History as Mystery

In this enlightening and thought-provoking book, Michael Parenti delves into the flaws of history as an academic profession in the US. Dubbed as “mainstream history,” Parenti sees this history as dull and uninspiring for a reason: this history is distorted in ways to serve or reflect the dominant socio-economic interests, i.e. capitalism. Parenti’s book does not have structure in the conventional sense. Rather, it is structured first from the beginning where the book discusses why teaching history in the US is so problematic. The reason? History just raises too many questions on how society is run today, so it is written in a way that is boring. This boredom revolves around being too triumphalist in American history and capitalism, cliched (amazingly), and missing important information as a whole (where are all the workers, pro-worker agitators, and social critics who go against the mainstream?). The next two chapters proceed to deconstruct the rather polished history of Christianity, showing it as bloody, brutal, and a probable source for today’s cruelty. It could have been a separate book, but Parenti points out that it is just an example of “mainstream history” leaving out historical information and presenting a past that is too triumphalist, polished, and generally boring. Other chapters go through why people who write history serve the status quo (and why those who do not are seldom heard in media), an incredibly interesting primary source-based investigation to the death of US president Zachary Taylor and why mainstream historical investigation is too afraid to change what the current status quo says about history. Lastly, Parenti deconstructs the historical field of “psychohistory,” a chapter which I find the most interesting. History as Mystery relies on primary and secondary in deconstructing (and reconstructing) the myths of “mainstream history.” Parenti does put special emphasis on the many throwaway comments that historians make in their works, because those comments say the quiet part out loud. Such comments range from Herbert Aptheker lamenting how it took a long time for him to reach tenure (because of his political views) to public libraries using legal loopholes in order to not stock books deemed “questionable.” There were even comments from historians who question their field of study (notably some “psychohistorians”). All in all, History as Mystery makes for a really interesting book for both history students and average laymen who are starting to notice flaws within historical narratives. The one flaw within the book that concerns me is the discussion of Christianity in history. The way that it eventually dominated Europe was cruel and many charlatans took advantage of Christ’s word to advance their selfish interests (must we forget about the Whore of Babylon?), but Christianity was most certainly a movement of liberation against Roman slavery, which held back almost all of Europe from advancing as a society. The followers of Christ wanted not to hold everyone back, and it has symbolically destroyed idols and iconoclasts to make a message against slavery; but like every liberation movement in history it was not perfect. I would have wished that Parenti emphasized this fact more often (and he did), but it probably would have seemed out of place within the book. The book is not the best of Parenti’s books, but it should not be ignored. History as Mystery raises the right amount of questions about the way we view history and where to look forward: there is a reason why we thank Karl Marx for the way that we view history, but all academics do not mention his name. Viewing history as a class struggle allows us to see a better picture of where we are, how we progressed, and where we can go from here. We need to view history like this much more often, and it is about time that more books like History as Mystery need to be written, distributed, and discussed.

Illuminating discussion of history and how it's been mystified by forces with material interests in its suppression and distortion. Fascinating discussion of specific examples--Christendom, Jeanne d'Arc, and Zachary Taylor.

Michael Parenti reminds us that most history has been written by "gentlemen historians," people who have the mindset of the economic class which sponsors the writing of history, i.e., rulers, aristocrats, titans of industry--people of privilege. The voice of the average guy--"Joe Six-Pack"--is almost never heard. In the 20th century, historians began to pay more attention to the experiences of ordinary working folks, using ancient trial records and similar sources, but the old mindset still had enough momentum to carry on. Parenti attacks this bias head-on, starting with the rise of Christianity (maybe not the result of pure faith plus the example of the holy martyrs) and ending with an interesting analysis of an old "cold case," the death of President Zachary Taylor. Why did historians reject the idea that he might have been poisoned? And more importantly, why do contemporary historians follow suit? This is a "pop" book, but useful as a corrective work to counterbalance the edicts of traditional historians.

I've read all 18 of Michael Parenti's books and in my opinion this one is his best work. I know most people would say Democracy for the Few is his best but I really enjoyed this one more. You will learn a lot about bias in historiography.

Fascinating book with facts and solid information about the bizarre world we live in. It is especially more crucial to read this book today PLUS Parenti presents it in a entertaining and fun approach. You will NOT be disappointed.

I bought this in 2000 and it is still relevant. Parenti dispels the widely held fantasy that history is objective - he charts out how history is actually written by the victors and discusses what that means for our understanding of the world.

Excellent work which exposes what should have been exposed before.

I like the idea of a fresh point of view that Michael Parenti bring to the reader.It's like a fresh cup of water in the dessert of knowledge that traditional history writers impose upon us.The elitist viewpoint of the communication industry and it's bias in favor of the Empire that control it; is absent on Michael writings an make it appealing to reader that seek the truth.Thank Mr Parenti for your books and a new view to history.

The following is taken from a review of Parent's `History as mystery' by Dan Brook of `Z magazine'. I found the chapter on the death (and possible poisoning) of the 12th President Zachary Taylor, especially informative. I recommend for further reading: `The Parenti Reader.' "The writing of history, Voltaire believed, should be one form of battle in the age-old war for our intellectual emancipation." This eloquent and persuasive book is for anyone interested in history, of course, but also for those with an interest in sociology, politics, psychology, pedagogy, media criticism, and the on-going culture wars. Parenti seeks to "deconstruct some of the filters, to show that much of mainstream history we are commonly taught, the popular version of events that enjoys maximum circulation, is seriously distorted in ways that serve or certainly reflect dominant socio-economic interests". Parenti's content is without doubt vital, while his style makes history--whether "ruling-class", "people's", or "real"--come alive! Voltaire would be proud and readers will be grateful for Parenti's unraveling of the mystery of history.''

When learning history in school days I always thought that something didn't add up and now I know what that something was. If you want to truly understand the circumstances we live in now and in the past there is no better author than Michael Parenti.

Parenti at his best. Lucid, penetrating deconstruction of the establishment writing of history.

Great insight into how the world real works…

As always Parenti offers an excellent analysis. Any one interested in history and in non-conventional, non-conformist thoughts backed by thorough research will enjoy this.