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1.03k reviews for:
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
James W. Loewen
4.04 AVERAGE
1.03k reviews for:
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
James W. Loewen
4.04 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
This is a dense volume of incredible knowledge that really needs to be reviewed by our governing bodies so that our entire education system and the curriculum used to teach our children can be revamped. Our history books have been written from one entirely skewed point of view since our country began and it is time for that to stop, though I do not hold much hope for that considering our government is currently rejecting the truth that is critical race theory and preventing it from being taught in our schools.
It took me 3 months to read this tome because IT.IS.SO.DENSE. But it is brilliant. I could probably reread it multiple times and pull new ideas from it each time. If you are interested in learning the truth about US history, this is a must read. It is probably a must read anyway, but I know many will be put off by the sheer volume of this book. Highly recommend.
It took me 3 months to read this tome because IT.IS.SO.DENSE. But it is brilliant. I could probably reread it multiple times and pull new ideas from it each time. If you are interested in learning the truth about US history, this is a must read. It is probably a must read anyway, but I know many will be put off by the sheer volume of this book. Highly recommend.
The way this book is written makes it easy and engaging to read. I recommended this to my sister in high school, so that she too may learn stuff that isn't commonly repeated.
This was published in 1995 and updated in 2006, so the outrages that Loewen identified may now be…well…history. (Let’s hope so, anyway.) Additionally, we’ve since seen the rise of Trumpism, MeToo, the alt-right, BLM, DeSantis and book banning, woke, the Big Lie, yadda-yadda. Have history textbooks since 2006 gotten better…or worse?
Loewen examined twelve textbooks in ‘95, and six more in ‘06. A lot of the BS in these books didn’t surprise me. Unlike most Americans, I read history: the atrocities of Columbus and the Spaniards, Pilgrim and Puritan savagery and hypocrisy, the original sin of our Indian policies, Confederate myth-making, etc. Loewen cites a number of reasons for textbook whitewashing: the attempt to foster patriotism in students at the expense of truth; a desire to avoid controversy; economic pressure to get one’s book adopted by school systems, which means appealing to the lowest common denominator; assigning the actual writing to freelancers who have little or no history expertise, then slapping a high-profile name on the cover. It all contributes to students who easily see through the patriotic cheerleading while also becoming bored with an endless repetition of facts rather than meaningful discussion and critical analysis (even if the subject might be controversial). The problem is compounded by overworked and undervalued history teachers, many of whom are themselves victims of bad history education and instruction.
The book hits hardest when Loewen shows how these textbooks sidestep critical, truthful analysis of recent history, like America’s dirty CIA coups, the Vietnam War, Iran-Contra, and our two Iraq wars. The books all parrot official Washington propaganda and paint the rosiest picture possible: America has always been, and still is, the “international good guy!” The rot here is stomach-churning.
But…and in the spirit of critical analysis…the book is way too long, particularly the last three chapters, where Loewen drags out, ad infinitum, summaries, analyses, and recommendations. He includes three tables dealing with polls during the Vietnam War that I’m still trying to wrap my head around. And in his zeal, he also makes his own historical errors: it’s extremely doubtful Gen. Sheridan made the statement “The only good Indian is a dead Indian,” and there’s no evidence that Nathan Bedford Forrest, despite murdering Union soldiers (mostly black) who had surrendered at Fort Pillow, “crucified” them or deliberately burned them alive. On page 163 he writes America’s “system of segregation spread to South Africa, Bermuda,” and China, then on page 203 writes “Antiracism is one of America’s great gifts to the world.” Seriously??
He also uses far too many exclamation points to convey his various shocks and outrages, despite shock and outrage being entirely justified.
Sadly, Loewen has since passed away. It would be great if someone else - someone qualified - could put out another update of this valuable book. Certainly historians have a lot to say about the era of Trumpism, and it’s interesting (and scary) to speculate how that era is, or will be, treated by high school social studies textbooks.
Loewen examined twelve textbooks in ‘95, and six more in ‘06. A lot of the BS in these books didn’t surprise me. Unlike most Americans, I read history: the atrocities of Columbus and the Spaniards, Pilgrim and Puritan savagery and hypocrisy, the original sin of our Indian policies, Confederate myth-making, etc. Loewen cites a number of reasons for textbook whitewashing: the attempt to foster patriotism in students at the expense of truth; a desire to avoid controversy; economic pressure to get one’s book adopted by school systems, which means appealing to the lowest common denominator; assigning the actual writing to freelancers who have little or no history expertise, then slapping a high-profile name on the cover. It all contributes to students who easily see through the patriotic cheerleading while also becoming bored with an endless repetition of facts rather than meaningful discussion and critical analysis (even if the subject might be controversial). The problem is compounded by overworked and undervalued history teachers, many of whom are themselves victims of bad history education and instruction.
The book hits hardest when Loewen shows how these textbooks sidestep critical, truthful analysis of recent history, like America’s dirty CIA coups, the Vietnam War, Iran-Contra, and our two Iraq wars. The books all parrot official Washington propaganda and paint the rosiest picture possible: America has always been, and still is, the “international good guy!” The rot here is stomach-churning.
But…and in the spirit of critical analysis…the book is way too long, particularly the last three chapters, where Loewen drags out, ad infinitum, summaries, analyses, and recommendations. He includes three tables dealing with polls during the Vietnam War that I’m still trying to wrap my head around. And in his zeal, he also makes his own historical errors: it’s extremely doubtful Gen. Sheridan made the statement “The only good Indian is a dead Indian,” and there’s no evidence that Nathan Bedford Forrest, despite murdering Union soldiers (mostly black) who had surrendered at Fort Pillow, “crucified” them or deliberately burned them alive. On page 163 he writes America’s “system of segregation spread to South Africa, Bermuda,” and China, then on page 203 writes “Antiracism is one of America’s great gifts to the world.” Seriously??
He also uses far too many exclamation points to convey his various shocks and outrages, despite shock and outrage being entirely justified.
Sadly, Loewen has since passed away. It would be great if someone else - someone qualified - could put out another update of this valuable book. Certainly historians have a lot to say about the era of Trumpism, and it’s interesting (and scary) to speculate how that era is, or will be, treated by high school social studies textbooks.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
I’m glad I listened to it as I learned a lot. But it was hard to get through
Essential content for Americans to clearly understand the commonly hidden or misrepresented pieces of their history and culture.
I have never felt compelled to write a Goodreads review until working my way through this book.
Highly recommend!
I have never felt compelled to write a Goodreads review until working my way through this book.
Highly recommend!
informative
reflective
medium-paced
My high school history classes were appalling, so I don't recall anything from them, but it was disappointing how skewed the textbooks are for the teachers who actually teach their students history. I am glad that I am into history and have read a number of books that enlighten me to what actually happened, but it's a shame that a lot of students won't know the full truth.