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Politically Incorrect Guides
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Real American Heroes
As presidential candidates sling dirt at each other, America desperately needs a few real heroes. Tragically, liberal historians and educators have virtually erased traditional American heroes from history. According to the Left, the Founding Fathers were not noble architects of America, but selfish demagogues. And self–made entrepreneurs like Rockefeller were robber–barons and corporate polluters. Instead of honoring great men from America’s past, kids today now idolize rock stars, pro athletes and Hollywood celebrities.
In his new book, The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Real American Heroes , author Brion McClanahan rescues the legendary deeds of the greatest Americans and shows why we ought to venerate heroes like Captain John Smith, adventurer Daniel Boone, General Robert E. Lee and many more. The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Real American Heroes not only resuscitates America’s forgotten heroes, but sheds light on the Left’s most cherished figures, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Kennedys.
With biting wit and devastating detail, McClanahan strikes back against the multicultural narrative peddled by liberal historians who make heroes out of pop culture icons and corrupt politicians. In America’s hour of peril, McClanahan’s book is a timely and entertaining call to remember the heritage of this great nation and the heroes who built it.
In his new book, The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Real American Heroes , author Brion McClanahan rescues the legendary deeds of the greatest Americans and shows why we ought to venerate heroes like Captain John Smith, adventurer Daniel Boone, General Robert E. Lee and many more. The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Real American Heroes not only resuscitates America’s forgotten heroes, but sheds light on the Left’s most cherished figures, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Kennedys.
With biting wit and devastating detail, McClanahan strikes back against the multicultural narrative peddled by liberal historians who make heroes out of pop culture icons and corrupt politicians. In America’s hour of peril, McClanahan’s book is a timely and entertaining call to remember the heritage of this great nation and the heroes who built it.
272 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2012
15 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Brion T. McClanahan
18 books94 followersBrion McClanahan received a B.A. in History from Salisbury University in 1997 and an M.A. in History from the University of South Carolina in 1999. He finished his Ph.D. in History at the University of South Carolina in 2006, and had the privilege of being Clyde Wilson's last doctoral student. He is the author or co-author of four books, The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers, (Regnery, 2009), The Founding Fathers Guide to the Constitution (Regnery History, 2012), Forgotten Conservatives in American History (Pelican, 2012), and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Real American Heroes, (Regnery, 2012). He has written for TheDailyCaller.com, LewRockwell.com, TheTenthAmendmentCenter.com, Townhall.com, and HumanEvents.com. McClanahan is a faculty member at Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom, has appeared on dozens of radio talk shows, and has spoken across the Southeast on the Founding Fathers and the founding principles of the United States. If you would like to book Dr. McClanahan for a speaking appearance, please send him an email with all pertinent information.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 12, 2012
The political agenda overwhelms the history. What might have been an informative and compelling look at some prominent figures in American history is essentially ruined by ideological bias. I found it very disappointing.
I was hoping for something that was more of a well rounded treatment of some of the people who helped shape this country instead of an ideology based whitewash that goes so far overboard in its effort to rehabilitate the names of these "real" American heroes (apparently tainted by politically correct "revisionists") that it swerves precariously close to the realm of fairy tale.
In fairness it does contain some good basic historical information, but it seesaws back and forth between providing useful historical information and engaging in obsessive (and tedious) musings of a famous person's "manliness", "ruggedness", "morals", "traditional values" and "independent spirit" and other things which in the author's estimation are exemplary examples of true American values and spirit. In doing so, it's full of inconsistencies and contradictions.
A few things that stuck with me:
In the forward the author states that The United States cannot rightfully be considered a nation of immigrants as many of the Founding Fathers were the 3rd or 4th generation of their respective families to be born in America. Later he maintains that "the United States was built on the backs of those who were willing to risk all on the open seas" including "those commoners who...took the chance to sail to the New World and start over."
Tesla "while not a Christian" was "very moral." The fact that morality and Christianity are not mutually inclusive seems to escape the author in more than just this one instance.
