So You Want to Read Like a History Concentrator

History is more than a collection of facts; it also involves reading against the grain, critique, periodization, and debates. Historians dedicate immense effort to uncovering the interconnected narratives of societies, the forces that drive change, and the voices often overlooked in traditional narratives.

The works listed below explore important questions about nation, cultural dynamics, remembrance, and truth while challenging preconceived notions of what history is and how historians should approach their craft. While not exhaustive in scope, these works provide fundamental and introductory frameworks to guide students’ interest. The list focuses on history as a discipline, with an additional historical fiction for a leisurely read. Each work is not only thought-provoking in its ideas but is also a masterpiece in eloquent prose.

“The Idea of History” by R. G. Collingwood (1946)

Collingwood argues that history is the study of human thought and actions, requiring historians to re-enact the past in their minds. He emphasizes the interpretive aspects of historical scholarship, rather than treating history as a science. Collingwood’s historical exploration of thought — particularly his analysis of German thinkers — is both engaging and insightful. His work highlights the role of the historian as an interpreter, making it essential reading for anyone interested in intellectual history or a theoretical introduction to historical study.

“The Historian’s Craft” by Marc Bloch (1953)

Bloch’s work is an enjoyable read with its rich content and language. Written during World War II, Bloch reflects on the purpose and responsibilities of historians to understand the past, highlighting empathy and rigorous source interpretation. Bloch delineates a continuous concept of time that is fluid between past and present. The context of Bloch’s unfinished manuscript reminds the readers of the relevance of human experience between historical time and present age. Active in the French Resistance, Bloch was executed by the Gestapo during World War II.

“The Hedgehog and the Fox” by Isaiah Berlin (1953)

One of Berlin’s most popular works, the book echoes a famous Greek line: “A fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” The hedgehogs deeply interpret the world through one principle, while the foxes see the world through multiple lenses and embrace diversity. The essay focuses on analyzing Tolstoy’s paradoxical intellectual character as a fox by nature who longs to be a hedgehog. This work should be of interest for history concentrators, as it presents the tension between theory and complexity of historical writing, provides a useful framework in studying intellectuals, and, most importantly, reflects on one’s own intellectual tendencies to historical approach.

“What is History” by E.H. Carr (1961)

A cornerstone of historical theory, Carr’s work challenges the notion of historical objectivity. He critiques the positivist view that history should merely present facts, arguing instead for the dynamic interplay between the historian and their sources. Carr’s emphasis on context and the historian’s biases reshapes how readers understand historical interpretation. This book is an essential introduction to the discipline, encouraging students to think critically about the construction of historical narratives and the fluidity of “truth.”

“Confucian China and its Modern Fate — A Trilogy” by Joseph R. Levenson (1965)

Levenson’s monumental trilogy examines the decline of Confucianism — a system of ethics and governance that originated during the Warring States period and profoundly shaped ancient China — in response to Western influence and modernity. He explores the intellectual and cultural struggles of a society in transition. This work provides essential paradigms for understanding the tensions between tradition and modernity. Levenson’s nuanced analysis highlights the emotional and intellectual struggles of a society in transition, offering reflection on the continuity and change of culture and thought between empire and nation.

“Illuminations” by Walter Benjamin (1968)

This collection of essays, particularly “Theses on the Philosophy of History,” offers a revolutionary perspective on history. Benjamin critiques linear conceptions of time, advocating instead for a messianic view that redeems the past through the remembrance of the oppressed. His metaphor of the “angel of history,” caught in the storm of progress, is a powerful critique of historical determinism. Written during his exile as a Jew fleeing fascism, Benjamin’s work is a call to rescue silenced voices and challenge the narratives of the powerful.

“Return of Martin Guerre” by Natalie Zemon Davis (1982)

A masterpiece of microhistory, this book reconstructs the story of a 16th-century French peasant who impersonated a missing man from a small village. Davis combines meticulous research with narrative skill, recounting history in a way that feels cinematic. Davis not only creates a coherent story, but simultaneously points out the different possibilities and analyzes the psychology of the individual, the motives and beliefs behind their decision-making and actions. Her work focuses on individual life to illuminate the broader historical context, empowering narrative history and understanding the past through the experiences of ordinary people.

“Imagined Communities” by Benedict Anderson (1983)

Anderson’s exploration of nationalism as a modern construct revolutionized the study of collective identity. He argues that nations are imagined communities, shaped by cultural practices like print capitalism. This book deconstructs the myth of nationhood and challenges readers to think critically about the narratives that bind societies together and the constructed nature of belonging. It is essential reading for readers interested in the origins and persistence of nationalism.

“China Transformed” by R. Bin Wong (1997)

Wong’s comparative analysis of late imperial China and early modern Europe challenges Eurocentric narratives of development that focus on what China lacked compared to the West. He highlights China’s own historical trajectory, focusing on state formation, economic dynamics, rise of capitalism and the convergence of global histories. This work encourages readers to appreciate the diversity of historical circumstances and question assumptions about progress and modernity.

“The Great Divergence” by Kenneth Pomeranz (2000)

Pomeranz’s work has sparked tremendous debates in the early 2000s, not only in the field of Chinese history, but also amongst other non-China specialized scholars. He argues that the economic divergence between China and Europe did not occur until the 1800s. The book emphasizes geographic and environmental factors over cultural explanations, highlighting the role of contingency in historical development rather than deterministic by culture. It is is essential for understanding global economic history and comparative studies of capitalism and industrial developments.

“Between Shades of Gray” by Ruta Sepetys (2011)

Through the eyes of Lina — a teenage Lithuanian girl sent to a Siberian labor camp on a cattle train who finds solace in drawing — Sepetys brings to life the resilience and suffering of those who endured this brutal history of Stalin’s Soviet regime in the Baltics during WWII. The novel combines meticulous historical detail with a deeply emotional narrative, offering readers a glimpse into the traumas of political oppression. The fiction is a moving testament to the importance of remembering silenced history and what art can bring to mankind’s darkest periods.

—Staff writer Dailan Xu can be reached at dailan.xu@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X at @Dailansusie.