Why History Matters by Gerda Lerner
The author of this work believes all humans are historians: We live our lives; we tell our stories. It is as natural as breathing. She argues that this is how we define ourselves and our community, how we understand our time and place and the context of our lives. History can be the vital thread that holds a nation together, as demonstrated most strikingly with the Jewish people. Conversely, for women, who have lived in a world in which they apparently had no history, its absence can be devastating. In this work, Lerner brings together her thinking and research of 16 years, combining personal reminiscences with innovative theory illuminating the importance of history and the vital role women have played in it. The chapters are divided into three sections, each widely different from the others, each revelatory of Lerner as a woman and a feminist. This book is intended for students and scholars of women's history.