While George Armstrong Custer's glory in the Civil War (or the author's preferred term the War Between the States) is given plenty of space, Custer's most well known battle - the one that resulted in his death - is barely mentioned since it is the author's stated opinion that "no one actually knows what happened on that fateful day in June 1876 other than the bare facts." That is not entirely true as there is quite a bit that is known leading up to the battle if not the actual battle itself, including the testimonies of several Indian scouts of the 7th Calvary who did not participate in the battle.
In the author's traditional world women have no need for public office or working life outside the home since they, in their womanly glory, are the backbone of society. The book celebrates the belief that "Women should use their strength and intelligence to mold future generations by their actions at home". It also seems intent on reinforcing the notion that women are equal to men but should know their place.
The author portrays Stonewall Jackson as the embodiment of the Christian soldier but throughout his biographical information neglects to even mention Jackson's first name. (It's Thomas, Thomas Jonathan Jackson). Later, in essays praising Winfield Scott and General George Patton he mentions Jackson (who served under Winfield Scott and was admired by Patton) only as Thomas Jackson with no indication of who Jackson might be.
Perhaps the greatest example of willful blindness to all but his own agenda is shown in the way the author rants against modern society's tendency to qualify entertainers, musicians, sports figures and celebrities as heroes and figures of admiration. He does this in the Introduction of the book, later in the final Conclusion section at the end of the book, and even has a condensed version in the description provided on the back cover of the book. Yet, displayed prominently on both the back cover, the front cover and the preliminary pages of the book are endorsements by Ted Nugent who is, primarily, a musician and entertainer! Even if it's just the publisher's doing it's still funny.
Making an unintentional joke even funnier, given Mr. Nugent's recent activities as a political spokesman and activist, is the inclusion in the final pages of a quote from `70s rock star Alice Cooper, "If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are."
Would I recommend this book? Well... if you have a Christian fundamentalist view of what constitutes "traditional values" and your vision of a real American runs heavy towards the John Wayne cliche then this is probably the history book for you. If you differentiate from either of those positions to any great degree then you may want to give this particular book a pass.
***I received this book in a Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway contest
I was hoping for something that was more of a well rounded treatment of some of the people who helped shape this country instead of an ideology based whitewash that goes so far overboard in its effort to rehabilitate the names of these "real" American heroes (apparently tainted by politically correct "revisionists") that it swerves precariously close to the realm of fairy tale.
In fairness it does contain some good basic historical information, but it seesaws back and forth between providing useful historical information and engaging in obsessive (and tedious) musings of a famous person's "manliness", "ruggedness", "morals", "traditional values" and "independent spirit" and other things which in the author's estimation are exemplary examples of true American values and spirit. In doing so, it's full of inconsistencies and contradictions.
A few things that stuck with me:
In the forward the author states that The United States cannot rightfully be considered a nation of immigrants as many of the Founding Fathers were the 3rd or 4th generation of their respective families to be born in America. Later he maintains that "the United States was built on the backs of those who were willing to risk all on the open seas" including "those commoners who...took the chance to sail to the New World and start over."
Tesla "while not a Christian" was "very moral." The fact that morality and Christianity are not mutually inclusive seems to escape the author in more than just this one instance.
While George Armstrong Custer's glory in the Civil War (or the author's preferred term the War Between the States) is given plenty of space, Custer's most well known battle - the one that resulted in his death - is barely mentioned since it is the author's stated opinion that "no one actually knows what happened on that fateful day in June 1876 other than the bare facts." That is not entirely true as there is quite a bit that is known leading up to the battle if not the actual battle itself, including the testimonies of several Indian scouts of the 7th Calvary who did not participate in the battle.
In the author's traditional world women have no need for public office or working life outside the home since they, in their womanly glory, are the backbone of society. The book celebrates the belief that "Women should use their strength and intelligence to mold future generations by their actions at home". It also seems intent on reinforcing the notion that women are equal to men but should know their place.
The author portrays Stonewall Jackson as the embodiment of the Christian soldier but throughout his biographical information neglects to even mention Jackson's first name. (It's Thomas, Thomas Jonathan Jackson). Later, in essays praising Winfield Scott and General George Patton he mentions Jackson (who served under Winfield Scott and was admired by Patton) only as Thomas Jackson with no indication of who Jackson might be.
