33 Questions about American History You're Not Supposed to A33 Questions about American History Y...
Guess what? The Indians didn't save the Pilgrims from starvation by teaching them to grow corn. Thomas Jefferson thought states’ rights-an id...
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Jan 03, 2008
Hugh
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This is an eye-opening account of American history written by a small-government federalist. There are so few genuine federalists left (advocates of limited power to the central government in Washington) that this book will surprise even the most libertarian reader. Did the founders really create a central government without any checks and balances on its own power? The answer is No. The Supreme Court has ruled consistently for the last hundred years that the central government has more powe
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Apr 01, 2008
Patra
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The reason I'm giving this book so many stars is not because the book is so well written, it's because the information is so valuable. The author really opens up your mind and gives you new things to think about when it comes to American history and politics. Some of the most interesting and informative questions to me were: Can the President, on his own authority, send troops anywhere in the world he wants? Was the Civil War all about slavery or was something else at stake as well? What was
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Aug 04, 2011
While the title may suggest a random theme, Woods notes that most of what you have learned in history (or in the media) is toilet paper. Woods ask 33 questions that when answered give the lie to American history and American foreign policy.
The questions range from states rights to busing to America's bombing Christian churches on behalf of Muslim sex slavers. The very answering of Woods questions destroys the State's *mythos,* its story of salvation.
Two chapters that stuck out for me: the st More...
The questions range from states rights to busing to America's bombing Christian churches on behalf of Muslim sex slavers. The very answering of Woods questions destroys the State's *mythos,* its story of salvation.
Two chapters that stuck out for me: the st More...
Mar 11, 2009
Laura
rated it:
I am surprised at the negative reviews of this book from people who have read it SINCE Sept '08. Quote from the book, in the chapter about the Great Depression:
Austrian business cycle theory explains what causes the initial downturn, but just how long and severe the depression will be depends on the government's response. If out of misplaced humanitarianism or just plain ignorance the government hinders the liquidation process - by baling out failing businesses, propping up wages, orMore...
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Oct 01, 2009
David
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Great list of "taboo" questions that the political establishment (primarily on the left) wants people to be afraid to ask, substituting their version for the actual facts. Things which surprised me the most: the founders weren't pro-immigration, liberals got the US into most of its wars, desegregation didn't narrow the black-white gap (and discrimination isn't responsible for it either), WWII didn't help the economy, the whiskey rebellion was a successful tax rebellion (we need more li
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Jul 31, 2011
Holly
rated it: 
I enjoyed this book alot. Being a Founding Fathers/Civil Rights fanatic (I know - geek) the chapters on these topics really appealed to me and really did dispell myths that are now second nature in the telling of American History. However, with a topic as broad as "American History," there were some subjects I wasn't that interested in, and it was difficult to keep my attention while reading detailed chapters on the economy during the First World War and how the Government did little t
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Aug 05, 2011
Bradley
rated it:
Run, don't walk, to your nearest library or bookstore
and get this book. Now. The health of your country
may depend on this antidote to big government. Sure the title is sappy, and the cover looks amateurish, but don't judge a book by its cover; the book is a serious scholarly work. Although copyrighted 2007 it explains
the 2008 financial meltdown in Chapter 22, and what
the New Deal didn't accomplish in Chapter 24.
Woods also explains the Ponzi scheme known as Social
Security in Chapter 13 and wh More...
and get this book. Now. The health of your country
may depend on this antidote to big government. Sure the title is sappy, and the cover looks amateurish, but don't judge a book by its cover; the book is a serious scholarly work. Although copyrighted 2007 it explains
the 2008 financial meltdown in Chapter 22, and what
the New Deal didn't accomplish in Chapter 24.
Woods also explains the Ponzi scheme known as Social
Security in Chapter 13 and wh More...
Mar 08, 2010
Brian
rated it:
I enjoyed this style of book where the 33 questions were divided into small segments of roughly 8 pages dealing with various politically incorrect questions about history that most people have been mislead on either by the story tellers ignorance or agenda.
Woods is a libertarian, historian and dare I say economist, he doesn't tow the party line. He uses many original sources to validate his points and logic to help the reader see the holes in the commonly missheld positions of historians t More...
Woods is a libertarian, historian and dare I say economist, he doesn't tow the party line. He uses many original sources to validate his points and logic to help the reader see the holes in the commonly missheld positions of historians t More...
