Why History Matters

(Hardback, 2nd edition)

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Description

Does history matter Is it anything more than entertainment And if so, what practical relevance does it have In this fully revised second edition of a seminal text, John Tosh persuasively argues that history is central to an informed and critical understanding of topical issues in the present. Including a range of contemporary examples from Brexit to child sexual abuse to the impact of the internet, this is an important and practical introduction for all students of history. Inspiring and empowering, this book provides both students and general readers with a stimulating and practical rationale for the study of history. It is essential reading for all undergraduate students of history who require an engaging introduction to the subject. New to this Edition: - Illustrative examples and case studies are fully updated - Features a postscript on British historians and Brexit - Bibliography is heavily revised

Reviews

Why History Matters is a thoughtful and thought-provoking text about history and historical thinking which challenges us to consider the power of history and the power of historians to intervene in contemporary assumptions and misguided debates. Samantha Shave, University of Lincoln, UK Tosh introduces the much-needed theory of practical historical awarenessaccurate history that can be practically applied to the present. * Heather Barry, St Josephs College New York, USA *
Why History Matters makes clear the societal benefits of critical public history, embodying John Toshs belief that historians have a duty to promote analytical engagement with the past. * Henry Irving, Leeds Beckett University, UK *

Author Bio

John Tosh is Professor of History at the University of Roehampton, UK, Visiting Professor at Birkbeck University of London and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He is well known for his introductory text The Pursuit of History (6th edition, 2015). He has also published widely on the history of masculinities in Britain, notably A Mans Place: Masculinity and the Middle-Class Home in Victorian England (2007).