The Daily Dad Let the Past IGNITE Their Future | Doris Kearns Goodwin
Nov 1, 2025
Doris Kearns Goodwin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and bestselling author, shares insights on teaching history to kids. She emphasizes the role of travel and museums in sparking curiosity. Doris discusses how biographies can make historical figures relatable, helping to counter the diminishing emphasis on history education. The conversation also touches on the inspiring power of theater, like Hamilton, in bringing history to life. They reflect on their own journeys into history and the importance of mentorship in shaping future generations.
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Make History Ordinary And Accessible
- Take children to ordinary places tied to history to make the past feel accessible and real.
- Use small sparks like a hotel bar story to ignite curiosity and make learning tangible.
Biography Restores Historical Connection
- Doris fears history is being diminished in schools at all levels and wants to counter that trend.
- She believes biography and emotional teaching make historical figures relatable to children.
Show Leaders As Young, Fallible People
- Show young people the early, flawed versions of leaders so they can imagine becoming them.
- Teach how figures like FDR and Lincoln grew through mistakes and development.
