I Love Paul Revere, Whether He Rode or Not

by Richard Shenkman

At long last in paperback, Richard Shenkman's bestselling sequel to Legends, Lies & Cherished Myths of American History . Provocative and amusingly heretical, "I Love Paul Revere, Whether He Rode or Not" (a quote attributed to Warren Harding) offers eye-opening revelations debunking long-held American legends.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Trivia

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1991

Reviews

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published by HarperPerennial in 1991.

Richard Shenkman has written several books that show that many of the commonly-held beliefs about history are not quite true and some are absolutely false. The title comes from a quote from President Warren G. Harding when he was asked about a popular newspaper article that asserted that Paul Revere did not actually make his famous ride. Ironically, Paul Revere only gets two mentions: once on page 10 and the other on page 192. The mention on page 192 is simply the complete quote from Harding that inspired the title of the book. So, if you were thinking this was going to be a book about Paul Revere, you will be disappointed.

Instead, Shenkman's book is a reminder that there are always multiple views on history. Anybody that tells you that a certain group all believed a certain thing or they all did something for one reason is simplifying things and losing some of the nuance of how it really happened.

Shenkman explores several different areas in 12 chapters including patriotism, religion, business, alcohol/drugs, and women. Typically, he brings up a "fact" that people commonly believe, such as...

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[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read! Not sure I believe all the arguments presented, but that is what's so great about personal literary interpretation. I will confess the material enclosed challenged a few "myths" I have taken to heart, such as America was founded as a Christian nation. Even though I still believe it was, I was at least open-minded enough to consider the Founding Fathers may not have been the god-like superheroes of their day. Another fun portion of the book was about Prohibition and drug use. Did you know outright opium and heroin use was prevelant, and the transportation of them in the U.S.A. was once legal? Taken at face-value, I found this shocking. Of course, more research would need to be performed in order to make a more definitive decision. Anyway, please read if you need a fun book to help with the annual reading challenge.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

A presumptuous little book of American history myths. Published in 1991, it is definitely a product of it's times. Aimed at public school history teaching of the 1960's & '70's, it skewers many of the things taught at that time in history & civics classes. Mostly with the details that were left out of the books in order to simplify the school books. But it is done with a light & humorous touch, so it might amuse folks who got their education in American schools at that time. I'm glad I got the book for free.

[Leah Angstman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1992, this book is rather outdated, not touching on much past the Reagan years, but it aims to separate myth from fact in the cherished folklore and stories we hold so dear, which is always something I find fascinating. This focuses on American history and debunking some of the myths of our past (Plymouth Rock, Paul Revere, our love of the flag, colonial alcoholism, patriotism, &c.), and while it gets a little heavy-handed in some spots, it's got plenty of tidbits that you didn't know you didn't know.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be thought of as a sequel to Legends and Lies. I enjoyed the subject matter more since this book focuses more on social history and not as much on the founding fathers or other historical figures but the writing wasn't quite as good. It may have been because I read the two books back to back but I was getting tired of the writing by the end of this book.

Still, it was interesting and filled with information that history books don't teach.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea behind the MAGA folk "Make America Great Again" is false. Because the America of old was just as ungreat as it is now. Basically, the things that sucked then still suck now. As dumb as we think Americans were then, we're just as dumb now (if not dumber.) The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[LA · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book more than 25 years old, this has held up ok. It's a decent overview of the people and facts of history that were and continue to be overlooked.

[Bob Schmitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is filled with tid-bits from history exposing the common practice of making a smooth story out of a messy contradictory history.
-The common story of John Adams heroically representing the British Soldiers of the Boston Massacre is tarnished by his exploitation of the prejudices of the jury calling the mob a "motley rabble of...Negroes and mulattoes, Irish teagues and outlandish jack tars"
-At Valley Forge the soldiers went "naked" a word in 18 century usage meant without proper clothing not with out clothes. And it seems that the men were as provisioned there as well as during other winters. In Washington letters to Congress he craftily complained in order to get more supplies and avoid pressure to march.
- The funny black hats and clothes of the Pilgrims is made up. The one portrait of a Pilgram shows a fellow in an Elizabethan doublet, which frilly collar with gold tassels.

Etc. The most interesting chapter were the last two which describe how messy history is and any telling of it is prejudiced and how textbooks and politicians just don't have time or inclination to explain the complexity.

In 1928 Historian Herbert Mayes wrote the definitive biography of Horatio Alger using original letters and sources. This book recommended by the New Republic, the President of the American Historical Society and the Harvard Guide to American History and was quoted throughout the next 40 years. In 1970 the author admitted that he made it all up including all the source material. That the map in the front had "up" for north and "down" for south should have been a clue.

The lesson is I guess that if it's in a book it ain't necessarily, in fact certainly isn't all true.

