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alexandracross 's review for:
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
by James W. Loewen
I loved this book, especially the first third and the last third. If you've read my previous reviews on history related books, you'd know that I'm frequently shocked at what wasn't taught in school. If I were to go back to the beginning of my Goodreads "You Oughta Know" journey, I would have started with this book as it provided a solid foundation.
One particular topic/issue Loewen addressed was the disconnect between adults and current issues. Since many of us didn't learn later than the Vietnam War (I know I didn't), we struggle to comprehend the current issues we face today. How can we solve our current issues if we don't know how they began? Or our complicated and shameful hidden past? Or our relationships with foreign nations? I feel like I just recently began to understand the War on Iraq and that's taken at least three or four books to get a grasp on it.
If I'm being entirely honest, there's quite a few things I still don't know, even after getting a bachelors. And let it be known, history was my favorite class. Like Desert Storm? No idea. The Korean War? I couldn't give you the decade. What policies did Bush or Reagan or Clinton implement? I'm trying!
I've been thinking long and hard about that issue - where we (I) don't understand our (the US) extensive past. With the current election, it seems like everyone knows exactly what's going on. I'm just sitting here like
...how do you all know what's going on and what's happened? And so confidently?
Which reminds me of another issue Loewen talked about - our aim to be so certain about our nation's history. Textbooks and teachers desire to have a single, solid answer to everything when in actuality most of history is up to interpretation. There's usually several theories or several causes to historical events. Loewen believes that being honest to students with our uncertainity would lead to greater curiosity and classroom discussions, as well as having a better grasp on how to solve big issues when students become nation leaders. (But alas wouldn't that make multiple choice question tests more difficult?? /s)
The last topic that caught my attention was on corporations. Loewen explains that some corporations are so wealthy and globally spread out that they're essentially their own nations. I had never thought of that. Corporations can have more money than entire nations??? I guess it's obvious when I think about it, but never had I taken it into serious consideration. He also explained how the US will intervene in foreign elections and promote chaos if it benefits a corporation. Who knew 16 years of education would keep such fun facts out of the classroom? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
My flaws with the book - I thought the middle was quite dry. Also, I am not sure I agree with his theory that the most educated are the most hawkish on foreign policy. But maybe it's because I think I'm educated when in reality I'm not because I wasted 16 years being taught a bunch of shit I have to unlearn ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Overall, I very much recommend this book and wish I had a history book club to be part of.
Also s/o to anyone who actually reads my reviews lol
One particular topic/issue Loewen addressed was the disconnect between adults and current issues. Since many of us didn't learn later than the Vietnam War (I know I didn't), we struggle to comprehend the current issues we face today. How can we solve our current issues if we don't know how they began? Or our complicated and shameful hidden past? Or our relationships with foreign nations? I feel like I just recently began to understand the War on Iraq and that's taken at least three or four books to get a grasp on it.
If I'm being entirely honest, there's quite a few things I still don't know, even after getting a bachelors. And let it be known, history was my favorite class. Like Desert Storm? No idea. The Korean War? I couldn't give you the decade. What policies did Bush or Reagan or Clinton implement? I'm trying!
I've been thinking long and hard about that issue - where we (I) don't understand our (the US) extensive past. With the current election, it seems like everyone knows exactly what's going on. I'm just sitting here like
...how do you all know what's going on and what's happened? And so confidently?
Which reminds me of another issue Loewen talked about - our aim to be so certain about our nation's history. Textbooks and teachers desire to have a single, solid answer to everything when in actuality most of history is up to interpretation. There's usually several theories or several causes to historical events. Loewen believes that being honest to students with our uncertainity would lead to greater curiosity and classroom discussions, as well as having a better grasp on how to solve big issues when students become nation leaders. (But alas wouldn't that make multiple choice question tests more difficult?? /s)
The last topic that caught my attention was on corporations. Loewen explains that some corporations are so wealthy and globally spread out that they're essentially their own nations. I had never thought of that. Corporations can have more money than entire nations??? I guess it's obvious when I think about it, but never had I taken it into serious consideration. He also explained how the US will intervene in foreign elections and promote chaos if it benefits a corporation. Who knew 16 years of education would keep such fun facts out of the classroom? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
My flaws with the book - I thought the middle was quite dry. Also, I am not sure I agree with his theory that the most educated are the most hawkish on foreign policy. But maybe it's because I think I'm educated when in reality I'm not because I wasted 16 years being taught a bunch of shit I have to unlearn ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Overall, I very much recommend this book and wish I had a history book club to be part of.
Also s/o to anyone who actually reads my reviews lol