Anti-History: Theorizing the Past, History, and Historiography in

In this review of Anti-History: Theorizing the Past, History, and Historiography in Management and Organizational Studies, the reviewer finds a focused, method-driven contribution aimed at scholars and graduate students interested in a more historicized approach to organization studies. The book answers calls for a historic turn by proposing an alternative methodology called ANTi-History, and the biggest reason to read it is its concrete combination of theoretical development and applied histories that challenge ahistorical assumptions in management theory.

Key Features

• Original methodology: Presents ANTi-History as an alternative framework that rethinks how histories are produced and used in organizational research, giving readers a new toolkit for historicizing their work.
• Applied case studies: Uses a series of histories of Pan American Airways to demonstrate how the methodology operates in practice, helping readers see theory applied to archival and narrative material.
• Critical perspective: Contributes to the broader critique of the ahistorical nature of management and organization theory, encouraging scholars to interrogate presentist assumptions.
• Theoretical depth: Develops conceptual arguments about historiography and the writing of history that are relevant for interdisciplinary research in management and history.
• Scholarly focus: Structured for a research audience, the book prioritizes methodological clarity and reflexivity over textbook-style summaries.

Who It's For

This book is best suited to academic readers: doctoral students, researchers, and university faculty working in organization studies, management history, and historiography who want a rigorous methodological alternative to traditional historical approaches. Those looking to adopt historicized research methods will find the discussions and Pan Am examples particularly instructive.

It is less appropriate for casual readers or general business practitioners seeking actionable management tactics or brief case studies. The emphasis is on critical methodology and conceptual work rather than practitioner-focused recommendations.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a clearly articulated alternative methodology in the form of ANTi-History that fills a gap in organization studies literature.
• Demonstrates the method through extended historical work on Pan American Airways, making abstract ideas concrete.
• Offers a thoughtful critique of the ahistorical tendencies in management theory, prompting readers to reconsider foundational assumptions.

Cons

• The book is squarely academic in tone and scope, which may limit accessibility for readers outside university research contexts.

Specifications

Title	Anti-History: Theorizing the Past, History, and Historiography in Management and Organizational Studies
Authors	Gabrielle A. T. Durepos, Albert J. Mills
Primary focus	Methodology and historiography in organization studies
Method introduced	ANTi-History
Applied case	Series of histories of Pan American Airways
Intended audience	Scholars, doctoral students, and researchers

Our Verdict

Anti-History is a valuable, methodologically ambitious contribution for those committed to bringing historical depth into organization studies. It pairs conceptual rigor with concrete Pan Am histories, making it good value for academics seeking a robust alternative to ahistorical management theory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ANTi-History?
ANTi-History is the alternative methodology the authors develop to rethink how histories are written and used in organizational research.

Does the book include case studies?
Yes, the authors explore the methodology through a series of histories focused on Pan American Airways to illustrate application.

Who will benefit most from this book?
Doctoral students, faculty, and researchers in organization studies and historiography will benefit most; it is not aimed at general business practitioners.