{"id":2439,"date":"2020-11-21T01:39:38","date_gmt":"2020-11-21T01:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/?p=2439"},"modified":"2023-01-12T13:35:49","modified_gmt":"2023-01-12T13:35:49","slug":"past-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/11\/21\/past-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"David Mountain’s ‘Past Mistakes’ for the history novice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cAncient Greece proved so popular partly because it could be different things to different people.\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>

\"david<\/span><\/i>I usually <\/span>choose\u00a0<\/span>pieces\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>review<\/span><\/a>\u00a0where I can balance<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>some<\/span>\u00a0objectivity<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0personal interest<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>U<\/span>sually,\u00a0<\/span>this means\u00a0<\/span>I am 50-70% interested in\u00a0<\/span>its<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>topic<\/span>. T<\/span>h<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0pendulum was off with\u00a0<\/span>David Mountain\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>Past Mistakes.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>Mountain\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>intent\u00a0<\/span>to talk about how\u00a0<\/span>historical\u00a0<\/span>\u2018mi<\/span>stakes’ feed into public consciousness<\/span>\u00a0felt in tune with<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>my\u00a0<\/span>pre-existing\u00a0<\/span>anxi<\/span>et<\/span>ies\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>round<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>depiction<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0and consumption of\u00a0<\/span>the past<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0I\u00a0<\/span>fell into an obsessive read hop<\/span>eful<\/span>\u00a0for a<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>crossover between my line of thinking and his\u00a0<\/span>promise\u00a0<\/span>to reveal the ins-and-outs of historical mythmaking.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Past Mistakes<\/span><\/i>\u00a0takes a\u00a0<\/span>chronological\u00a0<\/span>approach<\/span>\u00a0from<\/span>\u00a0\u2018pre-history’ in chapter one<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>travelling through antiquity, middle ages and modernity in subsequent chapters.\u00a0<\/span>Outside of<\/span>\u00a0reader e<\/span>ase<\/span>, there isn’t much reason\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>this linear approach. The focus is<\/span>\u00a0thematic<\/span>. U<\/span>sing a different case study\u00a0<\/span>each chapter,\u00a0<\/span>Mountain unpacks\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>survival<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>historical\u00a0<\/span>narrative<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>H<\/span>e presents a\u00a0<\/span>well-<\/span>known\u00a0<\/span>historical moment<\/span>\u00a0then\u00a0<\/span>suddenly\u00a0<\/span>diverts<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0pull<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0back the curtains<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0The Wild West? A Hollywood\u00a0<\/span>fantasy<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Your country\u2019s history? Probably nationalist propaganda.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

C<\/span>ountering fiction with fact, Mountain\u00a0<\/span>argues<\/span>\u00a0history\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>known\u00a0<\/span>through a myriad of biases.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>H<\/span>e states early that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2018collective\u00a0<\/span>colour<\/span>\u00a0blindness\u2019 to\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>he past\u00a0<\/span>shields us from<\/span>\u00a0\u2018an eye-watering kaleidoscope of\u00a0<\/span>colour<\/span>\u2019 that defies \u2018<\/span>sterilised<\/span>\u00a0scholasticism<\/span>.<\/span>‘\u00a0<\/span>Yet, t<\/span>his encouragement fad<\/span>e<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the book\u00a0<\/span>progresses<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Mountain\u00a0<\/span>push<\/span>es<\/span>\u00a0academic approaches\u00a0<\/span>over<\/span>\u00a0experimental ones<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>H<\/span>e wants moderat<\/span>ion<\/span>\u00a0and peer review<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>disable\u00a0<\/span>dogmati<\/span>sm<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>conspiracy theories<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Mountain\u2019s clear voice escapes the raspy dryness history writing is known\u00a0<\/span>for and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>hon<\/span>es<\/span>\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0on racial and class biases in the study of history\u00a0<\/span>while\u00a0<\/span>respecting\u00a0<\/span>the discipline\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0specialist nature.\u00a0<\/span>He\u00a0<\/span>distils<\/span>\u00a0his<\/span>\u00a0research into\u00a0<\/span>easy-to-digest\u00a0<\/span>concepts<\/span>\u00a0w<\/span>ith\u00a0<\/span>humour<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>organises<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>entertaining<\/span>\u00a0yet truthful<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>narratives<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>here is something measured and self-assured about his writing\u00a0<\/span>\u2013 it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>conversational without losing critical edge.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>With this,\u00a0<\/span>Past Mistake<\/span><\/i>s<\/span><\/i>\u00a0could be an asset for<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>high school<\/span>\u00a0student or a history novice<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

