You got the wrong thing because it's overpriced. Hope it was worth blowing your money on the "trendy" apple computer over a better one which would have been way cheaper.
The Retina really isn't worth it. For $500-$1000 dollars more, you get a screen and an SSD. You've made the right decision.
Unless you're a heavy duty photographer or video-maker, the "normal" MacBook Pro is totally fine, and will leave plenty of "wiggle room" in your wallet.
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.