History Archives

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Book Overview

Inside Annawadi: A Spotlight on Life in Mumbai's Slums

What is the central idea of the Behind the Beautiful Forevers book? Is Behind the Beautiful Forevers a true story? The book explores the diverse aspects of the poverty and hardship faced by the residents of Annawadi, a slum adjacent to the Mumbai International Airport. Behind the Beautiful Forevers is a true account of the lives of the residents of the Annawadi slum compiled through interviews and daily observations by Katerine Boo. Read on to fully discover how the Behind the Beautiful Forevers book explores the daily lives of the people of Annawadi.

Nuclear Winter Theory and Merchants of Doubt

What is the nuclear winter theory? How did doubt-mongering affect public awareness and policy about it? During the Cold War, the nuclear winter theory inspired scientific research—as well as doubt-mongering. In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway identify the people and organizations who sought to discredit the science that threatened their agenda or ideology. Read more to learn how merchants of doubt influenced the debate about the nuclear winter theory.

Missile Defense and the Merchants of Doubt

What was the truth regarding missile defense during the Cold War? How did doubt-mongering impact the debate? In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway look at doubt-mongering in several contexts, including strategic missile defense. They discuss the science and how certain merchants of doubt entered the arena and affected public awareness and policy. Read more to learn how merchants of doubt impacted the missile defense narrative.

Donald Trump: What Were the 3 Removal Options?

Was Donald Trump fit for the presidency? Further, what were the different options for removing Trump from the post? In A Warning, a book on the behind-the-scenes of Donald Trump’s presidency, the anonymous author argues that Trump “deserves to be fired.” The question was how best to remove him from office. Any option other than an election should only be considered as a “last resort.” This article takes a look at three Donald Trump’s removal options and considers the circumstances under which they could have been possible.

The Tobacco Industry: How They Challenged Science

What is the history of science and the tobacco industry? Why did it take so long for most people to believe that smoking is harmful? In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway look at doubt-mongering around the science of tobacco use. Their doubt-mongering was so successful that it took over 50 years for the majority of the public to believe that smoking is dangerous to health. Read on to learn about the history of science and doubt in regard to the tobacco industry.

The History of Sales: Three Sales Shifts & Their Origins

What is the history of sales? Why does Daniel Pink say that we are all salespeople? In his book To Sell Is Human, Daniel Pink says that all humans are salespeople, whether we like it or not. Pink discusses the transition from traditional sales (or selling sales) to modern sales (or non-selling sales). Pink says that sales aren’t always about making money, it’s often about “moving” others—this can even be in the form of trying to get likes on social media. Keep reading to learn about the history of sales and how sales has changed over the years.

The Merchants of Doubt: Who Are They?

Who are the merchants of doubt? How do they impact public scientific knowledge? The first merchants of doubt on the scene were members of the tobacco industry. They fought to discredit the science behind policies that threatened their agenda. This was only the beginning of modern-day doubt-mongering. This story, and the stories that followed, are told by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway in their book Merchants of Doubt. Read on to learn who the merchants of doubt are.

The Role of Religion in Society: A Fascinating History

What is the role of religion in society? What function has it served throughout the ages? History tells us that religion is a constant. At times, it has provided personal comfort, social stability, and moral guidance. At other times, it has been used as a tool for abusive power. The role of religion in society provides a fascinating history. Read more to learn about the role of religion in society through the ages.

Donald Trump Takes Office: White House or Reality TV?

When did Donald Trump take office? What were his early days as a president like? Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2017. His transition wasn’t exactly smooth: factions and conspiracies developed in the early days; and the White House became a real-life version of Trump’s former TV show, The Apprentice. Keep reading to learn about Trump’s transition and the early days as a president of the United States.

Geography and History: How the Earth Shapes Us

What is the relationship between geography and history? How is civilization impacted by the physical structure of the earth? In The Lessons of History, eminent historians Will and Ariel Durant offer their perspectives on these interesting questions. They discuss geography and history, revealing a few lessons that historical patterns can teach us about the development of civilizations. Read more to learn about the relationship between geography and history.