[Yaaresse · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the sort of thing I usually like, the debunking of cherished myths that pass as accepted history. We got off to a good start with blowing apart the Plymouth Rock legend and the "flag as sacred symbol" nonsense, but Shenkman started losing me about the point where he attempts to debunk the American Work Ethic by arguing that women in Lowell mills were preferred over male workers because they displayed a better work ethic than the men who routinely showed up drunk or hung over. He failed to mention the little fact that women were paid a fraction of what men were paid, which seems a very big thing to leave out of that conversation.

The biggest detractor for me, however, was the writing style, which was uneven: preachy in some areas, dry and lethargic in others. The book started out with a good pace, but quickly started limping downhill. Eventually, about the 60% mark, it began crawling. I admit to skimming the last third only because I'd already invested so much time in it.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather than simply debunking historical myths, author Richard Shenkman delves into the ambiguity of history and the danger of confusing anecdote with fact.
As Shenkman reveals, much of what the reader accepts as history is actually exaggerated, dramatized, or downright false. When possible, the author reveals why, which is a story often as exciting as the original story itself.
Rather than being dispiriting and disillusioning, however, Shenkman's work breathes new life into history. It is empowering to recognize myths for what they are rather than discarding them. It's a fascinating read not just for history-lovers, but anyone who sat through a high school history class. What a relief to know that half the stuff one failed to learn wasn't even true!

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it more than just a 3, not enough for a 4. The historical tidbits were very interesting and would make good classroom or cocktail party conversation (well, at least the parties I tend to go to), as well as provide a good starting point for a deeper examination of US history. However, the writing was nothing special, and it seemed that the pool became progressively shallower as the book continued--the amuse-bouche transformed into pretzels, but I munched through it all. If nothing else, the footnotes and end notes are an excellent list of resources. A fun summer read that's easy to pick up and put down amid many activities.

[Aaron Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shenkman offers a great rhetorical review on history and it's myths. At times though it is hard to understand what it is he is talking about If one is not familiar with particular historic events. Never the less, shenkman is a wonderful writer and historian and this book is worth reading. If not for the author's prose, then for the wonderful tidbits of history that you and (dare I say) others have misinterpreted. Shenkman points out that history is often misunderstood and forgotten at times, he points out, and I thought it worth quoting, "... The greater danger sometimes is not forgetting the past but remembering it." So true. Great read.

[John Nondorf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave up on this one about half way through. Seems to me the author invented some "common misconceptions" about history and set about dispelling the myths he had created...like how everyone thinks women now (early 90's) have it worse than they did in the Colonial period or how everyone thinks the work ethic has vanished recently (ok, yeah, I'm writing this review at work).
The book isn't terrible, there are some enlightening sections even for readers with a working knowledge of History. In my opinion though, the book is best suited to novices.

[Joshua Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having taken advanced placement history in high school which delved into a deeper understanding and analysis of American History than most high school history courses, I feel this book was very enlightening to inner workings and personalities of our revered historical figures. We cannot assume that our history is perfect. Decisions made in the last 200+ years have many flaws that were covered over to make things sound better. This book opens those closed memory vaults and exposes our history for what it really is. Very good read.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fun to see the fallacies and myths that have come to us over the years as Americans looking back on our history. I enjoyed seeing the author's research, and he writes in a largely engaging style, albeit in a way that tends to come across as a giant list of factoids in each chapter. His first book along these lines is called 'Legends, Lies and Cherished Myths of American History,' and this seems to be more of the same.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this might be one of those books that is only relevant to a particular generation. A lot of the supposed myths in this book were completely new to me. Maybe they were widely taught at one time, but I never learned most of them in school. Moreover, I often found myself thinking that Schenkman was going farther than the actual evidence allowed. As he himself says more than once, primary sources almost always differ, and I thought he often relied too much on only one or two sources.

[Mark Singer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as Legends, Lies & Cherished Myths of American History, but still entertaining.
(Edited May 2016)
I recently finished reading the exhaustively researched and well-wriiten history "Paul Revere's Ride" by David Hackett Fischer. Sorry Mr. Shenkman, the ride actually happened, and your snarky comments do not help. I reduced the rating from three stars to two stars.

[Irish Gal · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some interesting tidbits in here, but the overall tone (his politics are pretty apparent) is annoying. He tends to generalize without showing enough sources - a few times "facts" seem more like opinions (like a couple places where I know he left out a couple of actual occurrences before forming his theory).

[Josh Liller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing. I read another book by the author called "Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History" which I enjoyed, but this one was dull.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things you missed in History Class.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

the writing was a bit disjointed, and there wasn't a lot of cohesiveness to the chapters, other than the titles.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read that explained many of the myths of American history and how they began.

[Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting reexamination of lots of events in American history.

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting examinations of myths in American History but it often felt that the juiciest tales had already been mined for the original book, which this serves as a sequel.

[Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

some sections of this book were real snoozers......

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining read that gives a glimpse into the history you thought you knew.

[Stacy Croushorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. Very enlightening. All Americans should read it.