But since he presents nothing new<\/span>\u00a0history-wise<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>there’s potential for boredom<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>between \u201cOoh that\u2019s interesting!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0moments.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Each chapter,\u00a0<\/span>analysis comes after\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>drawn-out John Green Crash Course<\/span>–<\/span>like spiel<\/span>, leaving<\/span>\u00a0desire for<\/span>\u00a0more of a historiography focus<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>After all, we know the Dark Ages weren\u2019t \u2018dark’ and that Columbus was a dickhead.\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019<\/span>s wasted energy\u00a0<\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>these\u00a0<\/span>corrected\u00a0<\/span>histories are already accepted.\u00a0<\/span>B<\/span>y<\/span>\u00a0mapping<\/span>\u00a0out factual aspects of the past and\u00a0<\/span>where\u00a0<\/span>they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>became<\/span>\u00a0muddied<\/span>, he is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>distracted\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0<\/span>facts<\/span>\u00a0instead of\u00a0<\/span>arguing how and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>why\u00a0<\/span>ignorance persists in the first place<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

There is one exception to this: in a later chapter, he looks at the\u00a0<\/span>Crystal Skulls\u00a0<\/span>(supposed ancient South American artefacts holding supernatural powers)\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>discuss\u00a0<\/span>pseudoarcheology<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>lead<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>into\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>larger conversation\u00a0<\/span>around fake<\/span>\u00a0news<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>alternative facts<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>It is less about t<\/span>elling the reader the\u00a0<\/span>Crystal Skulls\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>likely\u00a0<\/span>fraudulent than it is about using them to talk about\u00a0<\/span>the extent\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>damage\u00a0<\/span>anti-science, anti-intellectual attitudes can have on the common good and public knowledge<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Following this example, t<\/span>he book would have been stronger i<\/span>f <\/span>chapters<\/span>\u00a0studied\u00a0<\/span>forms of\u00a0<\/span>historical malpractice<\/span>, rather than focusing on case studies in and of themselves.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I might be<\/span>\u00a0misunderstanding Mountain\u2019s approach<\/span>. M<\/span>aybe<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0he\u00a0<\/span>thought<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>his<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>readers\u00a0<\/span>didn\u2019t know these things and wants to\u00a0<\/span>correct\u00a0<\/span>and teach\u00a0<\/span>them\u00a0<\/span>a lesson<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>“<\/span>When we abandon an evidence-based approach to history<\/span>,\u201d he says\u00a0<\/span>late in the book<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>our understanding of the past is liable to become skewed<\/span>.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Most of the dogmatic\u00a0<\/span>narratives\u00a0<\/span>he describes\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0no longer u<\/span>pheld<\/span>\u00a0by historians but<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>still infiltrate\u00a0<\/span>public<\/span>\u00a0opinion<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Perhaps, he\u00a0<\/span>writ<\/span>es<\/span>\u00a0to the layperson\u00a0<\/span>who\u00a0<\/span>can’t<\/span>\u00a0access\u00a0<\/span>academic\u00a0<\/span>enquiry and holds onto\u00a0<\/span>mis<\/span>understandings of the part.<\/span>\u00a0In this context,\u00a0<\/span>Past Mistakes\u00a0<\/span><\/i>is<\/span>\u00a0useful for those whose head is lost in present political, religious\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>social c<\/span>limates<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In\u00a0<\/span>this way<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>Past Mistakes<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>is a\u00a0<\/span>guide<\/span>\u00a0to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>thinking about history<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>an<\/span>\u00a0exercise in challenging\u00a0<\/span>stereotypes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>F<\/span>or progressive thinkers,\u00a0<\/span>i<\/span>t\u00a0<\/span>crystalise<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0pre-existing idea<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0around the exclusion of women and\u00a0<\/span>BI<\/span>POC<\/span>\u00a0from historical narratives<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>For conservatives, it might prove a challenge.