat niet zoveel nieuws, en op een bepaald moment pleit MacMillan toch wel heel eenzijdig voor zuiver academische geschiedschrijving . Maar de laatste hoofdstukken zijn dan weer erg interessant, met een analyse van hoe voorbeelden uit het verleden (zoals het trauma van München 1938 nadien in zeer uiteenlopende opzichten gebruikt en misbruikt zijn).En natuurlijk kan ik de slotconclusie alleen maar delen: “If the study of history does nothing more than teach us humility, scepticism and awareness of ourselves, then it has done something useful. We must continue to examine our own assumptions and those of others and ask, where's the evidence? Or, is there another explanation? We should be wary of grand claims in history's name or those to have uncovered the truth once and for all. In the end, my only advice is use it, enjoy it, but always handle history with care.”

[stephengoldenberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This does exactly what it says on the cover, although it's rather more about the abuses and misuses than about the uses. The chief villain of the piece is nationalism/patriotism - the reason why so much of history is falsified or, at the very least, used selectively. Margaret MacMillan's short book is stacked with examples, many from North America, including her native Canada. But she also covers the way the Iraq War should never have taken place if the politicians had listened to the experts on the region's history. She also covers the conflicting histories provided by the two sides in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In the end, the book is a forceful endorsement of the importance of proper historical study and analysis - studies that look at the complexities of situations rather than going for a black and white, heroes and villains approach. The most damning sections deal with the way that governments of all kinds (not just the despotic ones) manipulate school history curricula to tell stories of nationalistic pride and try to edit out the murkier aspects of the past. Instead, she speaks out for historical study which is open to a range of interpretations and invites constant questioning.
My only disappointment is that she doesn't say more about the influence of power relationships in whose History we get to study - whether it's the history of the wealthy elites or one that's open to the lives and experiences of ordinary working people.

[nmele_4 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It's hard to say who will read this book: even amateurs interested in history will find it a restatement of accepted truths, and those not interested in history will probably not read it. A friend advised me it was not worth reading, but I was stubborn. Unless you know and care nothing about history, you won't learn anything.

[hadriantheblind · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A brief discourse on how history is always changing over time, how it can never achieve the analytical precision of science, and how all nations and many non-national groups can shift and alter history to produce narratives, and change it to their favor.

Particularly relevant reading this on the day Kim Jong-Il died, as he is one of the people perhaps most guilty of changing history to his ends.

[liamfoley · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I found this a very disappointing book. It is well written and easy to read, that's about the best think I can say about it. It lacks proper footnotes. While there are many quotations it would have been good to know exactly where they came from. The book tries to address history and its place in our lives. The author however has her own biases, these come to the fore especially in chapter seven. It was a mistake to try and write about cases in which she was directly involved. It is for this reason rather than the lack of footnotes that I give this book only two stars out of five. There are many better books out there on this subject.

[yeremenko_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another well written piece by perhaps Canada's premier historian.

[pedalinfaith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well-written, intelligent, accessible, engrossing. So many of the author's points could have become books in themselves. My only wish was for more.

[sjmccreary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A nifty little book about the different ways that people throughout the world use history. Leaders compare themselves to well-respected leaders of the past in order to gain support. Victors re-write history to glorify themselves, painting the defeated as unimportant or unworthy, causing history to "change" as different factions come into power. Historical events are used to define groups of people in the present, such as when previously oppressed minorities gain a measure of stature in society. History is used to create a sense of nationalism and to promote patriotism. Historical events are used as evidence in current disputes - this happens at home when one spouse accuses another of always doing something wrong, or never doing something right, and the same thing happens on a global scale, too. History is used when planning or justifying warfare - the problem is in choosing the best historical comparison for the present situation.I thought it was fascinating. Short and easy to read, it is thought-provoking and provides lots of examples taken from headlines all around the world. Best quote, taken from the final paragraph of the last chapter, "We can learn from history, but we also deceive ourselves when we selectively take evidence from the past to justify what we have already made up our minds to do." (pg 164) Recommended.

[robertp_400354 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Margaret MacMillan is a brilliant writer and historian. This is not her best book.It is not very detailed, and to me is a fine skim through good and bad uses of history, but a bit superficial. Its roots in a lecture are evident. Apparently good people use good history well, bad people use bad history badly. George W. Bush and the critics of the Bomber Command display at the Canadian War Museum are the worst people of all.I recommend this book as a worthwhile quick read, not as an accession for your personal library.

[risako_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a clear and engaging explanation of why history must be done by professional historians (as well as amateurs) and why it must be done regardless of political and social trends of the moment. It should be required reading in every first-year university history class, and ideally it would be required reading for every high school student as well.

[greyghost_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A slim, fast read. Nothing particularly new or ground-breaking in terms of warnings on the abuses of history, but some nice modern examples.

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book gave an interesting perspective on how history can and should be studied, and how it has been used to justify actions, sometimes rightly and often wrongly.An easy read, but I found no great insights or "aha" moments.