Written by Hingham and Martha’s Vineyard’s own national treasure and historian David McCullough—also the author of the John Adams and Harry Truman biographies—History Matters is an insider’s work compiled by McCullough’s daughter, Dorie, and his longtime research assistant, Michael Hill. Their insights bring you into the remarkable mind and inner workings of Mr. McCullough: how a historical idea becomes a living, breathing story of a particular moment in time. They show what it was truly like—what people were thinking, seeing, feeling, and how they reacted. What influenced their decisions, all without knowing, as we do now, how history would turn out.
It’s easy for us today to say, for example, “Yes, this ragtag group of farmers defeated one of history’s greatest imperial superpowers and created the first true democracy.” But when it was happening? We can try to imagine it—but even better, we can read an accurate, messy, sometimes frightening account of real history from someone with the storytelling gifts of David McCullough and actually feel it.
History Matters gathers McCullough’s speeches, writings, book signings, and interviews. When you finish this book, you don’t just understand how history matters—you start chasing it, feeling it, seeing it, wondering if it will repeat itself, or wishing parts of it would. History Matters truly matters, and I highly recommend it.
I always try to relate what I’m reading to the work I do at SRC and at my law firm, Falco & Associates P.C., and this book made that easy. Reflecting on a historical period is much like reflecting on the history of our own lives. People come to us and share their personal stories—their beginnings, challenges, successes, original dreams, and how things ultimately unfolded. It’s a reflection of how they arrived at today, and a foundation for determining where they need to go next. With more than 30 years of experience, I can say with confidence that we become part of that solution—helping write the final chapters, or sometimes just the final chapter. I’m not as gifted a writer as David McCullough, but my passion for my work mirrors his, as does the passion of most of the people we meet.
The first three people who email me will receive their own copy of History Matters.
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