How do perceptions of the past—not just of particular events, but of the trajectory of history as a whole—shape our experience of the world? Sensing the Past tackles this question with an unlikely source of historical insight—the work of six major Hollywood stars: Clint Eastwood, Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Jodie Foster. By focusing on the career choices made by these iconic actors, Cullen uncovers a discrete set of historical narratives, revealing the surprising ways historical forces shape our understanding of the world.