Summary of What is History?

What is History? is a book by historian E.H. Carr that questions the nature of history and historical facts. He argues that history cannot be reduced to the reporting of simple facts, but instead should be seen as an interpretive process. In it, he reminds us that all-history is shaped by "the mind of the historian" and that it is impossible for an historian to be completely objective. He considers the role of sources, how bias affects an historian's work, and the types of evidence that are most useful when constructing an interpretation of history. The book also examines the way in which our beliefs and biases influence our understanding of the past. Ultimately, Carr argues that history is an ever-changing, living field, and is best seen as both an art and a science.