Prompt Cast
The Importance of Narrative in Historical Writing and Engaging with Social Media
TLDR In this podcast, Patrick Wyman discusses the importance of narrative in historical writing and engaging with social media. He emphasizes the need to create an experiential sense of being in the past to engage readers and highlights the impact of social media in shaping identity and creating oppositional responses, drawing parallels to the printing press during the Reformation.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Patrick Wyman recently released his book "The Verge" and had a conversation with Mike Duncan about book and podcast writing, as well as the process of putting narrative history together.
05:18
The author discusses the difference between writing for a podcast and writing a book, emphasizing the importance of creating an experiential sense of being in the past to engage readers.
10:15
The author discusses the importance of creating a clear picture for readers who are new to the subject, while also satisfying experts in the field with accurate and engaging content.
14:57
The use of narrative in history is essential for engaging with audiences and conveying information, as people understand the world through stories, and narrative history is the best way to connect with a wider audience and create a more historically literate society.
19:36
The author discusses the influence of Barbara Tuchman and Fernand Braudel on his historical approach, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the actions and agency of common people, as well as the significance of economic history and work in understanding the course of history.
24:26
The author discusses the differences in his approach and writing style between his books "Hero of Two Worlds" and "The Storm Before the Storm," emphasizing the importance of competence and diligence in historical writing.
29:41
The period of the disintegration of the Roman Republic and the consolidation of Rome in the 60s BC is crucial because everything that follows after that is dependent on this one period of time having taken place.
34:53
The impact of the Roman Empire and its absence on the future course of history is discussed, as well as the importance of engaging with social media in understanding the Reformation.
39:58
The impact of social media in shaping identity and creating oppositional responses is discussed, drawing parallels to the printing press during the Reformation.
45:03
Academic historians can learn from popular history in terms of embracing narrative and using tools like podcasts to engage with the public and make history more accessible, although there may be some skepticism from the academic community.
49:57
The host discusses the importance of having access to and learning about history from different regions and perspectives, particularly highlighting China, India, and Africa as areas that are often overlooked in Western historical narratives.
54:52
The host discusses the importance of including perspectives from Sub-Saharan Africa and the interactions between the Portuguese and the African coast in historical narratives, as well as the challenges of including all relevant information in a book.
59:43
The importance of self-education, reading broadly, and challenging one's own beliefs in order to learn and grow.
01:04:25
The speaker expresses gratitude for the experience and thanks the audience for listening, and provides information on where to find and connect with him, as well as how to support the podcast.
Categories:
History
Society & Culture
