The Handy History Answer Book

The Handy Answer Book

by David L. Hudson Jr.

A concise guide to all things historical, this feast of facts and compelling stories recounts the revolutionary ideas, acts, and inventions that have changed the world. Beginning with a section on historical eras, this popular reference source tracks history and organizes information in 13 specific subject sections, ranging from politics and war to science and religion. It tackles exploration and settlement, technological advances, legal fireworks, financial and business events, social movements, natural and man-made disasters, medicine and disease, and art and culture. From the Stone Age to sports, from the Trojan War to the Arab Spring, and from the Hippocratic Oath to the internet, this is the perfect companion for history buffs of any age.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

552 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

David L. Hudson Jr. is a scholar at the First Amendment Center. Hudson writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications devoted to First Amendment issues. He is the author or co-author of more than 30 books, including several on the U.S. Supreme Court, the Constitution and student rights.

He is a First Amendment contributing editor for the American Bar Association’s Preview of United States Supreme Court Cases. Hudson graduated from Duke University in 1990 and obtained a law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1994. He teaches First Amendment classes at Nashville School of Law and Vanderbilt University Law School. He also teaches at Middle Tennessee State University.

Reviews

[Leah Angstman · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF, not because it's not fine for what it is, but just because I don't really need what it is. This is one of those books that Mom picked up in a bargain bin at some bookstore checkout stand, thinking in some vague terms: "My daughter is a historian, and this is a history book," but it's not a specific history or research book, just an overall introduction to (mostly European) history, beginning with the written word. It's accurate and a good overview, and it told me lots of things that I'd maybe once learned that I'd forgotten (the absolute differences between Goths vs. Ostrogoths vs. Visigoths vs. Vandals vs. Franks vs. Gauls vs. Celts vs. Lombards vs. Saxons vs. Angles, for instance), but it's just simple paragraphs and simple sentences that don't dive deep enough into any topic to be of much use to me at my "I'm only currently reading primary sources" point in research life, and it's not much deeper (if at all) than what one could glean from Wikipedia, though obviously it's ordered in an easier succinct chronology than hunting and pecking for the online pieces yourself. Since I received the tome (it really is thicker than a fist) at xmas, I'd been reading one brief section per night before bed, but at about an eighth of the way through, I'm all set. It would be excellent, however, for a middle-grader or teenager who generically likes "history" but doesn't yet know what kind.

[Glenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've just started this book but I'm immediately struck by one thing. I picked it up on our first post-shots venture into the world. Our favorite bookstore was closed and I picked it up in a gift store we had wandered into.
I like reading history. And I learned long ago that most history is written with a slant. In the introduction, the author states "four main problems in studying and teaching American history in the past". These were the focus on the Euro-versions of history, and the minimization of Native American, African American, and women. I agreed with that, so I bought the book.
Less than a hundred pages in, I'm feeling his pain. What I've read is great. I've enjoyed it. But I'm also disappointed because the introduction led me to believe I'd be getting something different. It's not. It is a forward step but I just finished a section titled "Empires, Kingdoms, Dynasties, And Nations", which ranges from Ottoman Empire to Brexit (Yeah, a lot to cram in 20 pages) without a mention of Africa or Asia. I'll hold off final judgement for now. I'll see how sections I'm more knowledgeable go.
But right now, this is a book I will keep but it's not one I'd give to anyone as a basic history book.

[Peggy Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was a kid I had a goal of reading all the volumes of dads ‘Funk and Wagnalls’ encyclopedia set and all the definitions in the big dictionary on the shelf. This reminded me of that. It took me a year to read this handy guide bc I left it at the beach house and would read a section from time to time. I was interested in what was not included in the book as much as what was. I enjoyed learning but found much of it to be repetitive. I guess history does repeat itself!

[Caitlin Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sort of reads like an encyclopedia, giving a brief but complete description of a variety of historical events, which I found to be very informative. It can be difficult to get through because the topics are diverse and change often throughout the book, but I found that reading a few pages a day kept me fairly interested. It would be good to reference when interested in revisiting a specific historical topic (I guess that’s what Google is for though?)

[Sandra Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of interesting facts to read

[Adam Sarlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical facts about anything you could wonder about.

[Clay Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a neat book to have on your shelf as a reference. But to go all the way through it was a time commitment! It is much longer than it looks at first with its wide pages.

[Brendan Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book covering a broad range of historical topics. I learned many things I did not know and I was reminded of things I enjoyed learning in the past. My only critique is that the book had many syntax and grammar errors.

[Brad Rousse · Rating 2 out of 5]

More accurately titled the Handy Western Civilization (and at times US History) Book, but an enjoyable read. Learned a few new things as well, so not a total loss.