History

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

Girls and Men: On Svetlana Alexievich’s “The Unwomanly Face of War”
Oksana Maksymchuk and Max Rosochinsky consider “The Unwomanly Face of War” by Svetlana Alexievich.
Max Rosochinsky, Oksana MaksymchukSep 8, 2017
The Fifty-Year Rebellion: How the U.S. Political Crisis Began in Detroit
The roots of our social divides can be perceived through the flames of the Detroit riots a half-century ago, says an excerpt of a new book.
Scott KurashigeSep 5, 2017
- History
- Politics
Immigration into the Bosom of America
John Joannes reflects on Tom Gjelten's "A Nation of Nations," recently reissued in paperback.
John JoannesSep 3, 2017
The United States — A Model for the Nazis
Stephen Rohde looks at how the American race laws inspired the Nazis.
Stephen RohdeSep 3, 2017
Talking God in the United States
Rachel Gordan reviews "Religious Freedom: The Contested History of an American Ideal" by Tisa Wenger.
Rachel GordanAug 31, 2017
Barnum Presidents and Benevolent Monopolists: Mark Twain, Amazon, and the Futility of Antitrust
With Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods, it's time to remember when Twain asked a deceptively simple question: who benefits from the breakup of a monopoly?
Matt SeyboldAug 30, 2017
The Mexican Constitution Celebrates Its Centennial — and Mexico Celebrates Its Revolution
Lois Parkinson Zamora traces the on-going narratives of the Mexican Revolution, and by extension, the Constitution of 1917.
Lois Parkinson ZamoraAug 26, 2017
- History
- Politics
How Fragile We Were: Why the United States Almost Failed Early
The Trump era wasn’t this nation’s first constitutional mess; the worst one happened almost right after we had a Constitution, argues a new book.
Monica RicoAug 24, 2017
- History
- Politics
Midwest Interludes: Three Vignettes of the Chicago Renaissance
Liesl Olson shares three vignettes from “Chicago Renaissance: Literature and Art in the Midwest Metropolis.”
Liesl OlsonAug 22, 2017
- History
A Pear, a Bear, and Some Hair: Caricature and Freedom of the Press
Victoria Dailey considers the art of caricature and freedom of the press under Louis Philippe and Donald Trump.
Victoria DaileyAug 21, 2017
Soviet Pseudoscience: The History of Mind Control
The long, strange history of Soviet mind control experiments.
Giovanni VimercatiAug 20, 2017
- History
- Science & Technology
The Bodies We Won’t See: Gary Simmons and “Face to Face” at the California African American Museum
Evan Kleekamp on several exhibits currently at the California African American Museum.
Evan KleekampAug 19, 2017
- Art & Architecture
- History