The Pursuit of History: Aims, Methods and New Directions in the Study of Modern History [Paperback]

John Tosh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 1984 | ISBN-10: 0582492181 | ISBN-13: 978-0582492189

This study examines questions about historians and their work; Why do we study history? How do we construct our knowledge of the past? What are the limitations of historical evidence? and What different kinds of history are being written today?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviews of the previous Edition:'This is exactly the kind of book to recommend warmly to any student wanting a general introduction to the discipline of history. It is highly accessible and could as easily be handled by the general reader wanting to know what is happening to history today.' British Book News 'Tosh provides an excellent introduction to methodology in history which will be read with advantage by historians at any stage of their development.' History '...admirably up-to-date, well-researched and written with the kind of brio which might alone suggest that history is exciting...The judgements are individual and sometimes controversial but there is no better tour d'horizon on the market.' Journal of African History 'Tosh writes clearly and pungently...a very satisfactory as well as stimulating vade-mecum for all who work at history.' Times Higher Education Supplement --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

¿This is exactly the kind of book to recommend warmly to any student wanting a general introduction to the discipline of history. It is highly accessible and could as easily be handled by the general reader wanting to know what is happening to history today.'
British Book News

¿Tosh provides an excellent introduction to methodology in history which will be read with advantage by historians at any stage of their development.'
History

¿...admirably up-to-date, well-researched and written with the kind of brio which might alone suggest that history is exciting....The judgements are individual and sometimes controversial but there is no better tour d'horizon on the market.'
Journal of African History

'Tosh writes clearly and pungently...a very satisfactory as well as stimulating vade-mecum for all who work at history.'
Times Higher Education Supplement

This titmely Revised Edition of The Pursuit of History examines important questions about historians and their work:

· Why do we study history?
· What use is it?
· How do we construct our knowledge of the past?
· Can we apply to history the methods and objectives of the social sciences?
· What are the limitations of historical evidence?
· What different kinds of history are being written today?
History is more relevant and popular today than ever. John Tosh¿s guide is the essential and accessible introduction to every aspect of the practice of history.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Longman (October 8, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0582492181
• ISBN-13: 978-0582492189
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,759,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tosh explains an often obtuse topic well, January 6, 2004

By 

Marc Comtois (Rhode Island, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pursuit of History: Aims, Methods and New Directions in the Study of Modern History (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

Early in his book, Tosh explains that "[h]ow the past is known and how it is applied to present need are open to widely varying approaches." 'Pursuit of History' is a solid effort by Tosh to trace the origins of historical study and the methodologies that have evolved over time. He explains the difference between popular history and academic history and explains the importance of the latter. The first half of the book is dedicated to showing how historians should properly do their work, including how to find and use sources as well as how to write and interpret historical findings. All are well covered. The second half of the book is much more philosophical in tone. Tosh tackles a number of questions relating to objectivity, true knowledge and the reliability of so-called facts. Simply put, he describes the battle between those who believe history is a cumulative discipline and those who view it as a relative and interpretive exercise as well as all of those with positions in between. Most importantly, he defends the discipline's viability and importance against those who attack it, including the postmodernists (though he doesn't dismiss all of the postmodernist contributions to the field). His notes and references are plentiful and he is fair with each of the "schools" of history.