Sep 13, 2010
Xenophon
rated it: 
33 Questions About American History You're Not Supposed to Ask by Thomas E. Woods Jr. is OK for what it is. I was looking for a book of historical misconceptions, and it does have some of those. However, it devotes more space to unsupported assertions that are a mix of libertarian and paleoconservative doctrine. This does not offend me; I suspect these positions are closer to the way the world works--and are more congenial to my personal preferences--than are most other current viewpoints. U
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Apr 13, 2009
John
rated it:
Those of us educated in the public school system have been told what the state wants us to know about our nation and its origins. Many would be surprised to learn that what we "learned" in the public school system is not always the truth, or as simple as it is portrayed in text books.
This book tells the other side of much of our history and demonstrates that we all ought to be skeptical of what the state and those in power want us to know and believe. Pick this one up a More...
This book tells the other side of much of our history and demonstrates that we all ought to be skeptical of what the state and those in power want us to know and believe. Pick this one up a More...
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Jun 15, 2010
Travis
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I liked this book up until about page 200. There were some good alternative views to what is constantly spewed forth in high school history texts and their nonsense they put forth. I liked the part about capitalism not being responsible for the Great Depression. I just got bogged down towards the end. The summer is too short to read a mediocre book. At least for this teacher.
Nov 02, 2009
Mark
rated it:
A number of different historical, mythical elements that have become the conventional view of US history...Woods generally applies an "American Exceptionalism" prospective that pokes holes in the Cultural Relativist's and champions of cultural diversity assessments and conclusions...He also identifies the role of "political correctness" has played in skewing perceptions of US history...We need more of this approach!!!
Dec 22, 2008
Saralyn
rated it:
Very interesting. A lot of stuff I already knew, but I did also learn quite a bit. And I know a lot of people don't know what I did already. (That was vague. I know.) Anwyay. I really liked what the author had to say and how he busted a whole bunch of myths about American history.
May 18, 2009
Alisa
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It seems like most people today have such a superficial understanding of our history. We'd be a lot better off as a society if everyone read a copy of this book, and stopped believing the myths. Real history is so much more interesting, and makes so much more sense.
Feb 10, 2009
Mark
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Very Federalist look at U.S. history - some interesting stuff but I got bogged down in the negative tone & insistence that "we aren't doing it right anymore." He'd have made his point better if he'd just told the history and edited out his smug lecturing.
Jan 09, 2011
Wendell
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Very compartmentalized. Several sections were of no interest. There were good parts about Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and the "rank the presidents" game. Woods has an excellent resume.
Dec 16, 2008
Patty
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Had some interesting points but mostly took those points and drove them into the ground. The book could have had 100 things with shorter explanations and been much more interesting.
Nov 11, 2010
Excellent and thoroughly researched subjects with properly annotated sources. Does not hold back punches and leaves both sides properly bruised.
Highly recommended for the high school history buff and especially the brainwashed college student!
Highly recommended for the high school history buff and especially the brainwashed college student!
Oct 24, 2007
Paul
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I thought there might be something of interest, but when the author puts unnecessary adjectival jabs at other "liberal" authors as he is making an unrelated point (oddly enough, he is putting the liberal down as he was citing her scholarship, an unusual choice indeed) --- it's clear this is nothing more than a political screed. Not recommended.
Many of the "shocking questions" are not that shocking, and are straw men that the author can knock down with a flourish.
Many of the "shocking questions" are not that shocking, and are straw men that the author can knock down with a flourish.
Jan 04, 2009
Shaina
rated it:
Some good chapters. Some rather annoying chapters. All very shallow information. The chapters where you already know the topics are pointless and serve to annoy because they don't go into depth. And the chapters that you don't know raise good questions to look into, but this wouldn't be the source of abundant information.
Aug 23, 2008
Michael
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I almost put this in the fiction catergory. This was one of the worst books I've ever read. He takes what he labels as politically correct scared cows and shreds them up. He attacks Martin Luther King, Jr, Native Americans, Bill Clinton, historial rankings of Presidents, foreign aid, immigration, The Federal Government, unions, race, and on and on.
Jul 05, 2008
Dave
rated it:
horrible - not really insightful. the author is super libertarian (which isnt bad in my book) but he give a very unbalanced analyst of selected information (a la mikey moore) - nothing really new either except his diatribe about how native americans didnt care about the environment and neither should we (crap)
Oct 28, 2008
Joe
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I highly recommend every American product of public education to read this book. Woods provides convincing arguments, and the research to back them up, on a range of misconceptions that are even still taught in schools.
Sep 14, 2009
Dean
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Really informative read. Anything by Woods is a worth while read. Had a chance to meet him and was a very congenial guy.
Sep 07, 2009
Bridgid
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This book is ruining my life I don't need to be any more disenchanted by this country.
Feb 08, 2012
