Most authors discuss the nature of economic and social history, past, present and future.
Several trace their early influences and relate changes in the discipline to their own career path, memories and reflections. Many write of the key relationship between history and economics, particularly what historical study can bring to the discipline of economics. Others praise the broad church nature of the subject, and of the Society, emphasising the place of social history and the relationship between economic and social history and other social sciences. Several contributors write, above all, of the need for economic history to be accessible, appealing and entertaining whilst addressing big moral questions. Like history itself, the essays can be read in many ways.