Perhaps the greatest example of willful blindness to all but his own agenda is shown in the way the author rants against modern society's tendency to qualify entertainers, musicians, sports figures and celebrities as heroes and figures of admiration. He does this in the Introduction of the book, later in the final Conclusion section at the end of the book, and even has a condensed version in the description provided on the back cover of the book. Yet, displayed prominently on both the back cover, the front cover and the preliminary pages of the book are endorsements by Ted Nugent who is, primarily, a musician and entertainer! Even if it's just the publisher's doing it's still funny.
Making an unintentional joke even funnier, given Mr. Nugent's recent activities as a political spokesman and activist, is the inclusion in the final pages of a quote from `70s rock star Alice Cooper, "If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are."
Would I recommend this book? Well... if you have a Christian fundamentalist view of what constitutes "traditional values" and your vision of a real American runs heavy towards the John Wayne cliche then this is probably the history book for you. If you differentiate from either of those positions to any great degree then you may want to give this particular book a pass.
***I received this book in a Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway contest
April 28, 2013
I got this book as a gift, and being a US history teacher who likes offbeat stories, it seemed to be right up my alley. I should have been a little more skeptical from the start, considering one of the book reviewers on the back cover is Ted Nugent. Overall, this is a very amateurish, unprofessional and biased view of history. The first couple of chapters seem innocent enough, although poorly researched and cited. The author takes a topical and chronological approach to history, focusing on two or three people from each period and finding a unifying theme for them. For example, George Washington and John Dickinson give a view of the founders of America. The first two thirds of the book continue on in this way, focusing on many well known American heroes like Andrew Jackson, but focusing on some more obscure ones like Mercy Otis Warren and Augusta Jane Evans. About 100 pages into the book, the propaganda and conservative agenda really start to kick in. He praises heroes for their Christian values, modesty and adherence to the "values of the American War of Independence" (which, by the way, he never calls a "revolution" because that word is too liberal). The female heroes are basically ones who stayed loyal to their husbands even through years of neglect and abuse, his war heroes like Stonewall Jackson and George Patton show battlefield heroics and his African-American heroes are ones who turn away from government handouts and basically accept that blacks and whites will never be equal. The first part of this book was tolerable, but the author skipped over and cleaned up a lot of the stories in order to fit his conservative political agenda.
The second part of the book, where he attempts to take apart a bunch of "liberal frauds" is where the book is downright bad. He trash talks people like Woodrow Wilson and FDR as being shameless self promoters, but in the earlier parts of the book he praises Davey Crockett and John Smith for the same. He deplores how FDR turned the US into a "socialist kingdom" but doesn't discuss the huge amount of executive power that Andrew Jackson had. He praises the fighting against the odds stories of earlier heroes, but never once mentions FDR's fight with polio. In the section on FDR's handling of the Great Depression, he states that during the New Deal, unemployment was never below 14%. He fails to mention that unemployment dropped to 14% from the 30% it was when he elected. The author spends time talking about the womanizing of Wilson and the Kennedys, but never mentions how Andrew Jackson got married to a woman that wasn't officially divorced from her previous husband. Wilson is shown as a failure because his idea, the League of Nations, failed to prevent WWII but never mentioning that 1) Wilson was dead about four years after it was founded and 2) the US never joined because the conservatives in the senate didn't sign the Treaty of Versailles. Kennedy is displayed as being an ignorant fool of a president, but there is no mention of his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis, encouraging Civil Rights or encouraging education and the space race. Speaking of education, he tries to paint a negative picture of progressive education saying that John Dewey wanted the students to run the system and that we should return to traditional education, which consists of rote memorization. His lack of understanding of the educational process probably contributes to the fact that teaching positions at the university level are not among his achievements in his biography.
Overall, this is a very amateurish attempt at conservative history. His research is poorly cited (averaging about six citations per 20 page chapter, and even fewer for the liberal "frauds"). Finally, many of his points are not proven.
