The Purpose of the Past

Aneruditescholarandanelegantwriter,GordonS.Woodhaswonbothnumerousawardsandabroadreadershipsincethe1969publicationofhiswidelyacclaimed"TheCreationoftheAmericanRepublic."With"ThePurposeofthePast,"WoodhasessentiallycreatedahistoryofAmericanhistory,assessingthecurrentstateofhistoryvis-A-vistheworkofsomeofitsmostimportantscholars-dolingoutpraiseandscornwithequalmeasure.Inthiswise,passionatedefenseofhistory'songoingnecessity,Woodarguesthatwecannotmakeintelligentdecisionsaboutthefuturewithoutunderstandingourpast.Woodoffersamaster'sinsightintowhathistory-atitsbest-canbeandreflectsonitsevolvingandessentialroleinourculture.