Popular history in the classroom

In the most recent Choice magazine(June 2008, pp.1669-1677), Charles Becker, Jr. explores the use of popular histories(with many examples of them) to engage the not-so-eager history student. He concludes with the following:

"Students claim their failure to read is a time issue, yet for most it is an interest issue. Therein lies the dilemma. Popular histories designed for sale to the general reader are normally more approachable for undergraduates than are scholarly texts....Why popular history in the classroom? Perhaps the classroom offers a target-rich environment for a more meaningful creative critical process.