Why Not Let The Leaning Tower Collapse

[Willow]

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Why Not Let The Leaning Tower Collapse?: and other essays examining what we think of as 'history' Why Not Let The Leaning Tower Collapse?: and Other Essays Examining What We Think of as ‘History’
by Daniel Snowman

If you’ve ever wondered why history seems to change depending on who tells it, this book will make you stop, think, and see the past with brand-new eyes.

Daniel Snowman, a celebrated social and cultural historian, invites readers into a series of brilliantly provocative essays exploring how we use and abuse history. He doesn’t just recount events, he questions the very idea of what we call “history.”

What readers will gain:

A deeper understanding of how history is shaped, revised, and reinterpreted over time.

Insight into why certain events or monuments become “heritage” while others fade away.

A critical eye toward how politics, art, and culture influence our perception of the past.

Inspiration to think independently about what’s preserved, celebrated, or forgotten.

Reflection on moral questions: Should authenticity outweigh preservation? Should the Leaning Tower of Pisa be left to fall, in the name of truth?

Key lessons:

History isn’t fixed, it’s a living conversation shaped by memory, power, and perspective.

Understanding the past helps us understand the present, and the dangers of ignoring it.

The arts and culture are not just mirrors of history but active participants in shaping it.

Remembering responsibly matters, because forgetting selectively changes who we are.

With humor, wisdom, and sharp insight, Snowman challenges readers to look beyond the textbook version of history and ask the questions we too often avoid.

⭐ A must-read for:
Historians, thinkers, teachers, and anyone who’s ever paused before a monument or museum and wondered, what story am I really being told?