Lies My Teacher Told Me

Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

By: James W. Loewen

Narrated by: Brian Keeler

Length: 14 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

This national best seller is an entertaining, informative, and sometimes shocking expose of the way history is taught to American students. Lies My Teacher Told Me won the American Book Award and the Oliver Cromwell Cox Award for Distinguished Anti-Racist Scholarship.

James W. Loewen, a sociology professor and distinguished critic of history education, puts 12 popular textbooks under the microscope, and what he discovers will surprise you. In his opinion, every one of these texts fails to make its subject interesting or memorable. Worse still is the proliferation of blind patriotism, mindless optimism, and misinformation filling the pages.

From the truth about Christopher Columbus to the harsh reality of the Vietnam War, Loewen picks apart the lies we've been told. This is a book that will forever change your view of the past.

©1995 James W. Loewen (P)2002 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Lies My Teacher Told Me goes beyond recounting fallacies of history and correcting American image: it surveys social issues misreported, ideas misrepresented, and encourages students of history to think about not only the facts, but the reporting which embellishes and colors their presentation. An invaluable guide for the reader." (Midwest Book Review)
"An extremely convincing plea for truth in education." (San Francisco Chronicle)

Slightly slanted

I enjoyed this book as a History teacher, however, the author's obvious radical leftist view point was something I had to endure.

America Needs to Deal in Truths

This book was well received. Providing an unbiased view of history is necessary and people are ready. Lies tend to unravel in devastating ways. Our Country is experiencing this now and it’s divisive. The truths unveiled here will keep your attention, piss you off, and sadden you. It will also leave with a need to keep digging and questioning.

Very Good Listen

This was an interesting listen, some very eye opening things and does a good job showing many problems with the educational system. Very repetitive at times and could of moved on and covered other important items that are left out or glanced over in the history books.

must read to begin dislodging lies taught to all

must read to begin dislodging lies taught to all. great read for all who care to be aware.

Essential reading.

It should not matter what your political, religious, racial, identity is to get something out of this book. I’d say it is worth the time and $ easily. I will read it a few more times for sure. :)

Eye Opening... to say the least!

I never thought history books told the whole story but to hear all the things that were omitted is jaw-dropping. The information laid out is informative and frustrating to hear.

The narration is a little dry, but consistent and respectful of the topics discussed.

good. but biased

I am center leaning when it comes to politics, and I will say that this book was biased and obviously written by a left leaning author. However, it was written very well and very informative. Overall, I enjoyed it. If you can look past the biases, its a pretty good read.

Helping me find some idea of truth

It is rare to see a grant study turn into such a readable book. Making clear what the problems are with treatment of native Americans, Reconstruction, the causes of the Civil War in a very readable style, the book kept me focused and interested throughout. Well worth the time. While the book is criticized as either "politically correct" history or as focusing too much on what is left out, I think the author does a good job of arguing that he is talking about the major issues of history as understood at the time, even if it is now hidden (in many cases by outdated perceptions of the early 20th century). I was less interested in his discussion of why textbooks are like this, but inspired by his call for people of all ages to simply do American history locally.

One of the Best Books I Ever Read

This book is one of the best and most influencial books I have ever read. Besides teaching you things about history it argues that history should be taught to inform and not to indoctrinate. It is the difference from learning from histories mistakes in order not to repeat them or being blind to it so we can feel self rightious and arrogant.

A MUST READ!!!

If you have ANY inkling that the story you learned in school was inaccurate, incomplete, or just "off" somehow, this writing provides a great insight and a jumping-off point to seeking TRUTH.