What do you think?
Rate this book
History's Greatest Lies: The Startling Truth Behind World Events Our History Books Got Wrong
Acclaimed history writer William Weir takes on the most common myths that our school textbooks have proliferated through the years. He not only uncovers some startling untruths, but also he exposes the reasoning behind each lie and examines why the myths keep going. The true stories behind historical events give readers a fascinating new look at our past. The revelations shock and amaze by exposing veiled motivations and convenient inaccuracies in well-documented actions by established leaders that often have a continuing effect on the world.
Each of the fifteen chapters points out a myth that is held as a common truth in history and summarizes what we think we know. Then the author shreds the tale to academic ribbons using the latest findings on each subject. Each true story sets the record straight, reveals timeless ulterior motives, introduces important personalities who successfully (and suspiciously) avoided responsibility in common history texts, and notes underlining issues that have continued relevance in the modern age. For instance, did Nero really fiddle as Rome burned? Did Paul Revere actually alert the militia that the British were coming? Did the Catholic Church imprison Galileo because his teachings conflicted with the Bible?
Weir travels through the globe and time to bring you the stories behind the people, the places, and conflicts you thought you knew. The results is a captivating read for history enthusiasts or those just hungry for the truth.
Each of the fifteen chapters points out a myth that is held as a common truth in history and summarizes what we think we know. Then the author shreds the tale to academic ribbons using the latest findings on each subject. Each true story sets the record straight, reveals timeless ulterior motives, introduces important personalities who successfully (and suspiciously) avoided responsibility in common history texts, and notes underlining issues that have continued relevance in the modern age. For instance, did Nero really fiddle as Rome burned? Did Paul Revere actually alert the militia that the British were coming? Did the Catholic Church imprison Galileo because his teachings conflicted with the Bible?
Weir travels through the globe and time to bring you the stories behind the people, the places, and conflicts you thought you knew. The results is a captivating read for history enthusiasts or those just hungry for the truth.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
85 people are currently reading
857 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 15, 2018
Remember the game of "Gossip" where you whispered a sentence in a person's ear and they passed it down the line?........the original statement changed dramatically as it passed from person to person. It is a little bit like history as put forth in this book. The author looks at 15 historic events in world history and purports that as time went by, the events were greatly modified from the original and became accepted as the truth. Granted, this is true in many cases.....some criminals were seen as Robin Hoods instead of cold blooded killers, Nero didn't fiddle while Rome burned, and it was not Cortez who massacred the Aztecs. Research has proved that some history is a product of imagination rather than fact; however, a few of the events in this book labelled "history's lies" are suspect in my opinion. The author has done his research but some of his conclusions raise questions.
I thought one example was particularly unbelievable. Public Enemy #1, John Dillinger, was really not killed outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. Instead the man gunned down by the FBI was named Jimmy Lawrence who didn't even resemble Dillinger. When the FBI discovered their error, J. Edgar Hoover covered his reputation by claiming that the FBI had brought down the most famous gangster of the period. The author claims that in reality Dillinger lived out his life in California. Although the author gives his reasons for putting forth this theory, I was not convinced (although I wouldn't have put anything past Hoover).
I may be too cynical but I wasn't accepting of some of the "lies" described in this book. Give it a try and see what you think.
I thought one example was particularly unbelievable. Public Enemy #1, John Dillinger, was really not killed outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. Instead the man gunned down by the FBI was named Jimmy Lawrence who didn't even resemble Dillinger. When the FBI discovered their error, J. Edgar Hoover covered his reputation by claiming that the FBI had brought down the most famous gangster of the period. The author claims that in reality Dillinger lived out his life in California. Although the author gives his reasons for putting forth this theory, I was not convinced (although I wouldn't have put anything past Hoover).
I may be too cynical but I wasn't accepting of some of the "lies" described in this book. Give it a try and see what you think.
September 23, 2016
The title makes it seem like it's going to be much more of an expose, in the same vein as Lies My Teacher Told Me. In reality, it's just clearing up some misconceptions. Some of the chapters actually seem to come to the conclusion that the "lie" is pretty much the truth. Some of the historical stories are interesting, but some of them are very familiar to anyone who's studied history in any depth. C+.
August 31, 2014
This is an entertaining read for history buffs (and perhaps for reluctant readers). Weir goes into several oft-repeated historic tales and exposes the lies- then tells the truth (or, in a couple cases, as close to the truth as we can know). For example, that story about Nero fiddling while Rome burned? Didn't happen (for starters, the fiddle didn't come into existence until more than a thousand years after Nero's death). Indeed, while Nero was no great emperor (in fact, he was probably the worst one, after Calligula, in my opinion), his actions during the fire that destroyed a large part of Rome were probably his most noble. According to Weir, Nero risked his life several times to save others.
The most intriguing story was about the death of John Dillenger. The official story is that Dillenger was fatally shot by FBI agents outside a Chicago theater in July 1934. However, forensics evidence (and the lack of it) and conflicting stories casts doubt on this. Throw in that J. Edgar Hoover needed Dillenger's death to retain his own job after a previous capture attempt went horribly wrong, it's not hard to believe that there could have been a cover-up.
