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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
This is a fantastic look at the misinformation spread in your average history or social studies class. I knew American history was racist, but sometimes its impressive just HOW racist it was. I recommend this book for EVERYONE!
The author reviews a number of high school text books, critiquing them for accuracy, then writes about the difference between what is written in the text book versus what actually took place. From Colombia to the War in Iraq he takes a critical view of how history is taught. The later chapters discuss why text books are written this way and the damage it has on kids.
This is a textbook. I learned so much about history and it made me think about the accuracy of what is passed on and why. Overall it was heady, thoughtful, and intriguing, but loooooooooong and I needed to take breaks to get through.
This is a textbook. I learned so much about history and it made me think about the accuracy of what is passed on and why. Overall it was heady, thoughtful, and intriguing, but loooooooooong and I needed to take breaks to get through.
This book was published in 1996, before elementary schools had computers, before Wikipedia was the starting point for every high-schooler's research paper, before life as we now know it began. But, my history classes were taught from books published before 1996, and my teachers were educated before then. If it weren't for my need to read-all-things-published, my exposure to history might have ended where most Americans does, at graduation.
Loewen spent a decade reviewing 12 popular high school history textbooks, and published his findings. He makes a fair case for the idea that our history books don't tell the whole story, and in some cases, don't tell the truth.
If you graduated from high school longer than 10 years ago, you'll be as fascinated as I was to learn the dark side of our national heros. Yes, I knew Jefferson owned slaves, but I didn't know Betsy Ross didn't sew the flag, and I didn't know there was a plague that wiped out an entire tribe leaving only Squanto to help the Pilgrims plant that corn, and I didn't know Pilgrim was a made-up term. As a matter of fact, there was a lot I didn't know ...
Worth picking up if you're remotely interested in US History, or in education, or have children.
Loewen spent a decade reviewing 12 popular high school history textbooks, and published his findings. He makes a fair case for the idea that our history books don't tell the whole story, and in some cases, don't tell the truth.
If you graduated from high school longer than 10 years ago, you'll be as fascinated as I was to learn the dark side of our national heros. Yes, I knew Jefferson owned slaves, but I didn't know Betsy Ross didn't sew the flag, and I didn't know there was a plague that wiped out an entire tribe leaving only Squanto to help the Pilgrims plant that corn, and I didn't know Pilgrim was a made-up term. As a matter of fact, there was a lot I didn't know ...
Worth picking up if you're remotely interested in US History, or in education, or have children.
This is probably one of the most informative, fascinating, and disturbing books I’ve ever read. I would encourage everyone, not just Americans curious about history and dissatisfied with their education in that topic, to read this book.
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
It took me a long time to chug through it but it was worth it!
I truly do not get the high reviews. As a librarian, history major, and lover of social sciences I was excited for this book but found it truly boring. If this was the young readers' version I really would have hated to see the original. The writing was extremely condescending. Some of the criticisms of textbooks are fair, but it is unfair to blame teachers for the curriculum they are asked to teach.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Loewen was probably one of the first to look at American history and education in revisionist terms; the book frst came out in '95. I liked that he didn't give a whitewashed version or pick and choose what to cover. He chose what to cover based on what evidence and his experience indicated was lacking, basing it on topics that are most likely to be mythologized or simply lied about.
The format of the book was great, starting with an example of hero worship gave the lens in which hed be looking at other events. The last few chapters covered the why and how of bad textbooks after the bulk of the books discussed the what/when/who.
The format of the book was great, starting with an example of hero worship gave the lens in which hed be looking at other events. The last few chapters covered the why and how of bad textbooks after the bulk of the books discussed the what/when/who.
I have had this on my shelf for a very long time, so I am finally going to read it.
I'm reread this because it's my book group's choice. It's just as good as I remember.
The title is a bait and switch, he doesn't blame teachers so much as the obstinate history textbook industry that perpetuates myths. To wit: Columbus thought the world is flat, was the first to the Americas, was a non-heinous chap.
History textbooks are probably where the term "white-washed" came to mean the intentional removal of people of color from the narrative of history. There are chapters a-plenty on how children are being brought up with a skewed view of peoples of color's role in shaping this country.
When I got to the chapter on him, I googled Squanto because I want to read more. But the first book that comes up when I search for biographies on Squanto a book on Red Cloud? Also, why is the only adult bio I found that was not a kids book published in 1965?
Also, also, is that what happens when you try to perputuate a Euro-centric history of America?
The last thing I'll say about this book comes from the first chapter: hero worshipping our forefathers and erasing their flaws does them, and us a disservice. No one is perfect, Lincoln had his racist moment yet is still The Great Emancipator; Wilson got us through WWI but successfully ousted all people of color from the Federal government. Flaws don't invalidate good deeds and good deeds don't invalid flaws. We're only human and therefor err.
The title is a bait and switch, he doesn't blame teachers so much as the obstinate history textbook industry that perpetuates myths. To wit: Columbus thought the world is flat, was the first to the Americas, was a non-heinous chap.
History textbooks are probably where the term "white-washed" came to mean the intentional removal of people of color from the narrative of history. There are chapters a-plenty on how children are being brought up with a skewed view of peoples of color's role in shaping this country.
When I got to the chapter on him, I googled Squanto because I want to read more. But the first book that comes up when I search for biographies on Squanto a book on Red Cloud? Also, why is the only adult bio I found that was not a kids book published in 1965?
Also, also, is that what happens when you try to perputuate a Euro-centric history of America?
The last thing I'll say about this book comes from the first chapter: hero worshipping our forefathers and erasing their flaws does them, and us a disservice. No one is perfect, Lincoln had his racist moment yet is still The Great Emancipator; Wilson got us through WWI but successfully ousted all people of color from the Federal government. Flaws don't invalidate good deeds and good deeds don't invalid flaws. We're only human and therefor err.