This fully revised second edition of a seminal textbook persuasively argues that history is central to an informed and critical understanding of topical issues in the present. Updated with contemporary examples, this is an important and practical introduction for all students of history.

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

"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 awareness—accurate history that can be practically applied to the present." - Heather Barry, St Joseph’s College New York, USA

"Why History Matters makes clear the societal benefits of critical public history, embodying John Tosh’s belief that historians have a duty to promote analytical engagement with the past." - Henry Irving, Leeds Beckett University, UK