48 Liberal Lies About American History: (That You Probably Learned in School)

by Larry Schweikart

book data

13 ratings, 3.23 average rating, 7 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		7%
4		53%
3		7%
2		15%
1		15%

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published

September 4th 2008 by Sentinel HC

binding

Hardcover, 320 pages

isbn

1595230513 (isbn13: 9781595230515)

description

A historian debunks four-dozen PC myths about our nations past.

Over the last forty years, history textbooks have become more and more politically c...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 62)

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01/10/09

Feminist Review rated it:

Read in January, 2009

48 Liberal Lies About American History is a shocking read. In formatting this book, Larry Schweikart states a "liberal lie", and then provides evidentiary support to refute claims made. However, at times, he fails to realize that some of these "liberal arguments" are much more nuanced than the ones he posits.

Of particular interest is his take on “Lie # 14: Women had no rights in Early America.” Schweikart takes issue with Carol Berkin’s and Mary Beth Norton’...more 48 Liberal Lies About American History is a shocking read. In formatting this book, Larry Schweikart states a "liberal lie", and then provides evidentiary support to refute claims made. However, at times, he fails to realize that some of these "liberal arguments" are much more nuanced than the ones he posits.

Of particular interest is his take on “Lie # 14: Women had no rights in Early America.” Schweikart takes issue with Carol Berkin’s and Mary Beth Norton’s statement in Women of America that, “The United States had founding mothers… but on the whole our history celebrates only the white founding fathers.” I researched Berkin’s and Norton’s text; in fact, they do not dispute that women had rights in early America. What they do find problematic is the relative superiority of men to women prior to and after the American Revolution, and the continued espousal of patriarchal society. Schweikart skews their argument, making it far more extreme than it really is.

Moreover, in discussing why men dominate the medical field, Schweikart says, “Doctors—in an age without anesthesia—had to perform surgery and occasionally amputate limbs while restraining a patient who was protesting to no small degree… Small and less physically powerful women were at an important disadvantage in such work—but not in being midwives, which was exclusively a female domain.” I found Schweikart’s words extremely sexist and antifeminist. Schweikart easily falls prey to the claim that men are physically superior to women. For years, this school of thought has served to perpetuate a gender hierarchy. Here, Schweikart hardly acknowledges gender historians who would rightly repudiate his analysis. In fact, Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to graduate from medical school in 1849, became a physician before the widespread use of anesthesia.

There is much more to be criticized in Schweikart’s book. Indeed, Schweikart could not possibly imagine that any history text teaches that “The News Media Is Objective, Fair and Balanced – and Always Has Been.” Even a superficial study of American history debunks this notion. For example, in 1898, yellow journalism—the sensationalism and distortion of facts—surrounding the sinking of the USS Maine clearly led to the declaration of the Spanish-American War. In his attempt to introduce the conservative viewpoint in these historical discussions, Schweikart makes radical assertions that even those on the right might find disturbing. The intention of his book is honorable; however, Schweikart will need to reconfigure some of his arguments if he seeks to gain a wider audience for his work.

Review by Anita Sonawane(less)

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12/23/08

Cate is currently reading it

bookshelves: currently-reading

My 15 year old cousin inspired me to read this book. I'm afraid to admit it but he was discussing with me some things he has been learning in school. I was shocked to hear him say that FDR knew about the attacks on Pearl Harbor ahead of time (even though that means there would be huge culpability on hundreds of radio operators in the military at that time). He also told me one of his teachers thought (and therefore teaches in class) that 9/11 was not the work of terrorists but an act of the US...more

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12/21/08

Debbi rated it:

Read in January, 2009

Each of the 'lies' was summarized in a few, concise pages. There were several that I remembered having been 'taught' -- and some that were so outrageous, I was stunned that anyone believes such drivel. For those who are convinced that they don't like history or that nothing important is ever misconstrued or misrepresented, this is a perfect book.

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02/11/09

Kevin rated it:

Read in February, 2009

The nice thing about the book is that it touches a many topics in quick fashion. More could be said about each topic, but that would be left for further study. A good compliment to Michael Medved's "10 Myths about America".

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03/18/09

Richard rated it:

Read in March, 2009

recommends it for: thinking people

Some new perspective on the old stories. Extensively footnoted, it allows the reader to go and do his/her own research to confirm/refute the assertions of either side of the argument. And, if you don't believe what he's saying in this book, please go do your own research and THEN write your review.

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02/18/09

Kathy rated it:

Read in February, 2009

A thinly veiled excuse to justify the Bush presidency, I don't know why I even bothered.

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09/26/08

Diana rated it:

Try to ignore the harsh-sounding title.I grew up in NoCal and I was taught American history from a very leftist perspective. I had no idea HOW leftist until I read this book. Of course all history books are biased in some degree, but after experiencing both sides I am eager to endorse this book. We live in a great country and it is sad that I didn't even know it.

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