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32. What if?

Summary, books mentioned, source context, and timestamps for 32. What if? on The Rest Is History.

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32. What if? includes mentions of CJ Sansom's brilliant counterfactual novel, Altered Paths by Richard Evans, Counterfactuals by Jeffrey Parker and Philip Tetlock, and Escape from Rome by Walter Scheidel, with indexed source context and timestamps where available.

3 books from this episode

Indexed context: The host highlights CJ Sansom's novel as a standout example of counterfactual literature, emphasizing its unique portrayal of a Britain under Nazi ru…

Altered Paths
Richard Evans

Indexed context: The host discusses the complexities of writing history and the role of counterfactuals, referencing Richard Evans' book 'Altered Paths' to highlight…

Counterfactuals
Jeffrey Parker and Philip Tetlock

Indexed context: The hosts discuss the concept of counterfactuals in history, exploring how alternative outcomes can shape our understanding of past events. They refe…

Episode summary
Counterfactuals are the great what ifs of history. Imagine the Nazis winning World War 2, or the Roman Empire never falling. Is this a valid form of historical enquiry? Or is it simply game-playing? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss what might have been.
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CJ Sansom's brilliant counterfactual novel

The host highlights CJ Sansom's novel as a standout example of counterfactual literature, emphasizing its unique port…

Card
Altered Paths
Richard Evans

The host discusses the complexities of writing history and the role of counterfactuals, referencing Richard Evans' bo…

Card
Counterfactuals
Jeffrey Parker and Philip Tetlock

The hosts discuss the concept of counterfactuals in history, exploring how alternative outcomes can shape our underst…

Card
Escape from Rome
Walter Scheidel

The host discusses Walter Scheidel's book 'Escape from Rome' to illustrate the argument that the collapse of the Roma…

Card
Fatherland
Robert Harris

The host mentions 'Fatherland' to illustrate a popular example of counterfactual history, where the narrative explore…

Card
The Difference Engine
William Gibson and Bruce Sterling

The host mentions 'The Difference Engine' to illustrate a specific type of alternative history that incorporates tech…

Card
a fantastic new history of the Aztecs
Camilla Townsend

The host mentioned Camilla Townsend's book to highlight the complexities of the Aztec civilization and their potentia…

Card
Book mentions7
Media mentions0
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What is 32. What if? about?

Summary, books mentioned, source context, and timestamps for 32. What if? on The Rest Is History.

What are the main takeaways from 32. What if??

These themes are drawn from the indexed episode description and linked mentions for 32. What if?.

  • The conversation centers on alternative history novels.
  • A second recurring theme is collapse of the Roman empire.
  • Referenced books include CJ Sansom's brilliant counterfactual novel and Altered Paths by Richard Evans.
  • Related interests include Readers interested in historical fiction and counterfactual narratives. and Historians and writers interested in narrative history.

Which books are mentioned in 32. What if??

CJ Sansom's brilliant counterfactual novel, Altered Paths by Richard Evans, and Counterfactuals by Jeffrey Parker and Philip Tetlock are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to source cards and timestamps where available.

How can I check the source context for 32. What if??

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Mention types
Deep Dive(3)Passing Reference(3)Highly Recommended(1)
Related interests
Readers interested in historical fiction and counterfactual narratives.Historians and writers interested in narrative historyHistory enthusiasts and scholarshistory enthusiasts and readers interested in counterfactual analysisReaders interested in speculative fiction and alternative historyHistory enthusiasts and students

Books Mentioned

The full list below is ranked by how useful each mention is to a listener: stronger recommendation language, clearer source context, and better timestamp support rise first.

CJ Sansom's brilliant counterfactual novel cover
Best for Readers interested in historical fiction and counterfactual narratives.Often cited around counterfactual literature

Indexed context

The speaker refers to a counterfactual novel by CJ Sansom, suggesting it depicts a shadowy Britain under Nazi dominance, which is considered the best in its genre.

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Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Readers interested in historical fiction and counterfactual narratives.
Indexed context: CJ Sansom's brilliant counterfactual novel depicts a shadowy Britain under Nazi dominance, which is considered the best in its genre.
The host highlights CJ Sansom's novel as a standout example of counterfactual literature, emphasizing its unique portrayal of a Britain under Nazi rule. This book is praised for its depth and creativity within the genre.
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Altered Paths cover
Altered Paths
Richard Evans
Best for Historians and writers interested in narrative historyOften cited around counterfactual history analysis

Indexed context

The historian, the great historian, the former Regis professor at Cambridge, Richard Evans, he analysed my own pieces in his book, Altered Paths, which is about counterfactuals.

