History Writing That’s ‘‘Good to Think With’’: The Great Fire, Blizzard! and An American Plague

In this article I argue that history books that are ‘‘good to think with’’ narrate history and, at the same time, provide insight into how it is constructed. These books are much more than collections of facts. Specifically, they provide information about historical context, multiple perspectives, sources of information, and original interpretation. This is crucial information for anyone attempting to understand history. As examples, I show how three books by Jim Murphy—The Great Fire, Blizzard! and An American Plague—address each of these essential topics.