About:
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen is a non-fiction book in which he details what is wrong with our history books. Mr. Loewen is a sociologist who spent years studying high school textbooks of American history to find mistakes and misinformation galore.
My rating for Lies My Teacher Told Me – 5
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Thoughts:
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen is a must for every history lover out there. I could not put this book down, not only did I learn quite a few things, and enlarged my understanding of other important historical events, but I had to put the book down after almost every chapter and think of what Mr. Loewen is saying. Right or wrong is not the issue, but he raises some very disturbing points about our education system, which should be looked closely by teachers and parents alike.
The first half of the book consists of a short history lesson, not much of it new if you’re a history buff or have studied/read some history from a non-European perspective. The second half, the more interesting one, discuses the motivations and politics behind writing history books for American high-schools. The book also explores why our society values the spin more than the facts and how myths became facts.
This is a very insightful book, well thought out and makes a wonderful discussion topic among friends and other interested parties. Once you read this book, you’ll never look at history classes again and never, ever tell your kids that George Washing chopped down a Cherry tree.
Buy this book in paper or electronic format*
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got bought this book.
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Thank you so much for posting this review. It was just two days ago that I was asking my husband if he could remember the name of this book. I've been reading a lot of history nonfiction lately and remember this one being an option on my summer reading list for AP History when I was in high school. I didn't read it then, but I sure would like to go back and read it now. Thank you for giving me the exact title.
You're welcome, glad I could help.