Lies My Teacher Told Me
Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
By James W. Loewen
(Touchstone, Paperback, 9780743296281, 464pp.)
Publication Date: October 16, 2007
Other Editions of This Title: Paperback, Hardcover, Hardcover
Categories: Historiography, Study & Teaching, United States - General
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Americans have lost touch with their history, and in Lies My Teacher Told Me Professor James Loewen shows why. After surveying eighteen leading high school American history texts, he has concluded that not one does a decent job of making history interesting or memorable. Marred by an embarrassing combination of blind patriotism, mindless optimism, sheer misinformation, and outright lies, these books omit almost all the ambiguity, passion, conflict, and drama from our past.
In this revised edition, packed with updated material, Loewen explores how historical myths continue to be perpetuated in today's climate and adds an eye-opening chapter on the lies surrounding 9/11 and the Iraq War. From the truth about Columbus's historic voyages to an honest evaluation of our national leaders, Loewen revives our history, restoring the vitality and relevance it truly possesses.
Thought provoking, nonpartisan, and often shocking, Loewen unveils the real America in this iconoclastic classic beloved by high school teachers, history buffs, and enlightened citizens across the country.
James W. Loewen is the bestselling author of Lies My Teacher Told Me and Lies Across America. He is a regular contributor to the History Channel's History magazine and is a professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Vermont. He resides in Washington, D.C.
"Every teacher, every student of history, every citizen should read this book. It is both a refreshing antidote to what has passed for history in our educational system and a one-volume education in itself." -- Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States
"An extremely convincing plea for truth in education." -- Mary Mackey, San Francisco Chronicle
"Remarkable." -- USA Today
"A lively critique." -- The New York Times
"Powerful and important...deserves to become an instant classic." -- The Washington Post Book World
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