This book is a great example of bad history. Just like bad science, where the scientist had his conclusion in mind and selectively picks data to prove it (like a cigarette company saying smoking isn't really bad for you), the author here does the same thing. He starts with his conclusion that liberals are destroying America and we need to return to the traditional values of the founding generation. He never even attempts to point out the overwhelming amount of evidence that proves otherwise.
Sure, history is flawed. But history is flawed because both the historical figures and the historians writing about them later are flawed. To sanitize one set of figures while focusing only on the negatives of another doesn't do justice to real history.
The second part of the book, where he attempts to take apart a bunch of "liberal frauds" is where the book is downright bad. He trash talks people like Woodrow Wilson and FDR as being shameless self promoters, but in the earlier parts of the book he praises Davey Crockett and John Smith for the same. He deplores how FDR turned the US into a "socialist kingdom" but doesn't discuss the huge amount of executive power that Andrew Jackson had. He praises the fighting against the odds stories of earlier heroes, but never once mentions FDR's fight with polio. In the section on FDR's handling of the Great Depression, he states that during the New Deal, unemployment was never below 14%. He fails to mention that unemployment dropped to 14% from the 30% it was when he elected. The author spends time talking about the womanizing of Wilson and the Kennedys, but never mentions how Andrew Jackson got married to a woman that wasn't officially divorced from her previous husband. Wilson is shown as a failure because his idea, the League of Nations, failed to prevent WWII but never mentioning that 1) Wilson was dead about four years after it was founded and 2) the US never joined because the conservatives in the senate didn't sign the Treaty of Versailles. Kennedy is displayed as being an ignorant fool of a president, but there is no mention of his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis, encouraging Civil Rights or encouraging education and the space race. Speaking of education, he tries to paint a negative picture of progressive education saying that John Dewey wanted the students to run the system and that we should return to traditional education, which consists of rote memorization. His lack of understanding of the educational process probably contributes to the fact that teaching positions at the university level are not among his achievements in his biography.
Overall, this is a very amateurish attempt at conservative history. His research is poorly cited (averaging about six citations per 20 page chapter, and even fewer for the liberal "frauds"). Finally, many of his points are not proven.
This book is a great example of bad history. Just like bad science, where the scientist had his conclusion in mind and selectively picks data to prove it (like a cigarette company saying smoking isn't really bad for you), the author here does the same thing. He starts with his conclusion that liberals are destroying America and we need to return to the traditional values of the founding generation. He never even attempts to point out the overwhelming amount of evidence that proves otherwise.
Sure, history is flawed. But history is flawed because both the historical figures and the historians writing about them later are flawed. To sanitize one set of figures while focusing only on the negatives of another doesn't do justice to real history.
February 10, 2013
This is an interesting read. Although you may or may not agree with McClanahan's assertions as to who was a "real American hero", you will agree that many of the people covered in this book have been all but forgotten or forced into a shadow of, well, politically in-correctness. Some of these people were barely talked about when I was in school. I have asked my sons and neither one of them have heretofore covered them in any detail.
I had "heard of" many of the "heroes" he wrote about, however they were not present in my scholastic history book. Surpsingley in the book, he also comments on those false heroes; those that are lauded incorrectly by the masses. I did add at least 30 books to my "to read" list after reading this book.
One of the personages he writes about in the "Feminist Frauds" is Margaret Sanger who founded Planned Parenthood. One of the things McClanahan points out is that she was an opponent of abortion hence her fight to bring birth-control to the masses. He explains how she, and others in the same "fraud" category had their respective movements high-jacked and turned into something they did not want during the inspection. Many of those founders being ousted from their positions and later writing against the new evolved movement.
Recently there was a debate about contraceptives, and although I perfectly understand how some people may feel either way, I do not think it is up to the Federal Government to legislate something one way or the other. I believe this is the problem with the two party system we have; they are both authoritative and will use force to make you comply. These elected officials are but there to protect our rights not find new ways to control or deny them to us.
Some reviewers accuse him of having a partisan spin on his book and although I would tend to agree with that, anyone who picks this book up, has to know that it is the "Politically Incorrect Guide"
I had "heard of" many of the "heroes" he wrote about, however they were not present in my scholastic history book. Surpsingley in the book, he also comments on those false heroes; those that are lauded incorrectly by the masses. I did add at least 30 books to my "to read" list after reading this book.
