To be fair, it's not the teachers that are lying necessarily, or intentionally, but certainly many textbooks.Before I get into this review, a couple of disclaimers, if I may.Before I get into this review, a couple of disclaimers, if I may.This biggest reason I'm rating this book so high is that it was so thought-provoking. (Conservative critics were particularly irritated with this passage from Lies My Teacher Told Me, and singled it out in their negative book reviews.) Mankind is basically crap and have always treated each other badly and then lied about it.
", Jon WienerThe Nation"One of the virtues of Loewen's book is that in addition to highlighting some subjects the textbooks neglect, he also examines the topics they emphasize. Have a good summer kids!). ", Publishers Weekly"Readers interested in history, whether liberal or conservative, professional or layperson, will find food for thought here. From outdated textbooks to gross distortions of basic events and major figures, Loewen exposes readers to a … I don't/can't.
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James Loewen takes a look at some of our shared national history, primarily through the lens of the textbook. Why does pretty much everybody hate this class? Unsurprisingly, they all presented a very sanitized and rosy view of American history. He goes into too much depth in the first two chapters making the same point over and over again, while quickly and concisely exploring more current history, which again is the same criticism he makes of the textbooks he attacks.
(12/17)“The antidote to feel-good history is not feel-bad history but honest and inclusive history.”“In sum, U.S. history is no more violent and oppressive than the history of England, Russia, Indonesia, or Burundi - but neither is it exceptionally less violent.” History magically "ended" at WWII; we always assumed that it just coinsided with the end of the school year (oops - "no time" to discuss anything after! For the rest of us in the non-USA this book is just as important because it serves as a guide to understand why Americans are so remarkably ignorant or ill-informed about their history. As "they say" history repeats itself.When I started this book, I thought it would be along the lines of "your teacher told you this...but this is what happened..." You know like "hey columbus didn't discover the new world...blah blah blah" and there was some of that.When I started this book, I thought it would be along the lines of "your teacher told you this...but this is what happened..." You know like "hey columbus didn't discover the new world...blah blah blah" and there was some of that.teachers, people interested in history/politics/education systemThe thesis of the book is interesting and well supported, however, I found it pretty dry which was disappointing considering a main point Loewen makes is that Middle School/High School History books are too boring. I also thing the extreme liberal tone of the book took aThe thesis of the book is interesting and well supported, however, I found it pretty dry which was disappointing considering a main point Loewen makes is that Middle School/High School History books are too boring.
Despite my criticism I found the book very thought provoking and relevant.
In addition, his judgments are too broad. Who remembers liking history and who can remember what they learned? In doing so, Loewen conveys the idea that history isn’t a rigid, agreed-upon set of facts, but rather a constant process of interpretation, reflecting the biases of the historians themselves.
Loewen begins with the premise that the Civil War was waged due in large part because of slavery in the Southern states, and cites the reasons that the Southern states actually gave when they seceded. But that, of course, is not quite as bombastic a title and you probably wouldn't read the book, would you?James Loewen reviews the history books commonly used in the US public school system and the factual inaccuracies contained in those books.
As a result, we don't get any instruction in critiquing American actions of the past.
Despite this, pre-1970 textbooks emphasize such causes as tariff disagreements and an idealistic commitment to states’ rights.