The most disturbing was the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, anti-Semitic propaganda crafted during Tsar Nicholas II's regime by his cohorts to deflect attention from the tsar's ineffectual leadership. In case you have never heard of this (I had not), the Protocols were supposed to be an outline of a Jewish plan to take over the world. Nicholas II, having some honor, actually rejected using it once he realized upon investigation that the so-called documents were a forgery but the Protocols still managed to spread. The Protocols are partially responsible for one of the greatest atrocities in modern history, the Holocaust. There are still segments of the world's population that still believe it. Sickening.
There's a lengthy bibliography and notes. The book is chock full of illustrations and sidebars, and the histories are told in an easy to follow, engaging style. Those who like history should enjoy this, and I can see even those who may not like reading liking this book's easy-to-follow format.
The most intriguing story was about the death of John Dillenger. The official story is that Dillenger was fatally shot by FBI agents outside a Chicago theater in July 1934. However, forensics evidence (and the lack of it) and conflicting stories casts doubt on this. Throw in that J. Edgar Hoover needed Dillenger's death to retain his own job after a previous capture attempt went horribly wrong, it's not hard to believe that there could have been a cover-up.
The most disturbing was the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, anti-Semitic propaganda crafted during Tsar Nicholas II's regime by his cohorts to deflect attention from the tsar's ineffectual leadership. In case you have never heard of this (I had not), the Protocols were supposed to be an outline of a Jewish plan to take over the world. Nicholas II, having some honor, actually rejected using it once he realized upon investigation that the so-called documents were a forgery but the Protocols still managed to spread. The Protocols are partially responsible for one of the greatest atrocities in modern history, the Holocaust. There are still segments of the world's population that still believe it. Sickening.
There's a lengthy bibliography and notes. The book is chock full of illustrations and sidebars, and the histories are told in an easy to follow, engaging style. Those who like history should enjoy this, and I can see even those who may not like reading liking this book's easy-to-follow format.
January 2, 2021
So...this was not a good book. Honestly, I feel the title was a bit deceptive as it functioned more as a coffee table book. Lies...more like historical misunderstandings. I felt 99% of the information could have been found on Wikipedia and I also felt the writing style...lacked. The only reason I didn’t give this a single star is the pictures were kinda neat And this was a Christmas present from my mom.
October 29, 2024
Such a great book! Would love to read it again!!
December 12, 2015
This turned out to be an interesting read but I question Mr. Weir's claims on a few of histories lies. John Dillinger wasn't killed in 1934. Really? First time I ever heard this one. The American brief war with the Philippines was a holy war? Again, first time hearing this one.
Though it was entertaining, I will add this one to my fiction collection. Some amazing artwork to go along with the stories in an effort to persuade the reader I will give him that.
Though it was entertaining, I will add this one to my fiction collection. Some amazing artwork to go along with the stories in an effort to persuade the reader I will give him that.
October 24, 2020
History is classified as an assemblage of chronological true-life events that have affected humans. But is it in actual fact so? Is History always based on facts? Do these events influence everyone?
Throughout ages history has been moulded to costume people’s need. Not just common people but also the needs of those in power.
That is the historian's way with a document, and history is what he makes of it - his story.
History lies? It does at times. Sometimes it even inflates or generalizes.
We have been fed baseless yarns when it came to Emperor Nero who played the fiddle while Rome burned. If truth be told, fiddles weren't invented until later.
We have been taught that the second Ramesses’ single-handedly routed the Hittites at Kadesh—a battle in which he was in point of fact providential to escape with his life. We have been taught that the Goths were savages who destroyed whatever was in their path, including Rome. In truth, however, the Goths were fairly well advanced, fought with Romans, and wanted more recognition for their work.
This book is a sampling of historical lies and legends—the malevolent and the naive, those aimed to lionize the teller, and those used to demonize his adversaries.
When you conclude reading this book, you realize that the whole thing is raw material for history, but history is what historians have the visualization to uncover, or what they chose to do; so there are only fractional histories.
The proper historian is moved by inquisitiveness, the frenzy to know just for the sake of knowing, and by the craving to relate for the sake of relating. When they recognize and portray events, historians write history.
As with novelists (who simply write lying history), their elucidation lies in the tale they tell. Description is narration; narration is explanation; there is no historical explanation in the scientific sense, only comprehensive description.
In the fifteen chapters, divided into six sections, William Weir busts many known facts.
A curious read.
Throughout ages history has been moulded to costume people’s need. Not just common people but also the needs of those in power.
That is the historian's way with a document, and history is what he makes of it - his story.
History lies? It does at times. Sometimes it even inflates or generalizes.
We have been fed baseless yarns when it came to Emperor Nero who played the fiddle while Rome burned. If truth be told, fiddles weren't invented until later.
We have been taught that the second Ramesses’ single-handedly routed the Hittites at Kadesh—a battle in which he was in point of fact providential to escape with his life. We have been taught that the Goths were savages who destroyed whatever was in their path, including Rome. In truth, however, the Goths were fairly well advanced, fought with Romans, and wanted more recognition for their work.
This book is a sampling of historical lies and legends—the malevolent and the naive, those aimed to lionize the teller, and those used to demonize his adversaries.
