In Chapter 4, "Getting the Most Out of History Books: Critical Reading and Assessment" Brundage describes how to "get a handle" on a history book. He explains that history is a reading-intensive discipline, and that without getting a grasp of what a book is about before reading it is sort of like going on a road trip without consulting a map first.
Brundage describes the process of "x-raying" a book whereby the reader should review the title and subtitle, the table of contents and the biographical information of the author. While some biographical information on the author can be found in the book, an on-line search is also recommended.
Comparing books on the same topic will reveal that when a book is written is a crtical element. Brundage states that "books are products of the time and place in which they are written" and that "reading both older and newer works on the same subject reveals how historiography evolves over time".
Question 1
How much emphasis should be placed on finding book or sources that are published in various time periods?
Question 2
Should we look for authors with varying backgrounds? For example, should we look for authors with a familial connection to the subject as well as ones that have no connection?
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