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On History is a treatise on world history and politics by Eric Hobsbawm. Summary of the Book In this book, Hobsbawm showcases his flair for writing about history. He has perhaps contributed more than anyone else towards the field of studying history. Here, he discusses how history is used, and abused. He classifies the study of history, explaining how it has changed over time. He teaches readers that there is much to learn from history, as it doesn’t only teach us what can happen, but what surely will. Part reflection and part essay, this book digs deep into Hobsbawm’s ideas on history, displaying his innate concern for the past, the present and the future. About Eric Hobsbawm Eric John Ernest Hobsbawm was a British Marxist historian known for his works on the rise of industrial capitalism, socialism, and nationalism. Dr. Hobsbawm studied at the University of Cambridge, obtaining his Ph.D. in history. He was awarded the Balzan Prize for his works on history. He has also written The Four Ages of Hobsbawm, The Invention of Tradition, How to Change the World: Tales of Marx and Marxism and Fractured Times: Culture and Society in the 20th Century.