The Pursuit of History: Aims, Methods and New Directions in the Study of History

by John Tosh

This classic introduction to the study of history invites the reader to stand back and consider some of its most fundamental questions - what is the point of studying history? How do we know about the past? Does an objective historical truth exist and can we ever access it?

In answering these central questions, John Tosh argues that, despite the impression of fragmentation created by postmodernism in recent years, history is a coherent discipline which still bears the imprint of its nineteenth-century origins. Consistently clear-sighted, he provides a lively and compelling guide to a complex and sometimes controversial subject, while making his readers vividly aware of just how far our historical knowledge is conditioned by the character of the sources and the methods of the historians who work on them.

The sixth edition has been revised and updated with key new material including:

- a brand new chapter on public history

- sections on digitised sources and historical controversy

- discussion of topics including transnational history and the nature of the archive

- an expanded range of examples and case studies

- a comprehensive companion website providing valuable supporting material, study questions and a bank of primary sources.

Lucid and engaging, this edition retains all the user-friendly features that have helped to make this book a favourite with both students and lecturers, including marginal glosses, illustrations and suggestions for further reading. Along with its companion website, this is an essential guide to the theory and practice of history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Academic, School, Grad School, Politics, Read For School

316 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 1984

About the author

John A. Tosh is a British historian and Professor Emeritus of History at Roehampton University. He gained his BA at the University of Oxford and his MA at the University of Cambridge. He was awarded his PhD by the University of London in 1973; his thesis topic being "Political Authority among the Langi of Northern Uganda, circa 1800–1939". He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. In 1987–88, he held a visiting appointment at the University of California, Davis. At Roehampton University, he teaches History, specifically "Reading and Writing History". He served as Vice-President of the Royal Historical Society from 1999 to 2002. He has also published several works on the history of masculinity in nineteenth-century Britain. He is currently preparing a critical analysis of the social applications of historical perspective in contemporary Britain.
Tosh's claim to originality and notability rests largely on his work as a historian and historiographer. Since the turn of the millennium, he has taken a leading role as a public historian in developing the history of masculinity and ensuring it has become an important dimension of social and cultural history. He has shown how domesticity, previously regarded as an aspect of women's history, also conditioned and influenced the lives of men and society. As a historiographer, he has updated the way we look at the study of history and how we construct our knowledge of the past, as well as providing insight into the works of other historians and their impact on the study of the subject.
He is the father of philosopher Nick Tosh.

Reviews

[Will Connelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Out of all the books on history philosophy and methods, this is one of them. Terribly written, horribly patronizing, and the fact he felt as if he had to give definitions to his intended audience only made matters worse. Let's be honest, folks who are likely being forced to read this book probably know the definition of words like "trajectory," "chimera," or "diaspora." He rambles on and often loses his point within his own hubris. The examples he provides are often confusing and completely misplaced. As Eurocentric as this book is, I am half suprised that Tosh didn't choose to have the Union Jack on the cover. If I never read Tosh again, it will still be too soon.

[Joran · Rating 2 out of 5]

niet echt helemaal gelezen maar dan zien mijn goodreads-statistieken er in 2022 net iets beter uit

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the books does give an overview of various fields of history, it is hopelessly out of date and patronizing. It defines words and events in the margins. Things like Third Reich, empathy, etc. Definitely wouldn't be reading it if the professor didn't assign exam questions on specific passages.

[Stuart B. Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written introduction to the subject arranged in clear thematic chapters
Has run through more editions than most of us have had hot dinners. As a tutor this means its shelf life as text book is limited as each edition sees slight rearrangements of themes, chapters and pagination and courses have to be restructured accordingly

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to the study of history.

Yes, I am that boring.

[Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

geef ik dit boek 1 ster enkel en alleen omdat ik het moest lezen voor een vak en studeren voor datzelfde vak verschrikkelijk vond?
misschien

[Iris Veestraeten · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5

[Salvatore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tosh presents good information on historical writing, history and theory. However his writing style is convoluted and hard to understand at times.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have any kind of research experience in the history field, this book may seem irrelevant. It did to me.

[CEK]

Read the 6th edition - excellent primer on historical research methodologies.

[Gareth Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-reading for a university course that admits students with a variety of backgrounds. For such a readership, I think it does a good job. The coverage is broad, not excessively details and seems quite even handed.

I note some reviewers criticised the margin notes as being patronising. I understand this view, but I feel that these would be helpful to some readers, especially those whose background in European, and specifically, British, history was not as complete as a British reader. I have to say that I found some of them helpful.

Overall, it’s the sort of primer that is helpful to get students to a consistent level.

[Farah Mendlesohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was first published in 1984. I first read it in 1987 as an undergraduate.

I can’t tell you how depressing it is to read a 2010 text in which non white/ non male historians are quoted only when they are (so to speak) staying in their own lane. (CV Wedgwood is an exception but first, Tosh uses the English Civil War as one of his test topics throughout, and second she’s too big a name to exclude).

