You are right, I didn’t read it largely because I wasn’t interested in picking through propaganda. I can see why someone would be interested in the (British version of) “history of history” but I am more interested in the evidence of historical events.
But, history is written differently by different authors at different periods over time. You read it, if for no other reason than that it's interesting to learn how one age or one culture has seen and described the facts available to them, in THEIR lifetime.
I think that is what was meant by the person who said, 'If you didn't read 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire', then you can't be regarded as an educated person'.
There are a great many books that are important to read, even though finally revealed facts prove that they are dated.