History

"Hegel was right when he said that we learn from history that man can never learn anything from history." — George Bernard Shaw

You’re Tearing Me Apart: On William L. Barney’s “Rebels in the Making: The Secession Crisis and the Birth of the Confederacy”
Bill Thompson reviews “Rebels in the Making,” the new Civil War history by William L. Barney.
Bill ThompsonNov 4, 2020
- History
- Politics
For a More Perfect Fascism: On Victoria de Grazia’s “The Perfect Fascist”
Aliza Wong reviews "The Perfect Fascist," the new biography by Victoria de Grazia.
Aliza WongNov 3, 2020
The Paesano of Shame: Trump’s Italian American Consiglieres
Christine Grimaldi on the political history of Italian Americans, including those who love Trump.
Christine GrimaldiNov 2, 2020
- History
- Politics
Reclaiming the State in Economics: “Radical Hamilton” and the Means of Statecraft
A new book examines the influence of the first US Treasury Secretary, arguing Hamilton’s “developmental state” is a weapon against free-market ideology.
Justin H. VassalloNov 2, 2020
John Yoo Tortures History and Law to Defend Donald Trump
Stephen Rohde reviews John Yoo's "Defender in Chief: Donald Trump’s Fight for Presidential Power."
Stephen RohdeNov 1, 2020
The Dark History of Eastern California: A Conversation with Kendra Atleework
Kendra Atleework discusses her new memoir, “Miracle Country,” and the beauty of Eastern California.
Alex EspinozaNov 1, 2020
- History
- Memoir & Essay
Financial Bubbles, Crashes, and Reform: What Works?
John C. Coffee Jr. reviews Joel Seligman's recently published book, "Misalignment: The New Financial Order and the Failure of Financial Regulation."
John C. Coffee Jr.Nov 1, 2020
“The Quiet Americans” Reveals the Un-American History of American Espionage
A history of Cold War failures as seen through the tragic careers of four American spies.
Pearse AndersonOct 30, 2020
Cold War Mirrors
Shehryar Fazli reviews "The Quiet Americans," Scott Anderson's new history of the Cold War.
Shehryar FazliOct 30, 2020
Sanctuary Unmasked: The First Time Los Angeles (Sort of) Became a City of Refuge
The story of Los Angeles’s pathbreaking — and fragile — declaration of “sanctuary city” status in 1985.
Paul A. KramerOct 25, 2020
- History
- Politics
On the Vote: Emma Goldman and Women’s Suffrage
On the centennial of the 19th Amendment, Emma Goldman reminds us that the vote is not a panacea.
Angela ShpolbergOct 24, 2020
Making Art Do Work
Reviewing W. Patrick McCray’s “Making Art Work,” Peter Sachs Collopy argues it can be read as a history of how art became managerial in the 1960s and ’70s
Peter Sachs CollopyOct 22, 2020