A Companion to the Study of History

By Michael Stanford

Book Overview

This book guides students through all the central historical concepts, theories, methods and problems confronting those engaged in the serious study of history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0631181598
• ISBN13: 9780631181590
• Release Date: June 1994
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Necessary reading for anyone in education

Stanford's book is necessary for anyone in any sort of education -- not just social studies. Stanford takes through a course on the nature, meaning, importance, and utility of history and social studies. His clarity and genius in pointing out the ways in which the same information can be interpreted differently by several people will be very useful to anyone who has been commissioned to convey information, inspiration, and inferential and analytical prowess to young people. This is a book that makes you think ... and makes thinking fun.

A Lesson in Historical Thinking

This book introduces readers to the craft of historical thinking, which isn't necessarily natural. Stanford's real life examples from history help to shed light on the nature of DOING history. With chapter titles such as, "History as Action", "History as Outlook", "History as Discourse", "History as Event", etc., it is a must have for all professional and amateur historians, for future history teachers, and generally for anyone who wants to learn to interpret and understanding the past for themselves. Stanford helps the reader to understand the philosophical and technical aspects of constructing history, thereby demystifying the craft. And he does so in a language that is user friendly, with real world historical examples to illustrate the particular problem, concept, or point under discussion. I have used many of the concepts in this book to teach both college and high school students how to approach and critically analyze historical documents. As a practicing historian, teacher, and critical reader, this is one of the top 5 books I would reach for if my house were on fire. Get it.

The '"class" EVERY undergrad history student ...

... SHOULD be required to take. If I had taken a class or read this book at the BEGINNING of getting my degree in history I would have had the tools I needed to actually remember all the stuff they threw at me. As it is, I am in the process of reading this book so that I can relearn history, organize history in a way that others can learn it so that I can THEN teach secondary students how to teach themselves history. This book offers so much to students of history and philosophy I cannot begin to put into words what it has meant to me. There is a "new" wave of public ed reform that stresses teaching concepts before details. This book is a storehouse of well organized, well written and clearly stated concepts that I can and will use to help kids learn to USE and APPRECIATE history--imagine that! THANK YOU Dr. Stanford... where ever you are. I will be picking up your philosophy of history book with my Christmas money this year.