  Microscopic nuclear theory is based on the tenet that atomic nuclei can be
accurately described as collections of point-like nucleons interacting via two-
and many-body forces obeying nonrelativistic quantum mechanics -- and the
concept of the ab initio approach is to calculate nuclei accordingly. The
forces are fixed in free-space scattering and must be accurate. We will
critically review the history of this approach from the early beginnings until
today. An analysis of current ab initio calculations reveals that some mistakes
of history are being repeated today. The ultimate goal of nuclear theory are
high-precision ab initio calculations which, as it turns out, may be possible
only at the fifths order of the chiral expansion. Thus, for its fulfillment,
nuclear theory is still facing an enormous task.