One of the personages he writes about in the "Feminist Frauds" is Margaret Sanger who founded Planned Parenthood. One of the things McClanahan points out is that she was an opponent of abortion hence her fight to bring birth-control to the masses. He explains how she, and others in the same "fraud" category had their respective movements high-jacked and turned into something they did not want during the inspection. Many of those founders being ousted from their positions and later writing against the new evolved movement.
Recently there was a debate about contraceptives, and although I perfectly understand how some people may feel either way, I do not think it is up to the Federal Government to legislate something one way or the other. I believe this is the problem with the two party system we have; they are both authoritative and will use force to make you comply. These elected officials are but there to protect our rights not find new ways to control or deny them to us.
Some reviewers accuse him of having a partisan spin on his book and although I would tend to agree with that, anyone who picks this book up, has to know that it is the "Politically Incorrect Guide"
December 10, 2018
I think this guy would like nothing better than to go back to colonial times where women were at home being "helpmeets". when I first started reading this, I was horrified and thought oh crap, I picked up a right wing diatribe about everything wrong with anyone not a white maleconservative republican. I almost quit reading, But, being an open-minded person, I decided it wouldn't kill me to listen to what a white male conservative had to say and who he thought should be heroes.
First of all, I do know history, I love history, and most of what he talks about I already knew. I knew that most of the presidents in history were anit-semitic...Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Harry Truman and probably many many more. Why? because that was the times, that was what people were taught, especially in our ultra conservative Christian homes...Jews were Christ killer, the enemy of the one true god. Hopefully that mindset has changed , however, I am often blindsided by the abject hatred some people have for Jewish anything. of course it doesn't stop there, name anyone of a different color, religion or sexual orientation than the above Christian conservatives who are white and right, and everyone else is lacking.
this guy believes women were happy to be at home and be able to feminine and "taken care of"
he doesn't mention the fact that women didn't have the vote, were not allowed to have property, if the husband left her, he got the children, if she left him because he beat her or was a drunk, she was vilified and still didn't get her property or her children,
he talks about George Washington Carver stating that the negroes who belonged to his slave master were happy and taken care of. oh my God...
He talks about FDR as if he had a complete god/emperor complex and how he stole Hoover';s ideas and ran our country into the ground. He has nothing good to say about any kennedy, other than to vilify them , talk about their sexual peccadillos and spout rumors as if they were facts.
He says germaine greer was mild compared to the lesbian rabble rousing women under Gloria steinham who took over the women's movement.
The man really wants to live in the antebellum south, with slaves , slave owners , women as chattle.
Once in a while he mentioned someone I liked. Buzz Aldrin, who I think is a great person. however, I fear that if anyone of sound mind and up to date mores and ideas who likes Aldrin reads this, they may decide to quit liking him just because this cretiin does.
He talks about the democratic presidents who were cheaters, doesn't mention the ones who weren't, he NEVER talks about the republican presidents who cheated on their wives.
This guy is really a one note speaker
I don't mind reading differing points, but when it is nothing but regurgitated rumors and proven lies, then I am just reminded of Trump.
First of all, I do know history, I love history, and most of what he talks about I already knew. I knew that most of the presidents in history were anit-semitic...Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Harry Truman and probably many many more. Why? because that was the times, that was what people were taught, especially in our ultra conservative Christian homes...Jews were Christ killer, the enemy of the one true god. Hopefully that mindset has changed , however, I am often blindsided by the abject hatred some people have for Jewish anything. of course it doesn't stop there, name anyone of a different color, religion or sexual orientation than the above Christian conservatives who are white and right, and everyone else is lacking.
this guy believes women were happy to be at home and be able to feminine and "taken care of"
he doesn't mention the fact that women didn't have the vote, were not allowed to have property, if the husband left her, he got the children, if she left him because he beat her or was a drunk, she was vilified and still didn't get her property or her children,
he talks about George Washington Carver stating that the negroes who belonged to his slave master were happy and taken care of. oh my God...
