Historical Consciousness and Practical Life ? A Theory and Methodology

Historical Consciousness and Practical Life introduces a novel approach to examining how people construct and employ historical knowledge in their daily lives. In viewing history as an embodied cultural practice that constitutes the background to our meaning-making, the book demonstrates how researchers and others can investigate the ways in which people make sense of time&&&x2019;s flow in their now-moment engagements with the world and use that information to position themselves regarding key social problems with historical roots.

The book provides a glimpse at how humans enter historically embedded thinking problems, seeking to resolve them. Paul Zanazanian draws on a study of the community leaders of English-speaking Quebec to illustrate the practical life methodology&&&x2019;s workings. In looking at their different uses of history for strengthening their group&&&x2019;s vitality in the province, he identifies five key stances these leaders employ for positioning their sense of purpose and responsibility for securing English-speaking Quebec&&&x2019;s future. Ultimately, Historical Consciousness and Practical Life argues that community leaders who complicate and problematize their uses of history are the best positioned to make positive transformations for their group.