What more is there to know about me?
I was the Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006. Go look it up! I also attended the funeral of a medieval king… and have photographs to prove it. When people ask me what my job is, I say “I talk to dead people for a living” (isn’t that the definition of a historian?). And I have always said that my dream job is to be an elbow model (someone must do it in commercials). At parties, I always write the name ‘Shirley’ on my plastic cup because there are far too many Matts in the world.
I hail from New England but have lived almost half of my life elsewhere. My family proudly embraces our Irish ancestry. A colleague told me that the Irish can identify with the suffering of so many people around the world. It’s true. They have withstood religious persecution and racism, conquest and colonization, famine and mass migration. The list could go on. Like other communities, they also created a vibrant and beautiful culture.
You might also find me inside the rink coaching my daughter’s ice hockey team. My pearls of wisdom always inspire the girls to achieve their dreams, especially when those dreams involve lying in despair on the ice.
I worked in heavy construction for many years, and I deeply respect the skill and work ethic of those who labor with their hands. I find that such work enhances my academics, keeps me rooted in the physical world (as opposed to the world of ideas) and helps me unwind (for the theory behind this, you should read The World Beyond Your Head).
The History of Religion and Conflict 