The Modern Scholar

Rethinking Our Past: Recognizing Facts, Fictions, and Lies in American History

By: Professor James W. Loewen

Narrated by: Professor James W. Loewen

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

You will get the most from this course by reading or listening to Professor Loewen's book, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. Within that book are many facts about American (and world) history to which most people have simply never been exposed. Nationalist history by textbook authors and the descendants or biographers of the famous and infamous have given history students a very skewed vision of our true history - indeed, the true history of mankind. This course is designed to enlighten and encourage you to consider the factual basis of many of our most-cherished yet glossed-over stories and the real-life characters who populate them. From archaeological misinformation to investigations into the nature of modern public policy, Professor Loewen challenges you to consider the history of what "was" rather than what has been told by standard teaching methods and textbooks.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2004 James M. Loewen (P)2004 Recorded Books

Doctor Heal Thyself

I think the concept of this book is very interesting and important ... there is a lot of false information in "official" histories, and we should question popular theories and be vigilant in seeking the truth. The author/professor provides some good information and analysis, and I thought some of the information he presents is interesting and thought provoking. Nonetheless, the book fell short in a few areas: 1) A lot of his revelations of truth are pretty old hat ... yes, we know that Columbus and the early English settlers treated the Native Americans horrifically, 2) The author seems to make the same mistakes as the historians he critiques ... for example he criticizes mainstream historians for projecting their own values, motives and personalities onto historical events, but the author himself does this throughout the book, and 3) He seems to want to re-write all history to reflect the current fads among college history professors ... he correctly points out that past historians have often succumbed to the prevailing mood of the time (i.e., the politically correct story) rather than the truth, but he seems to want to do the same thing now.

More than a retelling of history

In this book Dr. Loewen takes a look at the some of the major conflicting issues in our most commonly re-told histories of the USA. His choice of historical material touched on many of the taboo subject other history courses seem to skim over, yet fit into the limit of 8 hours The Modern Scholar series seems to have. You can tell that Dr. Loewen takes pride in his work and enjoys talking about it, which adds to the enjoyment of the listener. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed re-looking at the history of the USA with a slightly different, perhaps less bias view. I have not checked his references, so I hope we can take his word for it.

So why the 4 star review? Chapter 13, his last chapter, did not seem as organized or as focused as the others. His overall premise is sold, just the choice of words and stories were not effective, I felt. I would give a 4.5 if I could for this small complaint.

Great fun

Loewen's work is a mix of sociology and history, so he focuses on how history impacts our lives today. That's what makes his books and lectures so great: he shows not only how involved and interesting our history is, but he shows how knowing the past makes you an informed voter and participant today. In this lecture series he teaches you about several episodes in our history and revels in the complexities.

So here you'll learn again about our colonies, our first real Thanksgiving, our revolution and the up and down history of racism in this country. In my experience people who don't or say they can't enjoy history view it as either a large homogenous morality play or as a series of dates and people without interest or story. Loewen blows past these issues and makes history vital and interesting and real and important to understand today. This was a fun listen.

Very informative!

Supurb! I kept replaying the lectures over and over because I wanted to really grasp the information! Even my teenager listened in (on purpose!) and then asked if he could start the class over when I was done.

Critical Thinking in History; engaging with past

What made the experience of listening to The Modern Scholar the most enjoyable?

Loewen offers an important perspective regarding many factors that influence us to adapt history to our own current thought patterns and offers suggestions to check the real facts.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not a novel, no characters as per se. However, the stories regarding reconstruction and the civil war were fascinating to me because they continue to influence people's perspectives on civil rights.

Have you listened to any of the narrator’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no comparison available

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. Actually, I have also read

Any additional comments?

This book and

Everyone should read this

Everyone should listen to this. Its fun and informative ... and makes a case for putting a little history in your audible rotation. Loewen wrote his "Lies my teacher told me" twenty years ago .. and this is a great series of lectures if you want to understand where the critical race theory roots lay ... and how our education has long been manipulated.

I want more!

Any additional comments?

These days we have more opinions than facts.

Just listen to republicans and their super hero larger than life Regan. They make up history as they go and society doesn't fact check. History is changed and rewritten by the media, the politicians and the ignorant.

I would like to see more books like this one.

Excellent book

I'm going to have to re-listen; there is way too much to absorb the first time. I love REAL history! Go Historians!

The usual postmodern preaching

He has a VERY postmodern interpretation. He questions assumptions that were made in the past, deftly inserting his own. I knew this would challenge my assumptions, but the bias level was so strong I eventually just couldn’t take it anymore.

Heard it all before

The author seems to think he's reveling unknown history. Sorry but this information isn't new. He is passionate and that kept me listening but I can't recommend this book.