Great Leaders Approach to History

In Personalities and Problems, historian Ken Wolf employs the great leaders approach to history befitting his premise that "history is the study of human beings who make it" (p. xiii). His choices of "interesting people" are grounded in his preferences and he acknowledges that others may have chosen different people as more interesting or worthwhile to write about. The historical figures in the book are political leaders, thinkers or religious leaders, and explorers. Wolf's thesis is that, "we cannot understand human beings adequately if we separate their political behavior from their religious beliefs, their social position, or their economic concerns" (p. xiv).

The historical figures who make up the book range from early civilization (Moses, Zoroaster, Siddhartha Gautama, Confucius, Plato) to the 17th Century (Louis XIV, Kangxi) and Wolf's concern is primarily on issues such as the best way to create a strong society and the problem of evil in the world.

Wolf's methodology is to pair leaders facing similar issues, the impact they made on their society, and their legacies. These parings are cross-cultural because one of the points Wolf makes is that "human problems really do transcend the boundaries of race, creed, or nation" (p. xv). Another important point is that historical greatness is not simply a matter of luck or talent. "History helps make us as surely as we help make history" (p. xv). In writing of Hammurabi and Moses on the topic of law as a mirror of civiliz

ith the main questions that identify the problems under study. As Wolf points out in his Preface, the historical figures in this volume are not the only ones of importance, but those he considered the most noteworthy so his choices are not a matter of balance. The writing is clear, simple and accessible, although more suitable to a high school or middle school class than collegiate. For anyone who has a background in historical scholarship, the book is too simple. After reading Wolf's book, there are four characters with who I would like to have dinner. I chose these people because I believe they would be entertaining and informative dinner companions, and because I have always been intrigued with them. The first character is Moses, the Biblical Hebrew lawgiver, prophet and liberator who received the word and will of God on Mount Sinai, talking with God face to face, an encounter countless numbers of people in Judaism, Christianity and Islam desired to have over the centuries. To speak directly with God would be the culmination of my faith. My other interest in dining with Moses is to discuss his humanitarian impulses as I too am concerned with the poor and oppressed people of my time. Wolf points out that the Book of Exod