This doesn’t invalidate the basic value of the book, but it deserves to be treated with the same critical eye for which it argues.

[Antony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of historical methods. Could only be improved by the inclusion of something of the sense of how to assemble material, identify key themes, and avoid fallacies (refer David Fischer's "Historians' Fallacies").

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

2011 - OU Degree

2016 - Masters - Uni of Dundee

[Emilija · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is interesting and I’m glad that I had to read it during my history degree, but it is incredibly patronising and can be a bit difficult to get through at times.

[Sinan Öner]

İngiliz Tarih Profesörü John Tosh'un yazdığı "Tarihin Peşinde: Modern Tarih Çalışmasında Hedefler, Yöntemler ve Yeni Doğrultular" kitabı, Tarih Vakfı Yurt Yayınları tarafından yıllar önce yayınlanmıştı! John Tosh, kitabında, bugünkü "Tarihyazımı"nın neredeyse tüm niteliklerini, ilkelerini ve pratik tekniklerini ayrıntıları ile anlatmış. John Tosh, Tarihçi'nin tarih araştırmaları yaparken kullanacağı teknikleri, "tarih malzemeleri" ile ("sözlü" ve "yazılı" "tarih malzemeleri") çalışma tekniklerini, tarih yazarken uygulayacağı yöntemleri kitabında çeşitli bölümlerde inceliyor ve okurları ile tartışıyor. "Tarihyazımı"nın "birincil ve ikincil kaynaklar"la tarih biliminin geliştirdiği ve Tarihçinin kullandığı yöntemlerle ve tekniklerle çalışmaktan ibâret olduğu kavrandığında, John Tosh'un kitabını okumak daha yararlı ve kolay bir okumadır. John Tosh, "basit" gibi görünen - "birincil ve ikincil kaynaklar"la çalışmak açısından- "tarihyazımı"nın modern dünyada daha "karmaşık" bir entelektüel araştırma ile geliştiğini ve "tarihyazımı"nın bir bilim olduğunun daha iyi kavrandığını yazıyor.

[Angelina Lambros · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for anyone interested in history as a discipline. It discusses historical awareness, how history is used, archival material, and how sources are used. It also explains how historians write and interpret, and gives reasons to why historical knowledge is limited. It describes the influence that social theory has had on views of history. It explains how cultural history, with a widening definition of culture, has become more prominent in recent years, and how political history no longer dominates. It discusses gender and postcolonial history. It also describes the phenomenon of social/collective memory in societies, and the extent to the usefulness of oral histories.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A varied introduction to the academic study of history, looking at the growth of different aspects of methodology and how the study of the subject has developed over the last two hundred years. I found Tosh a little difficult to engage with as an author: he starts off simply enough but his writing style does become convoluted as the book goes on, and he's not quite as clear-headed as some other writers on the topic. Nonetheless, this is a useful read for anyone interested in studying the discipline.

[papasha41 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitap özellikle "raw materials" ve "main themes" bölümleriyle öne çıkıyor. Dediğim konularda bir referans olarak kullanılabilir ama onun dışında önermiyorum. Dili çok ağır değil, bir şekilde tarih öğrencilerine mutlaka okutuyorlar. zarar gelmez ama Carr'ın "What is History"si ile karşılaştırılabilir olduğunu düşünmüyorum.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually, this book is good for those are studying history. However, I think some content is disorder. Its most instances make me confuced. I often cannot find the connection between its opinions to instances.

[Samwise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. I made a lot of notes.

[Amanda Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

After being recommended this book, I was expecting good things. Sadly, it was quite the opposite. It was dry, tedious and a difficult read. It was a struggle getting through each chapter. I gave up in the end before the penultimate chapter. I would not recommend this book.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introductory overview of the field and practices of history, updated to include several recent developments and to address current controversies.

[Rachel DeWeese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of the study of history and how to properly pursue it!

[Madison · Rating 1 out of 5]

He's got some good stuff, I'm sure, but he literally could not keep my attention. I just...no. Sorry. Not my cup of tea.

[Storm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read for a grad school class. Not edited well and the author rambles weirdly with oddly placed definitions. The content studied in the book could have been found in a more professional place.

[Ryan Moore]

If I had to read this for a class then it counts towards my reading goal idc!

[Nick L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still don’t know what historical postmodernism is.

[Litfahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be mandatory reading for every student of history. Tosh gives a great primer on the tools of the discipline.

[Daniel Petrides · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I must agree with the reviewer who found all of the glossings a touch patronising, they are but a small detraction from what is otherwise and excellent book on what, in my opninion, is both a most interesting and important part of history. Whereas many historians have written books of the subject that are essentially manifestos for their own viewpoint (among them G.R. Elton and E.H. Carr) Tosh here aims to be complete even handed and instead provides an overview of key issues involved in historiography.