He talks about FDR as if he had a complete god/emperor complex and how he stole Hoover';s ideas and ran our country into the ground. He has nothing good to say about any kennedy, other than to vilify them , talk about their sexual peccadillos and spout rumors as if they were facts.
He says germaine greer was mild compared to the lesbian rabble rousing women under Gloria steinham who took over the women's movement.
The man really wants to live in the antebellum south, with slaves , slave owners , women as chattle.
Once in a while he mentioned someone I liked. Buzz Aldrin, who I think is a great person. however, I fear that if anyone of sound mind and up to date mores and ideas who likes Aldrin reads this, they may decide to quit liking him just because this cretiin does.
He talks about the democratic presidents who were cheaters, doesn't mention the ones who weren't, he NEVER talks about the republican presidents who cheated on their wives.
This guy is really a one note speaker
I don't mind reading differing points, but when it is nothing but regurgitated rumors and proven lies, then I am just reminded of Trump.
October 8, 2015
I had hoped for some funny anecdotes, but found it initially preachy, more clearly anti liberal, then finally becoming increasingly offensive due to the voluminous negative opinions and accusations supported by facts. By section 7 it became very predictable as to who to expect to be degraded. It appears to be nothing more than Tea Party Propaganda.
July 26, 2017
Some very interesting stuff here. I learned some new things. I don't know why he included a section about people that are obviously not hero's in a book about hero's, though. He makes several good points and I completely agree with his assessment of the Kennedy clan.
April 5, 2021
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Real American Heroes by Brion T. McClanahan takes on the left's current sport of trashing the reputations and accomplishments of our country's heroes and the effort to erase their names from our founding as well as tearing down monuments and statues that were put up in their honor. It usually takes the form of judging key figures from our past of two or three hundred years ago by the "enlightened" standards of today. "According to the Left, the Founding Fathers were not noble architects of America, but selfish demagogues. And self–made entrepreneurs like Rockefeller were robber–barons and corporate polluters. Instead of honoring great men from America’s past, kids today now idolize rock stars, pro athletes and Hollywood celebrities."
In this book, "The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Real American Heroes, author Brion McClanahan rescues the legendary deeds of the greatest Americans and shows why we ought to venerate heroes like Captain John Smith, adventurer Daniel Boone, General Robert E. Lee and many more." The author not only resuscitates America’s forgotten heroes, but sheds light on some of the Left’s most cherished figures, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Kennedys. With biting wit and devastating detail, McClanahan strikes back against the multicultural narrative peddled by liberal historians who make heroes out of pop culture icons and corrupt politicians and reminds us why these individuals were idolized for their commitment and contributions to this country in the first place. In America’s hour of peril, this author’s book is a timely and entertaining call to remember the heritage of this great nation and the heroes who built it.
In this book, "The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Real American Heroes, author Brion McClanahan rescues the legendary deeds of the greatest Americans and shows why we ought to venerate heroes like Captain John Smith, adventurer Daniel Boone, General Robert E. Lee and many more." The author not only resuscitates America’s forgotten heroes, but sheds light on some of the Left’s most cherished figures, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Kennedys. With biting wit and devastating detail, McClanahan strikes back against the multicultural narrative peddled by liberal historians who make heroes out of pop culture icons and corrupt politicians and reminds us why these individuals were idolized for their commitment and contributions to this country in the first place. In America’s hour of peril, this author’s book is a timely and entertaining call to remember the heritage of this great nation and the heroes who built it.
February 11, 2024
Several years ago I was asked to explain to a group of elementary school kids what a hero was. In the process of preparing I came up with this definition: A hero is anyone who makes a choice to make a sacrifice in the hope of making a difference. I went on to illustrate this idea my telling about my Italian immigrant grandfather and how he made a choice to sacrifice leaving his home country in 1917 to come to America with little more than a hope of making a better life for the family he hoped to have some day. He went on to to become a US citizen, something he was very proud of, survive two world wars, the great pandemic of 1918-19, and the great depression. He also raised two beautiful daughters, one of whom was my mom. He was a hero in my book.