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Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Historians and writers interested in narrative history
Indexed context: the historian, the great historian, the former Regis professor at Cambridge, Richard Evans, he analysed my own pieces in his book, Altered Paths, which is about counterfactuals.
The host discusses the complexities of writing history and the role of counterfactuals, referencing Richard Evans' book 'Altered Paths' to highlight the nuances of what-if scenarios. Evans' analysis helped the host realize that their own writing leaned more towards parallel histories rather than pure counterfactuals.
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Counterfactuals cover
Counterfactuals
Jeffrey Parker and Philip Tetlock
Best for History enthusiasts and scholarsOften cited around historical counterfactuals

Indexed context

The discussion includes a reference to a book by Jeffrey Parker and Philip Tetlock that talks about different kinds of counterfactuals in history.

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Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: History enthusiasts and scholars
Indexed context: But is this really a valid form of historical inquiry, or is it just sort of pub game playing?
The hosts discuss the concept of counterfactuals in history, exploring how alternative outcomes can shape our understanding of past events. They reference the book 'Counterfactuals' to delve into the implications of these hypothetical scenarios on historical narratives.
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Escape from Rome cover
Escape from Rome
Walter Scheidel
Best for history enthusiasts and readers interested in counterfactual analysisOften cited around collapse of the Roman empire

Indexed context

Walter Scheidel's Escape from Rome argues that the industrial revolution would have been impossible without the collapse of the Roman empire.

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Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: history enthusiasts and readers interested in counterfactual analysis
Indexed context: his thesis essentially is that, um, the industrial revolution would have been impossible without the collapse of the Roman empire, because it's the collapse of the Roman empire that generates a fragmented Europe.
The host discusses Walter Scheidel's book 'Escape from Rome' to illustrate the argument that the collapse of the Roman Empire was essential for the emergence of modern industrial society. The book engages with counterfactual history, exploring how unique historical circumstances shaped the development of Europe.
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Fatherland cover
Fatherland
Robert Harris
Best for Readers interested in historical fiction and counterfactual narratives.Often cited around counterfactual history

Indexed context

The novelist Robert Harris in his hugely popular counterfactual novel Fatherland, which imagines the frightening thought that the Nazis have won the Second World War.

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Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Readers interested in historical fiction and counterfactual narratives.
Indexed context: So writes the novelist Robert Harris in his hugely popular counterfactual novel Fatherland, which imagines the frightening thought that the Nazis have won the Second World War.
The host mentions 'Fatherland' to illustrate a popular example of counterfactual history, where the narrative explores a world in which the Nazis won World War II. This reference serves to frame the broader discussion on the validity and implications of historical what-ifs.
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The Difference Engine cover
The Difference Engine
William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
Best for Readers interested in speculative fiction and alternative historyOften cited around alternative history novels

Indexed context

The Difference Engine is a world in which Babbage and Ada Lovelace invent the computer, leading to a technologically advanced Victorian England.

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Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Readers interested in speculative fiction and alternative history
Indexed context: I don't know if you've read that by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, which is a world in which, um, Babbage and Ada Lovelace invent the computer.
The host mentions 'The Difference Engine' to illustrate a specific type of alternative history that incorporates technological advancements in a fantastical setting. They highlight how the book presents a world where early computing technology was developed, which serves as an example of how such narratives can diverge from historical plausibility.
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a fantastic new history of the Aztecs cover
Best for History enthusiasts and studentsOften cited around European conquest of the Americas

Indexed context

The podcast mentions Camilla Townsend's upcoming book, which is described as a fantastic new history of the Aztecs.

View mention details
Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: History enthusiasts and students
Indexed context: we're going to have Camilla Townsend author of a fantastic new history of the Aztecs coming on, um, in a few weeks, I hope.
The host mentioned Camilla Townsend's book to highlight the complexities of the Aztec civilization and their potential technological advancements. This reference serves to illustrate the hypothetical scenarios surrounding the European conquest and its historical implications.
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CJ Sansom's brilliant counterfactual novel
The Rest Is History · 43:06
Indexed context: The host highlights CJ Sansom's novel as a standout example of counterfactual literature, emphasizing its unique portrayal of a Britain under Nazi ru…
Altered Paths
The Rest Is History · 4:45
Indexed context: The host discusses the complexities of writing history and the role of counterfactuals, referencing Richard Evans' book 'Altered Paths' to highlight…
Counterfactuals
The Rest Is History · 15:32
Indexed context: The hosts discuss the concept of counterfactuals in history, exploring how alternative outcomes can shape our understanding of past events. They refe…
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CJ Sansom's brilliant counterfactual novel cover
Mentioned at 43:06
CJ Sansom's brilliant counterfactual novel

The host highlights CJ Sansom's novel as a standout example of counterfactual literature, emphasizing its unique portrayal of a Britain under Nazi…

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Altered Paths cover
Mentioned at 4:45
Altered Paths
Richard Evans

The host discusses the complexities of writing history and the role of counterfactuals, referencing Richard Evans' book 'Altered Paths' to highligh…

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link
Counterfactuals cover
Mentioned at 15:32
Counterfactuals
Jeffrey Parker and Philip Tetlock

The hosts discuss the concept of counterfactuals in history, exploring how alternative outcomes can shape our understanding of past events. They re…

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

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