- Paperback: 383 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Inc; 1st Touchstone Ed edition (Sep 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0684818868
- ISBN-13: 978-0684818863
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
136,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #57 in Books > History > Other Historical Subjects > Study & Teaching
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Product Description
Product Description
A fascinating examination of American history textbooks used in high schools across the USA. James Loewen exposes the real truths behind everything from the first Thanksgiving to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
--This text refers to the
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First Sentence
THIS CHAPTER IS ABOUT HEROIFICATION, a degenerative process (much like calcification) that makes people over into heroes. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
THIS CHAPTER IS ABOUT HEROIFICATION, a degenerative process (much like calcification) that makes people over into heroes. Read the first page
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Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Whether or not they agree with all of Loewen's analyses, most people would admit that high school American history texts are pretty boring. Loewen focuses on the problem; publishers are afraid to offend anyone, so textbooks see the government as altruistic, past leaders as cardboard heroes and US history as a constant progression towards some idealistic goal. The books tend to leave out direct quotes from speeches and other primary sources, they fail to make connections between the past and present, and they gloss over the recent past. Loewen's point is not that we have to agree with all his viewpoints but that we need to train students to think. Teachers can't do so if the entire class, by seeing history as a bunch of isolated facts to be memorized, is being put to sleep.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I am Russian. In my short lifetime (i'm 28 only) they have re-written Russian/Soviet history textbooks already two times, changing black to white arbitrarily, whatever suited the government better.
No nation wants to look bad. But producing fairy tales and lying to yourself is not a way out. And after acknowledging all sides of your heritage you are not going to be any worser. Quite the opposite, i think.
No nation wants to look bad. But producing fairy tales and lying to yourself is not a way out. And after acknowledging all sides of your heritage you are not going to be any worser. Quite the opposite, i think.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
By exposing a few areas where the most commonly used U.S. history textbooks "get it wrong" - completely wrong - and exploring the possible reasons why, Mr. Loewen has not only produced a well-written, fascinating expose, but also a well-thought-out discussion of the reasons why our history has become distorted and, in many cases, fictional. Mr. Loewen has no axe to grind, and this book will truly make you think - and also take what you read elsewhere with a grain of salt.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I was really excited about reading this book, but.....
I have just finished this book and have to wonder if I've been duped. It's a catchy title so that may have gripped me. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2008 by World Traveller
Everything You Know (And Don't Know) Is Wrong
The author's argument in this fascinating book is that high-school history textbooks in the U. S. - which he identifies as an instrument of social conservatism - should become more... Read more
Published on 7 May 2008 by Sordel
Lies My Teacher Told Me by J. Loewen. Very good.
The book "Lies my teacher told me: everything your American History Textbook got wrong" is by James W. Loewen. It covers many issues about patriotism and related topics. Read more
Published on 24 July 2007 by Rex Curry
America the beautiful
After reading this book I became more aware of things as I read them. Started questioning and not getting answers. Read more
Published on 19 July 2006 by Helen Greely
Good critique, but also well worth reading US history
Two books in one.
A critique of how history is taught in US (though I bet much of this is relevant elsewhere... Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2001 by R. J. M. Baines
Politically-correct lock-step nonsense
This hyper-politically-correct tome will win the affection of academia, with their hatred of power (real or perceived) and hostility toward the very idea of dispassionate truth. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 1999
The evidence is compelling!
This is an excellent book that should be read by every American. The references are also excellent. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 1999
the real history emerges
With all the bias that exists in our history classes, this gives a more accurate desription about American histroy and how it should be thought. Read more
Published on 29 July 1999
fascinating- makes you question what you learned
Did not bore me with needless details. This book cuts straight to the chase, debunking a lot of history which we assumed was written in stone. Read more
Published on 21 July 1999
The truth must be told.
I highly recommend this book. What I take away from it is that the need for civic myth and religion is so great that it has caused our nation's history text books to be severely... Read more
Published on 18 July 1999
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