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

Reviewed By: Jennifer Jordan

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
James W. Loewen
Class/Genre:   Non-Fiction
1996 Simon & Schuster History/Education

"What passes for identity in America is a series of myths about one's heroic ancestors. - James Baldwin "A Talk to Teachers"

At the very least, this book will make you think. It could also inflame you, fascinate you and incite emotions about a topic you'd thought you put to bed when you graduated.

Mr. Loewen begins his critique with the pantheon of American heroification and dives right into his vilification of common textbook versions with well-footed noted documentation. With Helen Keller, he discusses her membership with the Socialist party and her championing of women's suffrage. It speaks of Woodrow Wilson being a very outspoken white supremacist who, during his bid for the presidency, promised to work towards civil rights. With his second chapters' treatise of Christopher Columbus, you'll begin to question not only his "discovery" of America and find out what gave rise to the "Black Legend" of Spanish cruelty. The Truth about the First Thanksgiving decimates everything ever taught about this event.

You will hate this book, or you will love this book. You will believe it, or you won't. It could seem like anything from a rebuttal to socialist propaganda. But, it will make you think, and that is very important.

Jennifer Jordan

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Jennifer Jordan