I picked up this book looking for a brief overview of this type of person. I did not pick this up looking for an in depth study of each of these men and women. I also did not pick up this book hoping to read about a bunch of perfect people, for perfect people have never existed, with one notable exception.
This book was a lighthearted look at the lives of some imperfect people who made a choice to make a sacrifice in the hope of making a difference. Yes, it is right-leaning, but I am sure there is a left-leaning equivalent out in the world somewhere. The importance question is do they both tell the truth about who they are writing about, a truth governed and shaped by facts and not by politics and ideologies. History is truth. If you are writing about historic figures, you need to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
I picked up this book looking for a brief overview of this type of person. I did not pick this up looking for an in depth study of each of these men and women. I also did not pick up this book hoping to read about a bunch of perfect people, for perfect people have never existed, with one notable exception.
This book was a lighthearted look at the lives of some imperfect people who made a choice to make a sacrifice in the hope of making a difference. Yes, it is right-leaning, but I am sure there is a left-leaning equivalent out in the world somewhere. The importance question is do they both tell the truth about who they are writing about, a truth governed and shaped by facts and not by politics and ideologies. History is truth. If you are writing about historic figures, you need to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
June 7, 2020
I would recommend this book to any American wanting to know more about great Americans that are largely forgotten by today's public education system (Bowie, Austin and Daniel Boone fall into that camp); or who are buried because their character flaws or moral failings have caused them to fall out of favor despite great achievements (John Smith, etc). Also accomplished is the leveling of the liberal progressives favorites: Wilson, FDR, Dewey, et al. I enjoyed it greatly and wish this material was taught in actual civics classes in live American classrooms.
February 26, 2020
Too nasty, mean, and hate filled for my taste. We need more authors to bring cohesion to the country and not divisiveness.
Some good heros were chosen, it was the writing style that got to me by the end. By the end, it is not a book to make you happy and proud of America's heroes.
I find this series of politcally incorrect books overall thought provoking and interesting, but wish this tome had been not so filled with hate.
Some good heros were chosen, it was the writing style that got to me by the end. By the end, it is not a book to make you happy and proud of America's heroes.
I find this series of politcally incorrect books overall thought provoking and interesting, but wish this tome had been not so filled with hate.
December 29, 2017
Obviously slanted, and while I appreciate the emphasis on the values he chose, I don't appreciate extremism on either side--so this was informative, made some excellent points, but was riddled with off-putting language for the sake of being politically incorrect. Yeah, I get it, that's the POINT; but it just sits about as well with me as liberal extremism does.
September 14, 2018
Great Introduction to American Heroes
Here's an excellent book for someone not too familiar with great Americans or who would like to learn about a few more. The book has influenced me to learn more about businessmen like Andrew Carnegie and Rockefeller and inventors like Westinghouse and Tesla. The book reads very quickly and is worth every penny.
Here's an excellent book for someone not too familiar with great Americans or who would like to learn about a few more. The book has influenced me to learn more about businessmen like Andrew Carnegie and Rockefeller and inventors like Westinghouse and Tesla. The book reads very quickly and is worth every penny.
May 20, 2021
This book is exactly what it purports. A right wing perspective on American historical figures. Although, it feels for the most part that it shares facts about the lives and events it reports; it is filled with rhetorical language and skewed assessment.
It was hard not to roll my eyes every time is was faced with a re-teaching of American history.
It was hard not to roll my eyes every time is was faced with a re-teaching of American history.
January 3, 2025
Excellent book that covers a lot of “heroes”. The best part of the book is it provides lists of “books you’re not supposed to read” which I’ve added to my reading list. As expected, with so many heroes discussed, each only gets 4-8 pages of write-up but it does whet your appetite. This is an easy, quick read, and worth your time.
March 14, 2021
Good info
With what is going on in America in 2021 I found this book to be excellent in rediscovering the folks that worked hard to become heroes. It naturally tears down the lies that many are taught about some of these historical figures. Anybody, especially young students.
With what is going on in America in 2021 I found this book to be excellent in rediscovering the folks that worked hard to become heroes. It naturally tears down the lies that many are taught about some of these historical figures. Anybody, especially young students.
December 4, 2020
I loved this!
