Zen and the Art of Local History

Edited by Carol Kammen, Bob Beatty

Hardback - £92.00

Publication date:

14 August 2014

Length of book:

354 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442226890

Zen and the Art of Local History is an engaging, interactive conversation that conveys the exciting nature of local history.

Divided into six major themes the book covers the scope and breadth of local history:
• Being a Local Historian
• Topics and Sources
• Staying Relevant
• Getting it Right
• Writing History
• History Organizations

Each chapter features one of Carol Kammen’s memorable editorials from History News.

Her editorial is a “call.” Each is followed by a response from one of more than five dozen prominent players in state and local history. These Respondents include local and public historians, archivists, volunteers, and history professionals across the kaleidoscopic spectrum of local history. Among this group are Katherine Kane, Robert “Bob” Richmond, Charlie Bryan, and Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko.

The result is a series of dialogues on important topics in the field of local history. This interactivity of these conversations makes
Zen and the Art of Local History a unique offering in the public history field.
The only thing better than a Carol Kammen 'On Doing Local History' essay is sixty-eight Carol Kammen essays. The only thing better than sixty-eight of Carol's insightful, spot-on, wonderfully crafted essays is marrying each with a talented colleague laboring in our rich field somewhere in this great country who provides equally compelling commentary and reflection. This volume is a superb idea taken to the max - at once readable, cerebral, practical, philosophical, and fun. Buy it. Read it. Pass it on.