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As a retired teacher and still a ravenous reader of the past and present, I found the "Lies My Teacher Told Me" interesting and highly informative. I found the "plague" section that reduced the population of the Native Americans highly disturbing yet closely related to all of the talk of today about 'population reduction' and 'over population'. It seems the power group in charge always has 'God' on their side while ex[terminating any group the power structure wants to eliminate. This absolves them of any guilt or shame with their treatment of these 'subhumans and heathens'. The times have changed but the tactics and methods remain tried and true. I always marveled at how fellow teachers could spend weeks and weeks on the Revolutionary War and Civil War but allow little time and background to the two major wars of the Twentieth Century. Then, they completely skipped the last fifty years! They just 'couldn't get to it'! The author explains that well. Current memories, no matter how foggy, blur the facts of the present, while nostalgic fantasies of the past present themselves as facts, needed to be memorized and regurgitated.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This book is much more an indictment against historical teaching than it is being about American history. There is also a heavy slant against the "white narrative" that this author believes to be reason that American History is portrayed so poorly. This book is as much an allegation of "white oppression' as it is about the problem the author has with what he believes to be the problem with American Historical curriculum. If you are looking for a book about history, discover something else and pass on this book.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This book is well written, easy to follow, and paints an entirely different picture of the history of America. One of the reasons it stands out is that the author does a good job at not becoming biased. He states that history textbooks are incorrect, and glamorize our history while omitting anything controversial, but then gives reasons why it happens. The problem is more than just bad textbook companies. He explains things like how brutal Christopher Columbus was, how he slaughtered thousands, and made life miserable for Indian and African American slaves - but then points out that this is not much different than the history of many other countries. What he points out is that while our history is much darker than we know, it was normal for the time. Christopher COlumbus was not the most evil person of his day - but he was also no saint, and we should all learn the truth of what happened, good and bad. He also points out that History 'is not facts, it is furious debate'. He points out many things are not 100% proven, but that the evidence points to other answers etc etc. And lastly, he makes a strong case that if students were to learn the REAL history of America, we would not be so Ethnocentric, and would be a little humbled. And that is good for society, while teaching our kids that our history is exemplary, and Good, and that we have always been better than other countries is just plain bad for our society. Not to mention, it is a lot more interesting to read the other half of our history, and to find out that many things are still debated, to this day. Great book overall, I would recommend it to anyone.Read full review
It's hilarious to read how the Pilgrims robbed the Indians of corn, beans, etc, and even stripped a corpse in a grave. Many similar examples -- which were left out of the textbooks. Reading what happened is more fun than the "sanitized" version of history we and our kids got. The book reinforced my opinion that history is what historians write that it is, and there are controversies we never hear about.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Not the most entertaining book I've ever read (a bit more like a textbook), but definitely one of the most educationally interesting. I continually find myself being amazed. 😳
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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