re: How to become a History Buff?

How to "become" a history buff?

I don't think that's possible.

I think you either are one or are not one.

Certainly if you are raised in a family where history is at least mentioned you might be aware that you are earlier.

If this were an Owlie OP thread, this is about the time he'd change the thread title to "gay" from History Buff.

Hate to sound douchey but it doesn't usually result from a conscious effort.

Books and documentaries are a really good start. I love history.

A history buff wouldn't go on a message board and ask how to become a history buff.

He would be too busy learning history.

I thought you participate in history threads and always say

"if I remember correctly, or not 100% sure" or "I didn't Google" to begin a sentence but have actually just Googled everything and want to look like a BA in a history thread

I've definitely seen several posters, one or two in particular, do this here

Read D Day by Steven Ambrose. That will get you fired up!!

Then just read about things you like. Young Men and Fire is a great book.
Good luck and ignore the haters!

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Read.


Read read read.

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Yes. But this is only the first step. To be a true history buff you've got to be able to do more than memorize the date of this or that event or remember the name of this or that person. You've got to go beyond that first step and think about and understand how things in our history connect together and shape the world around us. For example, it will do you no good to know that Prussia defeated France in the Fraco-Prussian War if you don't also understand how this event shaped world events that came later.

Just pick something you like in History and start there. It will usually lead to other things.

I like reading about WWII European Theater of Operations. It lead me to books about those involved and grew from there.

Read lots of books and watch documentaries. Unfortunately the History Channel doesn't really show much History anymore.

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Whats something I can read online while at work to brush up on my Roman History knowledge. took latin in highschool but I have forgotten a lot

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Seriously? How do you not know the definitive work of this Era?


The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

LINK

I started reading biographies and American history like they were popcorn when I was about seven and never stopped. You don't "become" a history buff, you just give a shite about the history of humanity or you don't.

I will tell you that being historically literate and generally curious about the world gives you huge advantages every single day of your life. Intelligent people discriminate in a million little different ways against the dull and incurious, just to preserve their sanity.