March 30, 2022
A fascinating swath of real heroes and villains: Captain John Smith, Daniel Boone, Stephen Decatur, and the Kennedys.
June 2, 2016
Well at first this sounded fun a little bit of American history with a little politically incorrect irreverence. Its written from the extreme conservative point of view, following the idea that too many American hero's have been forgotten because of the focuses on the stories of the minorities.
So OK I continue and give it the chance and yes it did have some interesting history on some Genuinely fascinating if not all together perfect individuals. some we're a little obvious like George Washington, or Buzz Aldrain, but many were less famous who i hadn't read more than a line or 2 about. On the other hand he's continually focused on how not having these people as heroes is ruining America, he does include a few women in his heroes list but focus's on how they accepted women's submissive role to men.
The The bottom falls the book looses what little respect it had by spot lighting people it feels are frauds. Instead of using its opportunity to expand further on previously featured individuals or giving us other good biography of American history, it launches attacks on liberal icons from history. And while the individuals he covers were all flawed he attacks them using them as examples of why feminism, progressiveness and activism has ruined America.
I feel a little dirty giving this book the 3 stars i did, but the fact is when he's not laser focused on proving ultra conservatism is good and any form of liberalism is bad he does give a good run down of a large number of great, but flawed individuals.
So OK I continue and give it the chance and yes it did have some interesting history on some Genuinely fascinating if not all together perfect individuals. some we're a little obvious like George Washington, or Buzz Aldrain, but many were less famous who i hadn't read more than a line or 2 about. On the other hand he's continually focused on how not having these people as heroes is ruining America, he does include a few women in his heroes list but focus's on how they accepted women's submissive role to men.
The The bottom falls the book looses what little respect it had by spot lighting people it feels are frauds. Instead of using its opportunity to expand further on previously featured individuals or giving us other good biography of American history, it launches attacks on liberal icons from history. And while the individuals he covers were all flawed he attacks them using them as examples of why feminism, progressiveness and activism has ruined America.
I feel a little dirty giving this book the 3 stars i did, but the fact is when he's not laser focused on proving ultra conservatism is good and any form of liberalism is bad he does give a good run down of a large number of great, but flawed individuals.
May 21, 2013
This is another book I began months ago. It's collected biography of true American heroes, conservative style, with exposes of liberal "heroes" that were less than heroic, though you'd never know that by the history taught in most schools. Prejudiced, so not all the history is so balanced as it could be. (You get the capitalism-is-wonderful view of Rockefeller and Carnegie, conveniently ignoring their less than admirable business practices.)
May 6, 2014
John Smith VA map/history, Daniel Boone poor deals, John Dickinson letter from a farmer, sailors John Paul Jones, Stephen Decatur, Andrew Jackson, Davey Crockett, Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Joshua Chamberlain as Custer, Warren, Augusta Evans, Rockefeller and Carnegie, Westinghouse and Nicholas Tesla, George Washington Carver, Winfield Scott, Lindbergh, Buzz Aldrin, not are John Dewey Hurley Wilson FDR Sanger Kennedy.
October 27, 2013
This author is for sure very biased toward the defense of the constitution and traditional Christian values and morals. He does not mince words and describing the real lives of alleged American heroes who parted from those values.
But that was the truth I was seeking and I certainly gained a lot of new perspectives on history that I was not taught in school.
But that was the truth I was seeking and I certainly gained a lot of new perspectives on history that I was not taught in school.
Want to read
January 1, 2013"*** I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads ***
** The Giveaway was Listed By Brion **
* I received my copy on Thur, Nov 8th, 2012 *
THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRST READS AND Brion! "
** The Giveaway was Listed By Brion **
* I received my copy on Thur, Nov 8th, 2012 *
THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRST READS AND Brion! "
January 22, 2017
The content is interesting and book would be great if the author's voice could be removed. As the intro stated the book's goal is to move away from minority and women American heroes and ignore shortcomings of historical ones which echo throughout the book
July 16, 2013
I did like the, "Books You're Not Supposed to Read" sections.
May 22, 2014
Too biased for my taste.
March 1, 2016
Would that every American could read this book.
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