What We Are Missing--Two Great Books and Two Great Historians

Yes, I am tired. Yes, I am ready for the summer break. However, I hate to see my Modern World Humanities class come to an end.  Just this morning I was thinking of two great books written about early 20th century events that my students need to read and that I need to read again.  Both were written when I was a very young child in the early 1960s.  I did not disover them until years later.  Both authors are great narrative historians.  Both books are written with the page-turning draw of an action novel.  Both are panaramic coverages of great events in history.  Both are relevant to understand the world we live in.

Alas, we do not even have the time to watch the fine historical documentary of The Guns of August, nor the well done movie account of Nicholas and Alexandra.

Barbara Tuchman was one of the best historical writers of recent times.  The Guns of August won her a Pulitizer Prize and many readers.  The book has remained in print from 1962 to the present.  It should be on any history teacher's short list of vital books about the 20th century and World War I. 

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Preparing for a Great Year in Humanities

Books in our Humanities program don't just take us to our destination; rather they are our destination. I have been reading throughout the summer to prepare for the upcoming school year. It is not as though I have spent the whole summer reading, but with a limited budget and oppressive heat, reading has been more attractive than ever.



We have remodeled our Humanities room, but unfortunately, this is not it.



It will take a while before we get to World War II, but this book was inspiring.



This book is on my current reading list for the morning hours.




Lewis Spitz was a wonderful historian. His books have helped me focus on the events of this upcoming year.