Monday, January 18, 2010
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Winner of the American Book Award and the Oliver C. Cox
Anti-Racism Award of The American Sociological Association
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.
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By Miguel B. Llora (Bay Point, California USA)
According to James Loewen, Americans have lost a sense of perspective vis-à-vis our history and in Lies My Teacher Told Me he attempts to explain why (Loewen, Lies My Teacher Told Me 11-17). After completing a read of eighteen leading high school American history texts, his assessment is that all have failed to make history interesting, much less relevant, to high school students (Loewen, Lies My Teacher Told Me 21). From the truth about Columbus's historic voyages (Loewen, Lies My Teacher Told Me 37-74) to an honest assessment of our national leaders - such as Woodrow Wilson and Helen Keller (Loewen, Lies My Teacher Told Me 21), Loewen revisits our history, restoring the verve and relevance it truly deserves (Loewen, Lies My Teacher Told Me 286-291). Saddled with a mixture of bland patriotism, mindless optimism, sheer misinformation, and outright lies; according to Loewen, all the books surveyed leave out almost all the ambiguity, passion, conflict, and drama from our past - and they fail to ask students questions that they can come with answers to themselves Loewen, Lies My Teacher Told Me 18-36). The problem, according to Loewen is systemic Loewen (Lies My Teacher Told Me 271-297 and 312-318). Loewen argues historical myths (not to mention outright errors) continue to be perpetuated in today's overwhelmed teaching scenario Loewen (Lies My Teacher Told Me 52, 204, 277, 291, 299, 314-316, and 371-375). Thought provoking, unbiased, and often controversial, Loewen exposes the real America in this subversive yet utterly patriotic classic. I would argue, especially Chapter 11 - Why Is History Taught Like This? (Loewen, Lies My Teacher Told Me 271-297) is necessary read for teachers, historians, and citizens.
By Jim Johnson (Arizona)
The substance of this book is all crap - the typical liberal view of history. Writers like this never see that they use the same argumemts that the orignal history books in school use. Their argument is just based on their non-objective views. One example: we all know ( from many school history books) that Columbus was not the first explorer to discover America ( the name of our continent should prove that - are continent is not named Columbus). Yet this author prefers to go into a long list of explorers ranting about not getting credit for it's discovery, and the only proof he offers are other books written by other book selling want to be's.
By N. DesLauriers
In "Lies My Teacher Told Me", James W. Loewen presents and argues that the aptly named title is a staple of American History courses taught in high school. He offers example after example of how U.S. history textbooks often omit or distort many pieces of history - or completely falsify them. He argues that students in the school system are taught and presented a Eurocentric history, which takes all blame away from the United States and its citizens on any controversial subject.
Examples include Woodrow Wilson, who in reality re-segregated the government; Reconstruction, which textbooks put the blame on black people for the failure to integrate with society; the Civil War, which supposedly started because the South wanted more state power; treatment of Native Americans, taught to be a natural cause of a progressive world and society; and more, which are controversial subjects because they paint an ugly picture for white Americans.
Loewen argues that is the precise reason such issues are dealt so poorly with in the classroom - the texts and study of U.S. history in the classroom has an agenda to make white Americans feel good about themselves and the actions of their predecessors. And because of this treatment, the students of minority are increasingly falling behind - they are taught in school that their ancestors and their current social position is due to their lack of effort, or intelligence.
"Lies My Teacher Told Me" is a must read for any teacher of history, for any student of history, and for anyone remotely interested in American history. Loewen makes the reader question everything they were taught in school, and instills a desire to re-learn American history for what it was, not how it was painted with a Euro/ethnocentric agenda.
By Edward S. Paxson (Fairbanks, Alaska)
The author is correct in the fact that history is taught poorly through a bunch of facts as opposed to unsolved controversy. History is yesterdays current events and its presentation is not portrayed that way. He is certainly right in principle, but wrong in substance.
For instance, he goes out of his way to focus on the bad America has done and which history textbooks ignore it. Well, he ignores anything good that was done. He does not try to offer any kind of balance and ignores facts that make his argument weak. For a book that spends maybe half the time talking about the history of racism and oppression, he doesn't even mention FDR's extremely unconstitutional and racist internment of law abiding Japanese Americans during WWII. The fact that even his wife, Elanor, urged him not to do it would have made a great story for this book. I guess Loewen didn't want to hurt one of his left wing hero's.
He also displays great economic illiteracy when his opinion seeps through. His opposition to globalization for instance is something that all economists would disagree with him on. He is also clearly a left wing guy. He quotes socialist party member Howard Zinn on the cover and frequently takes American history from the left wing perspective - almost being hypocritical in the big picture he himself rails against time and time again.
All in all, this is the last history book I read by a sociologist like Loewen.
By Autumn Anderson
This was bad experience. I NEVER received the book. There seemed to be no way to let Amazon know the book had never come. I'm a bit disgusted because I lost my money. I hope someone at Amazon sees this and does something about it. At this point, I can't rate this book.
Buy Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong Now
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