To study history is to learn about oneself. And to fail to grasp the importance of the past—to remain ignorant of the deeds and writings of previous generations—is to bind oneself by the passions and prejudices of the age into which one is born.

In this brief but indispensable guide, the eminent historian John Lukacs shows you what the study of history entails, how it has been approached over the centuries, and why you should study history.