Sounds like a the beginning of OCD. First see if you can distract him from this habit by like offering to do something he really likes if he will stop doing it. If he really has OCD he might, but return to it afterwards.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.