* I did not read the entire book.

History and Historians: A Historiographical Introduction was used in my Historiography class. The study of the history of history is an interesting one. Gilderhus does a decent job bringing it to life and showing the different eras in which historical thought was developed. However, Gilderhus shows a dismissive attitude towards any type of religion and pre-literate societies, he did not even try to hide his biases at all. History and Historians has a lot of good information about historical perspectives and how historical writing was influenced by it but there so much pretentious academic pose that following the narrative can be rather hard. History and Historians is a decent guide for historical thought throughout history.

I completed this book because it was assigned in a historical research methods class I am currently enrolled in. It provides a solid background of historical thought throughout recorded history. At times the book become a bit convoluted, but is a serviceable guide for students of history.

This one goes through all the different schools of historical thought throughout the ages. Actually wasn't too boring or too hard to read, though I know others in my class felt that way. It's good for learning about different historical perspectives and how that influenced the recording of history at that time.

Interesting introduction to "history" as theory and practice-- definitional challenges, etc.-- but he focuses too much on age-old Eurocentric upper-class-cis-het-white-male dominated narratives. It would have been more interesting if the first few chapters were condensed and more focus was placed on where these traditional practices fail.

it's not personal

The worst explanation of the history of historical research imaginable, disconnected individuals and schools of thought being briefly name-dropped with little to no relation or context and then forgotten for the rest of the book. No through-line or point, just digressions and quotations and bloody Marx everywhere.

Central thesis.

Have one.

Chrissakes.

Short, basic historiography—not a brilliant, but an adequate introduction.