Quote if i thought for one moment that this war was being fought over slavery i would resign my commission and offer my sword to the south. First published over fifteen years ago and long out of print, the poster and accompanying paperback book sum up the mistellingsand reveal the real storyin a graphically appealing and accessible format. The main point of the book is to deconstruct the usage of textbooks in american high schools and colleges. Jun 02, 2014 lies my teacher told me is the winner of the 1996 american book award,3 the oliver cromwell cox award for distinguished antiracist scholarship, and the critics choice award of the american. Everything your american history textbook got wrong james w. Loewen wrote the book lies my teacher told me to help students understand the past of the united states, and how it is effecting the present. Lies my teacher told me essay sample new york essays. The source of the problem, he decides, is the history.
Americans have lost touch with their history, and in lies my teacher told me professor james loewen shows why. Loewen concludes that high school history teachers can do much to enhance. The true history of the war for southern independence. In lies my teacher told me about christopher columbus, the bestselling author of lies my teacher told me offers a graphic corrective to the columbus story told in so many american classrooms. Everything your american history textbook got wrong by james w. In a yearlong study at the smithsonian institution. Loewens book lies my teacher told me is a book that should be read by everyone at some point in their lives. James lowen in lies my teacher told me claims that.
This book covers all the main points a student learns about in history. Lies my teacher told me critiques the way that history textbooks systematically avoid representing controversial topics or stories that show americans doing wrong. Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout lies my teacher told me by james loewen. Lowen that fundamentally misunderstands what history is. Usa today hailed his work lies my teacher told me the fys common book as remarkable and the new york times called it a lively critique. Lies my teacher told me is about what the author says really happened throughout history that many text books left out or made that incident appear better than it actually was. The book that i chose for my book report was lies my teacher told me, by james w.
Lies my teacher told me summary from litcharts the. History textbooks rarely discuss the role of germs and bacteria in american exploration, but it is undeniable that europeans had built up immunities to many diseases, with the result that when europeans sailed for america, they passed on these diseases to the nonimmune native americans. Lies my teacher told me essay questions gradesaver. Loewen has 20 books on goodreads with 201122 ratings. Lies my teacher told me examines 12 various american history text books, and points out the various lies, flaws, and sugar coated stories the text books present. From outdated textbooks to gross distortions of basic events and major figures, loewen exposes readers to a side of us history that most do not get in high school. Americans have lost touch with their history, and in lie. Loewen, takes a look at twelve popular american history textbooks and concludes that the information is false, viewed primarily from an european perspective, and made up to credit national myths. Lies my teacher told me is a 1995 book by sociologist james w. Lies my teacher told me is an analysis of how high school courses in american history and, more particularly, the textbooks used in teaching them are a disservice to students and the nation the texts and courses seek to protect. Lies my teacher told me kansas city public library. This updated and revised edition of the american book awardwinner and national bestseller revitalizes the truth of americas history, explores how myths continue to be perpetrated, and includes a new chapter on 911 and the iraq war.
What started out as a survey of the twelve leading american history textbooks has ended up being what the san francisco chronicle calls an extremely. From outdated textbooks to gross distortions of basic events and major figures, loewen exposes readers to a. James loewens 1995 book explained how history textbooks got the story of america wrong. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of lies my teacher told me by james w. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Get all the key plot points of james loewens lies my teacher told me on one page. The result is a general lack of interest in history on the part of intelligent students. First published over fifteen years ago and long out of print, the poster and accompanying paperback book sum up the mistellingsand reveal the real. But after i read it, i realized that the book is much more than that.
Hes attempting a look at american history from the native american indian point of view. Have you ever wondered whether history books were telling the truth. A fascinating and informative book, lies my teacher told me by james w. Lee to consider the role of political leadership under extremely difficult circumstances, examining lee as statesman rather than just a military leader and finds that many of lees assertions are still relevant today. The true history of the war for southern independence wilson, clyde n on.
Lies my teacher told me summary from litcharts the creators of. Mar 15, 2009 usa today hailed his work lies my teacher told me the fys common book as remarkable and the new york times called it a lively critique. Lies my teacher told me the true history of the war for southern independence by clyde n. Loewen, students hate history classes and when they have to take history, the students think its boring. Since its first publication in 1995, lies my teacher told me has become one of the most importantand successfulhistory books of our time. Beginning with precolumbian history and ranging over characters and events as diverse as reconstruction, helen keller, the first thanksgiving, the my lai massacre, 911, and the iraq war, loewen offers an eyeopening critique of existing. Buy lies my teacher told me reprint by loewen, james w. Loewen also examines why some of these issues are downplayed or misrepresented, often for political reasons. Everything your american history textbook got wrong find, read and cite all the research you. The ideological warfare underpinning the american civil war marshall derosa derosa uses the figure of robert e.
