Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

Questions About Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

by James W. Loewen

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Answered Questions (4)

i heard it was a good book but is it?
G.K. Noyer I read the 2007 update of this book. I was surprised not to see it here, but it was excellent. I consider it a must-read, not just for the de-bunking …moreI read the 2007 update of this book. I was surprised not to see it here, but it was excellent. I consider it a must-read, not just for the de-bunking of so many things we're taught, but even more so for the insights it provides into how that process works - which groups have been putting the most pressure on textbooks editors to lie to us and our nation's children, and why. To get the most out of this book, do NOT overlook the end-notes, where most of the specifics on all that are provided, along with many other eye-opening anecdotes!(less)
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I do not understand the time frame for the nadir of race relations. Loewen puts that as 1890 - 1940. I understand why it begins in 1890, but why does it end in 1940? I can think of no great advance in race relations in 1940.
Daniel I can only guess, but from the round numbers it sounds as if he's going by decades. 1940 is roughly when WWII started (the actual accepted start was i…moreI can only guess, but from the round numbers it sounds as if he's going by decades. 1940 is roughly when WWII started (the actual accepted start was in September 1939, with the US entering in December 1941). WWII had an enormous impact on America's relationship with race, although virtually all of that took place after the year 1940. However, putting the end point of the nadir at 1950 would ignore the postwar reaction against racism, such as Truman's order to integrate the US military in 1947. In other words, race relations were improving in the decade of the 1940s (not that things were great) so that decade doesn't belong in the "nadir" if he's going by decades.(less)
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Is this book worth reading even if you don't know US history except the basics?
Jenny Maybe especially worth reading then. Much of what it talks about is they way we view (or are taught to view) American history and how our commonly acc…moreMaybe especially worth reading then. Much of what it talks about is they way we view (or are taught to view) American history and how our commonly accepted notions of the past differ from what happened and how challenging our assumed knowledge will help us better understand the world today.

In short, yes read it and learn to challenge assumptions you might not have even known you had. (less)
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Does anyone know if there is an equivalent Lies for western civ? I'm taking Western Civ II in the fall semester and I'd love to see the historical disparities in a similar fashion to Lies for American history.
Sigrid Good point! Thank you! And thanks for the recs. I'll check them out.…moreGood point! Thank you! And thanks for the recs. I'll check them out.(less)
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