Journal of Historial Studies
Vol. IV, No.I (January-June, 2018) PP. 117-119
117
JOHN TOSH, THE PURSUIT OF HISTORY:
AIMS, METHODS AND NEW DIRECTIONS IN
THE STUDY OF HISTORY, LONDON:
ROUTLEDGE, 2015, Pages 316.
Reviewed by
Muhammad Yasir Ali Khan
Department of History & Civilization Studies
Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan
John Tosh writes in the start of preface to the sixth edition of
the book, “The word history carries two meanings in common
parlance. It refers both to what actually happened in the past
and to the representation of that past in the work of historians.
This book is an introduction to the history in the second sense”.
This book helps the students to be aware of the historical
knowledge, sources of historical knowledge and above all
working methods of the historians. This composition enables
the students of history to develop critical historical thinking.
The whole discussion is divided into twelve chapters which can
be further categorized in three parts. The first chapter initiates
the debate by defining and explaining the historical awareness.
It describes and explains the historical awareness by going
through the academic explanation and interpretation of the
terms like „past, individual and collective memory‟. It also
explains the role of belief and sense of identity on the scope
and limitation of historical awareness. Second chapter, the uses
of history, connects the question of historical knowledge with
the explanation of uses of history based on basic concepts of
the historians involved in writing history. It explains that uses
of history are defined by the writer. Writer‟s stand point while
narrating historical knowledge lays the basis of utilization of
history. It also explains that how an impulse in the present de-
folds the past whose understand can facilitate the future.
Mapping of history, third chapter, explains the distinction and
superiority of process of history writing from the mere record
of political events. It elaborates that the major concern of
history to describe political past and its confinement to the
political utility is contested and challenged by the work of
