Rating: 
Summary: If you liked this, you will also like...
Review: I would like to recommend another book that nicely complements this one, "Made in America" by Bill Bryson. Bryson is mainly a travel writer, and his works use a nice blend of astonishing facts and wry wit to capture his reader's attention. "Made in America" also takes a look at some fallacies of history as taught in American schools, and extrapolates that into a fun discourse on the genesis of American culture. Check out Bryson's works here at Amazon.com. Meanwhile, this book was a captivating read that would be great supplementary reading for history classes across the country
Rating: 
Summary: Exciting, easy-reading account of America's REAL history
Review: Written in a breezy style that makes history come alive, this book is an eye-opener for anyone who learned American history in public schools. Loewen uses primary sources -- documents written by the people involved in the events -- to show how textbooks whitewash history, turning flawed, conflicted human beings into mythic heroes, and carefully avoiding controversy and conflict. Controversy and conflict, of course, being what really shapes events
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Summary: Everything you should have learned in high school.
Review: Loewen has done the dirty work for us. He has reasearched the "facts," he has examined the common American history textbooks in use today in high schools, and he has shown the difference between the two. Beyond that, Loewen's book should be taken as opinion, and therefore does not receive the highest rating. The book's excellent treatments of national heroes like Woodrow Wilson and Christopher Columbus, the examination of racism, the discussion of the social systems and the government, and the insights as to what textbooks could do more of are beneficial. Read this book to obtain a clearer understanding of American history and the shortfalls of what high school students learn as American history. Don't just read it as another history book which can be glanced at, memorized, and forgotten, because Loewen's points stick in the mind like a needle in the eye
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Summary: Breaks down all the thought barriers that school enforces.
Review: This is one of those books that will change your outlook on society as well as everything you know. The first history book I was able to read through thoroughly without losing interest. Loewen brings to light many facts that are often... obscured by by general consensus
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Summary: A must read for all!!
Review: This book is an astonishing, close-up look at the misrepresentation of American history in classical textbooks as well as in the classroom. It sheds light on lost, misinterpreted, and outright ignored facts about many of the people whom we've been taught to admire in our history. You do not know the truth until you read this book
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Summary: A stunning look at lies we were all taught in history class.
Review: This book surprised me with the amount of things I still didnot know. I consider myself well informed and I read deeply about somany of the lies we are fed in this society. Still it is quite a page turner from the first story to the next. Ok, here is a pop quiz, what did Helen Keller do? I have been asking my friends this question since I read this book. I'll give you a hint, she did a whole lot more than the little lie story you learned in school! You will be glad you read this book and want to buy copies for all of your friends that like to be well informed in this age of misinformation. Dance in the Light, We need it Now!
Rating:
Summary: A good kick at the closed door of thought
Review: Anyone who thinks that they know the truth needs this primer to iconoclasm, a key source for anyone who believes Christopher Columbus was a "dreamer", that racism is "getting better", that Native Americans "died out", or that America is a democracy. If that's not enough to merit a reading, it's also entertaining in a non-academic way
Rating:
Summary: Eye-opening book although missing a little bit.
Review: I thought this was an excellent book because it sparked my interest and held it for the duration of the book. This book really opened my eyes as to some of the blatant and ridiculous omissions in the textbooks our children are learning from. It is also an excellent history book in it's own right. In addition, it is a true scholarly work that is impeccably footnoted and indexed. It also contains concrete suggestions for what can be done in order to ameliorate the current sad situation. The only reason I don't think this book deserves a 10 is because as the author admits in the final chapter there is far too little emphasis or even mention of Latino peoples history in this country as well as only passing references to the women's liberation movement. But this is only a small omission in an otherwise fine book.
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Summary: An excellent critique of American high school history texts
Review: Loewen reviews many of the American history textbooks most
commonly used in high school classrooms in recent decades.
In varying degrees they all fail in the important task of teaching history objectively and in an interesting manner.
Students come away with the false notion that American history
is one long boring epic tale of unblemished heroes who have contributed to the glorious nation in which we now have undiluted pride. Any negative notes are either ignored or downplayed as mere aberrations. With this kind of understanding
of history, it is little wonder that Americans are
constantly surprised by scandal and so easily misled by our "leaders". Every conscientious teacher, parent and citizen ought to read this book and work to reform the teaching of history in his/her school district.
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Summary: Read the whole thing.
Review: If when reading this book, you find that the author is completely one sided and biased, it's because you didn't read the next paragraph. The author shows the liberal view first, and gives the reader credit to keep reading to see the conservative side. Although I believe the topics and conclusions are largely liberal, they are fair and well balanced. I don't believe there is much to argue here.If you don't think the history referenced in this book is accurate, you are free to research it yourself. The author does not claim to use any secret sources. For instance, the author mentions that early european settlers dug up and ate dead native americans. I don't know where his source is for this, but I wouldn't be surprised if that source turned out to be primary source material. Whether or not the primary source is accurate, or corroborated, would also require more research. It would be embarrassing if the author just made it up, and judging by the topic of the book, counter-productive. Do yourself a favor and read the whole thing. Don't stop short like your teacher did with your history book.
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