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Mountain\u00a0<\/span>constantly\u00a0<\/span>reiterates<\/span>\u00a0the danger of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>using<\/span>\u00a0the past\u00a0<\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>nationalis<\/span>t<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>fodder\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0<\/span>creatin<\/span>g<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>feel-good\u00a0<\/span>myth<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0about one\u2019s country<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>justify<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>mistreatment<\/span>\u00a0of other<\/span>s<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Saying that, these people probably don\u2019t want to be told t<\/span>o be less\u00a0<\/span>enthusiastic<\/span>\u00a0about their vision of the past and more academically\u00a0<\/span>honest<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(some early reviews called this book controversial when it is anything but).\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Facts are forced to fit the story, and discarded if they can\u2019t be bent into shape,<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0Mountain says. This is important and true, but I wonder if he is preaching to the\u00a0<\/span>choi<\/span>r<\/span>, on one hand, and falling on deaf ears, on the other<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Past Mistakes\u00a0<\/i>is a\u00a0<\/span>crisp reminder to step beyond easily accessible narratives\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>stay objective when viewing the past.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The work\u00a0<\/span>succeeds<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>exemplifying<\/span>\u00a0how<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>inaccurate\u00a0<\/span>beliefs continu<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0to be entrenched – society clings to tidy, heroic, decisive (and divisive) tales when the truth is far more complex and ambiguous.\u00a0<\/span>But\u00a0<\/span>the analysis of this\u00a0<\/span>becomes lost as h<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>casts a wide net of facts and anecdotes before circling back to the point<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>It would have been juicer\u00a0to spend time\u00a0critiquing trends of\u00a0incorrectly attributed histories\u00a0and their\u00a0continued\u00a0perpetuation.\u00a0<\/span>Providing<\/span>\u00a0so much evidence to garner trust from the reader<\/span>\u00a0was somewhat unwarranted.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Don\u2019t\u00a0<\/span>get me wrong\u00a0<\/span>–<\/span>\u00a0I recommend this book. I ate it up<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>There\u2019s nothing offensive or low quality about it.\u00a0For the purpose of this review,\u00a0<\/span>I am considering\u00a0<\/span>different reader<\/span>\u00a0expectations.\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>read to\u00a0<\/span>stretch<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>my web of values<\/span>\u00a0in unexpected ways<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Having a degree in\u00a0<\/span>it<\/span>, I may be overzealous in\u00a0<\/span>reading about\u00a0<\/span>history<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>With\u00a0<\/span>Past Mistakes,\u00a0<\/i>I found the fun facts\u00a0<\/span>distracting<\/span>\u00a0with the brief analysis unfulfilling<\/span>;<\/span>\u00a0I\u00a0<\/span>had<\/span>\u00a0a leisurely time revisiting known ideas and values\u00a0<\/span>without\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>ability to grow<\/span>\u00a0them.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Book review by Tahney Fosdike<\/i><\/h6>
\u00a0–<\/h5>
David Mountain \/\u00a0<\/span>Past Mistakes \/\u00a0<\/span>Icon Books \/\u00a0<\/span>Pub Date\u00a005 Nov 2020<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\/<\/span>ISBN 9781785786624
<\/span>–<\/h5>

Purchase from Melbourne-based booksellers:\u00a0Readings<\/a><\/em><\/p>

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If you can’t find a local bookseller, here are some online retailers:\u00a0Booktopia<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Book Depository<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Past Mistakes: How We Misinterpret History and Why it Matters (@iconbooks<\/a>) is out now! Get your copy now to discover how myths, mysteries and misconceptions about the past shape the world around us today: https:\/\/t.co\/nz8hdqHt1w<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hNuAuwP5e2<\/a><\/p>— David Mountain (@DavidMwriting) November 5, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>