The Cheese and the Worms

by Carlo Ginzburg

Visible Saints

by Edmund Morgan

Ceremonies of Possession

by Patricia Seed

Errand into the Wilderness

by Perry Miller

The Many-Headed Hydra

by Peter Linebaugh and Marcus Rediker

The Civil War as a Theological Crisis

by Mark A. Noll

Revivalism and Social Reform

by Timothy L. Smith

The Churching of America, 1776-1990

by Roger Finke and Rodney Stark

The Divided Mind of Protestant America, 1880-1930

by Ferenc Morton Szasz

The Spiritual Crisis of the Gilded Age

by Paul A. Carter

That Noble Dream

That Noble Dream: The "Objectivity" Question and the American Historical Profession. by Peter Novick. Published by Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, UK, 1988).

If you want to be wowed by someone's intellect and intestinal fortitude to analyze and critique one hundred years of the American Historical Profession, then read this book. Novick, a historian at the University of Chicago, analyzes the interpretations of history that American historians have employed for the past one hundred years and the political nature of the historical profession throughout that time period. What then does all of this have to do with the "objectivity" question in the title. Basically, Novick argues that "objectivity" and "truth" are constructs of the historical profession. Objectivity was decided to be synonymous with impartiality. Truth was decided upon by the consensus of the historical profession. However, Novick finds these constructs to be very problematic because those definitions become exclusive to those who agree with that consensus. Those who do not agree are seen as "impartial," "unobjective," or "untrue." The book finishes with a bit of nihilism, stating that truth cannot be achieved, only approached very closely. In addition, Novick is very cynical of the historical profession, especially after the incident in which the profession killed the career of one of his students, David Abraham. It is a very thick book, very heady. Give a try someday if you want.

Telling the Truth About History

Telling the Truth About History. by Joyce Appleby, Lynn Hunt, and Margaret Jacobs. Published by W. H. Norton (New York, 1994).

Appleby, Hunt, and Jacobs approach historiography (the study of historians' approaches to historical study) as a product of the "democratization" of the American academy. Essentially, thanks to the democratization of the West, particularly the U.S., historians are inclined to approach the study of history with whatever multi-cultural perspective they have. Thus the effort of telling the truth about history is the collective effort of historians from all perspectives contributing to a panoramic scope of history. It is a very interesting read, filled with basic knowledge of philosophical and historical movements in the West.

The Great Cat Massacre

The Great Cat Massacre and Other Episodes in French Cultural History. by Robert Darnton (1984). Published by Vintage Books (New York, 1985). 298 pgs (263 text). $14 U.S.

Read it for class. Darnton is a cultural historian par excellence. Interesting exegetical assessment of folktales. His subsequent chapters take a new postmod approach to events and places, suggesting everything is a text that we can interpret to understand a culture of France in the ancien regime. A very interesting and enjoyable read in some respects. If you want to get a firm grasp on cultural history, it is the premier text that exemplifies it.

Tuesdays with Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie. by Mitch Albom. (publication info in process).

Following the Einstein heady read, I decided to read a book that has been often recommended to me. In short, I really enjoyed. Quasi-philosophical, definitely more accessible than Lightman's novel. The development of the relationship between Albom and his old psychology professor reminds me of the very reason I aspire to teach. I wish to develop relationships with my future students in the hopes of not only teaching them about my academic field, but also to teach them about life and how such an academic discipline relates to life. If you have read it or will be reading it soo, feel free to engage in dialogue with me about this book and its themes.

Einstein's Dreams

Einstein's Dreams; a novel. By Alan Lightman (1993). Published by Vintage Contemporaries (New York, 2004). 140 pgs. $12 U.S.

I just read this book over holiday break. Lightman compiles the dreams of Einstein into diary-style entries. The text provides a window into the metaphysical as well as ethical issues expressed by Einstein in his wrestling with his theory of relativity. I am not too familiar with the theory. I would like to research it more to enrich this text, or vice versa. It is a bit heady, but an easy read and enjoyable. The narrative aids in handling the text. If you get a chance, pick up a copy and read over it.