Great supplemental information for school essays and projects. Indeed, i found his complete disregard for cogency incredibly remarkable and i found myself offering a lively critique of my own while he delivered his keynote remarks. The book seeks to understand why, according to the author, high school students in the us are so disinterested in their own history. Everything your american history text book got wrong rev upd by james w. Everything your american history textbook got wrong winner of the 1996 american book award and the oliver cromwell cox award for distinguished antiracist scholarship americans have lost touch with their history, and in this thoughtprovoking book, professor james loewen shows why. Loewen brings history alive in all its complexity and ambiguity. In this 1995 nonfiction work, author and sociologist james w. Lies my teacher told me summary from litcharts the creators. Loewen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters. The book seeks to understand why, according to the author, high school students in. Having sold nearly two million copies, the book also won an american book award and the oliver cromwell cox award for distinguished antiracist scholarship and was heralded on the front page of the new. Winner of the 1996 american book award and the oliver cromwell cox award for distinguished antiracist scholarship americans have lost touch with their history, and in this thoughtprovoking book, professor james loewen shows why. Although i bought lies my teacher told me as a resource book for the authors lecture series rethinking our past. History is not a set of stories to hear, and, more importantly, the study of.
History is not a set of stories to hear, and, more importantly, the study of history is not a quest for the true history. Shakevia robinson raven love jasmine davis morgan clark kierika mcfarlin chapter 6 john brown and abraham lincoln this chapter focuses on the invisibility of antiracism in american history textbooks similar to how they underplay white racism they neglect racial idealism john. Loewens lies my teacher told me sheds some new light on. Sociology professor james loewen wonders why american history is, for many high school students, their most hated and least memorable subject. Everything your american history textbook got wrong. Lies my teacher told me, and how american history can be. Loewen, a sociology professor and distinguished critic of history education, puts 12 popular textbooks under the microscope, and what he discovers will surprise you. The book won the american book award in 1996 as well as several other awards. Although the book covers quite a bit that debunks union lies there is much more to tell particularly in the pre and post war eras. Lies my teacher told me is the winner of the 1996 american book award,3 the oliver cromwell cox award for distinguished antiracist scholarship, and the.
Before we begin our study, you will read a critique of u. Lies my teacher told me is not without controversy, however. Lies my teacher told me study guide contains a biography of james w. A decade and a half ago, in america revised, frances fitzgerald demonstrated that widely used school textbooks presented simplistic, fatuous, and often inaccurate versions of american history. Lies my teacher told me about christopher columbus zinn. Apr 08, 2008 since its first publication in 1995, lies my teacher told me has gone on to win an american book award, the oliver cromwell cox award for distinguished antiracist scholarship, and to sell over half a million copies in its various editions. Loewens most popular book is lies my teacher told me. Lies my teacher told me is a book by james loewen describing a number of falsehoods or misconceptions prevalent in many american history textbooks. Everything your american history textbook got wrong is a 1995 book by james w. Recognizing facts, fictions, and lies in american history, ive now read the 42page chapter 4, red eyes, in its entirety. You were lied to about the nature, character, and cause of the american civil war, but that is just the start. Lies my teacher told me, and how american history can be used as a weapon james loewens 1995 book explained how history textbooks got the story of america wrong.
Lies my teacher told me summary my teacher to sir, with love aka my teacher or teacher s mercy, and released on dvd in the us as bloody reunion is a 2006 south korean horror film, and the feature film debut of director im daewoong. In lies my teacher told me, loewen criticizes modern american history textbooks for containing incorrect information about people and events such as christopher columbus, the lies and inaccuracies in the history books regarding the dealings between the europeans and the native americans, and their often deceptive and inaccurate teachings told about americas commerce in slavery. Lies my teacher told me summary my teacher to sir, with love aka my teacher or teachers mercy, and released on dvd in the us as bloody reunion is a 2006 south korean horror film, and the feature film debut of director im daewoong. It critically examines twelve popular american high school history textbooks and concludes that the textbook authors propagate false, eurocentric and mythologized views of american history. At first, i thought this book would be the worse out of the 5 to read. Lies my teacher told me book report essay many essays. Lies my teacher told me, and how american history can be used. The american book awards were created by the before columbus foundation seventeen years ago to provide recognition for outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of americas diverse literary community. I thought that i do not need some book to tell me i am uneducated in american history. This national bestseller is an entertaining, informative and sometimes shocking look at the way history is taught to american students. Oct 14, 1995 lies my teacher told me is a wellwritten and insightful expose of some of the problems inherent in the teaching of us history in public schools.
Lies my teacher told me by kierika mcfarlin on prezi. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Lies my teacher told me is a wellwritten and insightful expose of some of the problems inherent in the teaching of us history in public schools. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Since its first publication in 1995, lies my teacher told me has gone on to win an american book award, the oliver cromwell cox award for distinguished antiracist scholarship, and to sell over half a million copies in its various editions. Lies my teacher told me won the american book award and the oliver cromwell cox award for distinguished antiracist scholarship. I still belive me and him will be together forever. Jul 26, 2018 buy lies my teacher told me reprint by loewen, james w. Lies my teacher told me examines 12 various american history text books, and points out the various lies.
481 1064 319 1345 968 1155 50 1176 1370 379 1462 961 50 583 433 707 972 1406 487 1307 347 1167 436 557 191 416 1375 31 1019 802 59 1161 919 472 90 543 1448 50 1187 842 30 603