There has been an upsurge in historical books that read as story
books. These books are Bill O'reilly's Killing series and Glenn Becks
books like Miracles and Massacres. But why are these books so successful?
Let us discuss.
Why they succeed: Basically these books harken back
to a time when history was learned through storytelling and not a textbook.
Very similar to oral traditions, or even the Bible. Thus, by taking
on this format you do not even know your reading a history book unless someone
told you. O'reilly's books focus on a single event, and adds historical
content as the story progresses that helps us understand why an event is
occurring the way it is, or how it influences the person being focused on (such
as Abe Lincoln, Jesus, etc.). Glenn Beck does similar, but he writes in a
short story format, and purposely integrates historical quotes from the people
involved in the actual writing, even going as far as rewriting entire chapters
to fit the historical dialogue. Basically, it is writing history in the
same way as Harry Potter, or other fantasy series, but it actually being
historical fact. And that is what makes it fun to read and not drudgery
like when reading a text book. Hence the success of these two authors. The
people they focused on, the way they presented their information, all
demonstrate that history can be fun for people outside of being a historian.
Basically it is actually fun to read and you learn at the same time.
Conclusion: These books, with the way they present
information are a game changer in my opinion for the future of textbooks.
Why write about the Delaware River crossing by George Washington and his
men, when you can put yourself in the event by reading it as a story.
Story books are flexible and can grab the interest of those who get
intimidated by a massive textbook. So, in my opinion, this is the bar
that sets the standard for the future of learning history.
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