Handicapped by History

The book that I have chosen for my book report is titled Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. This book is an updated and revised version of his original work that was published in 1995; the copyright date of this instant classic is 2007. The author of this intriguing work is James W. Loewen. James W. Loewen’s objective in writing this book was to feed the minds of history enthusiasts everywhere. James Loewen also strived to educate America’s youth about the history that is excluded from American history textbooks worldwide. His most important goal, however, was to retell American history as is could and should be taught to American students. James Loewen revealed the truth about our past and organized his claims and evidence into a manner that his audience could comprehend; he achieved this by supporting his claims with resources for each event and visual aids that allotted his audience the ability to become closer to the topic at hand.

As educators and students, we should be able to trust that the truth about our past is what is being taught to today’s youth. The majority of our youth despises history; history is usually ranked last among the favorite subjects of students. American history textbooks all seem to follow the same storybook technique; therefore, students tend to take a snooze in class rather than learning about what has given them the freedom to sit in a classroom and learn. What if what is being taught in classrooms is not the complete truth, though? James Loewen dove deep into the true history of our past in Lies My Teacher Told Me. James Loewen has studied over eighteen American History textbooks over the years, and he discovered one common theme throughout each of the ...

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...to learn the hidden facts of my past. Before I read this book, history did not make a lot of sense to me. I have always loved history, but it has been a subject that I have struggled with. With Loewen’s explanations, it has been easier to comprehend specific events in our history. This book has provided me with the incredible impact of the truth. I yearn for the reader of my paper to experience similar effects that I have received. I want my reader to have a new appreciation for our past. I desire for my reader to comprehend history. I highly recommend this book to high school students and history teachers. I will never find the correct words to explain the impact this book has had on my personal feelings. Lies My Teacher Told Me provides the knowledge needed to understand how we are where we are today. This book is so much more rewarding than taking a nap in class.