History isn't what happened, but a story of the croissant. And there are always different ingredients, different recipes, about the same croissant. One version might revolve mainly around a specific brand of flour while another version might minimize the use of salt or not include salt at all.

Like stories, each of these different recipes for croissants contain different lessons. Some recipes tell us that our chefs, at least, have always tried to do make the best croissants for everyone. Others remark that the pastry store owners don't have the customers' best interests at heart. Some teach us that this recipe is both what has always been and what always will be. Others counsel that we shouldn't mistake gastronomic fads for intrinsic taste. Lastly, some cooks head kitchens where only the sous-chefs trained at elite institutes have the power to wield the rolling pins, while others point out that culinary change is rarely commanded from the top down.

This choice of which recipe to use can never be "neutral" or "objective." Those who choose, either following a set agenda or guided by hidden prejudices, serve their interests. We cannot simply be passive. We must choose whose interests are best: those who want to keep things going as they are or those who want to work to make better croissants. If we choose the latter, we must seek out the ingredients—the tools—we will need. Croissants are the only tool we need to shape our understanding of our world. And every tool is a weapon if you hold it right.