That's Not in My American History Book

By: Thomas Ayres

Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach

Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Most people don't know that:
Benjamin Franklin almost killed himself trying to electrocute a turkey; the Wright brothers were not the first to fly an airplane; there was a 14th state that the original 13 wouldn't let join the Union; and that Benedict Arnold helped save the American Revolution. All this and more is revealed in That's Not in My American History Book.

For generations, history classes have reduced the rich, often surprising, facts of the American story into a dry litany of dates, names, and places. Now, That's Not in My American History Book fills in the gaps, supplying the messy details, reclaiming the overlooked heroes, and correcting the facts you thought you knew.

That's Not in My American History Book collects an illuminating treasury of stories edited out of your textbooks. It explains why the Fourth of July isn't really our Independence Day. It dispels the myth of Paul Revere's midnight ride. It reveals 19th century political mudslinging that labeled Andrew Jackson a murderer and his wife a "convicted adulteress." It even unveils the only Vice President ever to compose a #1 pop hit.

With insight, irreverence, and no small amount of wit, That's Not in My American History Book uncovers our unknown past.

©2000 Thomas Ayres (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Fun escapism, but not enough items

I really enjoyed this book. The only problem is that the author kinda pads each of his stories with a lot of unnecessary details. I would have liked more stories and less filler.

One little niggle about the audio book. Whoever edited it never left enough space between the topics. So as one topic ends the other is jammed right in after it.

wow!

a truly interesting look at things you either don't know or forget about soon after hearing them, despite the fact that the stories are actually quite significant. I really do appreciate Benedict Arnold a lot more now as an American hero!

Different

This was alright. There was some information that wasn't really important for history. It was entertaining. I was hoping for alot more. I am not a history fan so have to figure out ways to learn it. Listening to the book was much easier than reading it.

Good stories/robot reader

The stories are interesting, but the reader sounds like a computer. Better off reading this one in paperback.

Worst narration I've heard

How did the narrator detract from the book?

This was some of the worst narration I have ever heard. The narrator spoke so quickly and took breaks in the wrong places. I love history and have read several "not in my history book" type books in the past and have enjoyed them. This would have been a much better listen had there been a different narrator.

What a Hoax

This book is filled with half truths and professed by the author as the real facts. It was a total waste of time.

Sounds like history class

It sounds like high school history class (say, in June) when you'd stare out the window and pretend to listen to some boring teacher speak in monotones about stuff nobody really cares about - your mind distracted by the 1000 other things you'd rather be doing with your time.

I know, it *is* history but... but it is waaaayyyy too boring to subject yourself to voluntarily! The narrator even sounds bored, or computerized... a gravely voiced computer. Mr Spock (from Star Trek) on sleeping pills maybe.

As an example: the first 15 minutes is a preamble to the contents of the book that you're about to listen to - HUH?? Why preamble so much when I'm about to listen to it anyway?? Then the next 15 minutes drags on about the history of flight... THEN it goes into the mysterious short term inclusion of a 14th state... all spoken by a sleepy gravely-voiced computer.

Absolutely riveting stuff... NOT. I'm all for alternative history explorations, but sheesh, at least pick topics that people care about. Do we really care that the first airplane was invented 2 years before we thought it was??? If you do, then you'll like this book, otherwise, give it a miss.

I have no idea if the "history" presented is true or not... in fact, I found my eyes glazing over (and it's AUDIO) so often that I'm pretty sure I'd fail any test given in this history class!

6 cases of history, not a anecdote book

While I do enjoy books that stimulate the mind I found that this book was a good review of 6 specific cases of history books overlooking the truth of the situation. Having known that I doubt I would have purchased this book as I was expecting a interesting anecdotes book

Take it with a grain of salt

Interesting factoids but not necessarily factual. The author credited George Gershwin with writing Swanee River when it was Stephen Foster for example