The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History [Paperback]

Robert Chadwell Williams (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0765610930 | ISBN-13: 978-0765610935 | Publication Date: March 2003

What is history and how do we learn about it? How has our understanding of history changed and developed over the years? How do historians and students actually go about "doing" history? In an engaging and entertaining style, this accessible "how-to" manual introduces readers to the theory, craft, and methods of history and provides a series of "tools" to help anyone read, research, and understand the past. The first half of the book is a stimulating overview of the key elements of history - evidence, narrative, judgment - that explores how the study and concepts of history have evolved over the centuries. The second half guides readers through the "workshop" of history. Unlocking the historian's "toolbox," it reveals the tricks of the trade, offering concrete examples and practical advice on the study, comprehension, and communication of history. The book covers myriad historical tools, including documents, sources, footnotes, arguments, bibliographies, chronologies, and many other items. It also examines professional ethics and controversial issues, such as plagiarism, historical hoaxes, and conspiracy theories. Brief and illuminating, and filled with fascinating historical information and stories, The Historian's Toolbox will inspire students and teachers alike as it cuts through the jargon and explains simply the "why," "what," and "how" of history.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...valuable to any teacher who wants his or her student "doing" history in class. -- National Council for History Education, May 2003

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: M.E. Sharpe (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765610930
• ISBN-13: 978-0765610935
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,673,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grand theory and nuts-and-bolts, July 8, 2003

By 

Richard W. Slatta (Cary, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History (Paperback)

Williams gives instructors and students of history two books in one. Part one is a quick look at some of the big ideas and controversies of the profession. These short chapters on such topics as metahistory and anti-history should provide great fodder for class discussions. Part two on "the tools of history" offers good guidance on researching, writing, and thinking about history. Again, short, provocative chapters should stimulate students to think and talk about the joys and difficulties of doing quality history. I'll assign the book to my next class on historical research and writing. With this book as a guide, students will not write just another term paper; they'll know how to craft a livelier, deeper, and more revealing interpretation of the past.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must-have" guide for history majors and a useful quick-check resource for professional historians, highly recommended., July 7, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History (Hardcover)

Written by Robert C. Williams (Vail Professor of History and Dean of Faculty Emeritus, Davidson College) The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History is a reader-friendly guide for aspiring historians of all skill and experience levels. Now in an updated second edition with five new chapters, The Historian's Toolbox covers everything from how to choose a good history topic and write a solid paper, to evaluating primary, secondary, and tertiary historical sources, to format guidelines for credits and acknowledgments, to historical narrative as compared to interpretation or speculation, to even the potentials and abuses of the user-modified website Wikipedia. A "must-have" guide for history majors and a useful quick-check resource for professional historians, highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book, July 9, 2008

By 

Andrew Joseph Pegoda (Houston area, Texas, United States of America) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Historian's Toolbox: A Student's Guide to the Theory and Craft of History (Paperback)

"The Historian's Toolbox" greatly exceeded my expectations. This book covers the basics of how to research, what historians do, and the basic tools historians use. It references various books and Websites throughout. This book would greatly compliment a junior or senior level history class. Likewise it would benefit a new graduate student in history.