Does History Really Teach Us Lessons? Human Nature, War & Fiction | Dominic Sandbrook

I had the great honor of speaking with Dominic Sandbrook — British historian, author, columnist, podcaster, and co-host of the hugely popular podcast The Rest Is History alongside historian and author Tom Holland.

In this conversation, we discuss how Dominic first fell in love with history as a child, whether history really teaches us lessons, the idea that human nature never truly changes, and how nuclear weapons may have prevented a third world war. We also explore whether humanity has actually become less violent, why we should be careful about judging historical figures by modern standards, and which era of history Dominic would most want to visit if he had a time machine.

The second half of the conversation focuses on books, fiction, and literature. Dominic talks about his new podcast The Book Club with Tabitha Syrett, explains why fiction matters, reflects on the book that shaped him most as a child, and shares several fascinating book recommendations. We also discuss Ukraine, the Russian invasion, why much of the West misjudged Putin, and what surprised Dominic most about Ukrainian resistance. I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Watch the video podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc0Jx1CGrtc&t=2003s