When you conclude reading this book, you realize that the whole thing is raw material for history, but history is what historians have the visualization to uncover, or what they chose to do; so there are only fractional histories.
The proper historian is moved by inquisitiveness, the frenzy to know just for the sake of knowing, and by the craving to relate for the sake of relating. When they recognize and portray events, historians write history.
As with novelists (who simply write lying history), their elucidation lies in the tale they tell. Description is narration; narration is explanation; there is no historical explanation in the scientific sense, only comprehensive description.
In the fifteen chapters, divided into six sections, William Weir busts many known facts.
A curious read.
February 13, 2024
Ok ok they are lies. I’ll give him that. But history’s “GREATEST” lies? Ya nah I don’t think so. Nothing revealed here even mattered in the big picture. Not to me anyway. I imagine 90% or more of what we know, we only think we know, and that is what we were told to know, is all lies anyway. Surprise surprise! I mean really. And what's left is the stuff we have seen or experienced ourselves. No revelation here. Truth didn't die recently. From my own experience, it's been dead for more than 6 decades. We are just catching on. If you like books that read like your long winded high school history text books driving home inaccurate irrelevant history lessons you couldn't care less about, then this book is for you. If not, move along folks. Nothing here to see.
November 3, 2020
15 Stories in 265 pages with quite a few good pictures there also. They cover from Ancients through modern Afghanistan.
Interesting takes on many different stories on some historical facts and some incidents that you may never heard of. Light reading and you can put down and pick up again reading at your convenience. You might even find some of the stories compelling......some, not so much.
Interesting takes on many different stories on some historical facts and some incidents that you may never heard of. Light reading and you can put down and pick up again reading at your convenience. You might even find some of the stories compelling......some, not so much.
May 14, 2023
It took me 13 years or so, but I finished the book.
There are some interesting notes that Weir presents that turns certain western teachings on their head. Along with other reviewer’s comments, there are some questionable conclusions to some stories. However, the perspectives help open some avenues for re-evaluation of events.
There are some interesting notes that Weir presents that turns certain western teachings on their head. Along with other reviewer’s comments, there are some questionable conclusions to some stories. However, the perspectives help open some avenues for re-evaluation of events.
January 8, 2019
Maybe I don't know a lot about history but non of these myths really were taught to me and it wasn't relatable at all like he said it was going to be.
Also, check his resources...I wouldn't call this a credible history book at all.
Also, check his resources...I wouldn't call this a credible history book at all.
March 29, 2021
I thought this was pretty good.
November 8, 2023
Half of it is interesting, but the rest of it is almost irrelevant.
June 25, 2009
This book has an intriguing thesis: We have been led astray often by false views of history. This is boldly stated at the outset of the volume (Page 6): "History lies? Well, maybe sometimes it exaggerates, or oversimplifies. . .This book is a sampling of historical lies and myths--the evil and the innocent, those aimed to glorify the teller, and those used to demonize his opponents."
Perhaps the best way of proceeding is to mention some of the examples, and let readers of this review decide if this book might be for them.
Myth: The Emperor Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned. Reality: Nope. Indeed, fiddles weren't invented until later. Nero was a wretched emperor of Rome, no doubt of that. But the author notes that there is not a whit of evidence that he had anything to do with the fire or played music as Rome burned.
Myth: The Goths were savages who destroyed whatever was in their path, including Rome. Reality: The Goths were actually fairly well advanced, fought with Romans, and wanted more recognition for their work. Alaric, a Gothic leader, in fact, had been a major figure leading Gothic troops in alliance with the Roman Empire.
Myth: Paul Revere made his midnight ride to warn key Revolutionary leaders that the British were on the move. Reality: He got captured before he could complete his mission; other riders fulfilled the mission.
Myth: Jesse James was an American version of Robin Hood (ugh). Reality: He was a thief. Indeed, a recent major biography of Jesse James is convincing that he was hardly an exemplar of virtue (authored by Stiles).
Etc. Most of the vignettes are pretty well substantiated.
The value of this book is, simply, to raise questions about commonly accepted views of history. It is sometimes important to confront people's commonly held views, to get them to think more critically. To the extent that this volume can achieve that, it will have had some value.
Perhaps the best way of proceeding is to mention some of the examples, and let readers of this review decide if this book might be for them.
Myth: The Emperor Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned. Reality: Nope. Indeed, fiddles weren't invented until later. Nero was a wretched emperor of Rome, no doubt of that. But the author notes that there is not a whit of evidence that he had anything to do with the fire or played music as Rome burned.
Myth: The Goths were savages who destroyed whatever was in their path, including Rome. Reality: The Goths were actually fairly well advanced, fought with Romans, and wanted more recognition for their work. Alaric, a Gothic leader, in fact, had been a major figure leading Gothic troops in alliance with the Roman Empire.
Myth: Paul Revere made his midnight ride to warn key Revolutionary leaders that the British were on the move. Reality: He got captured before he could complete his mission; other riders fulfilled the mission.
Myth: Jesse James was an American version of Robin Hood (ugh). Reality: He was a thief. Indeed, a recent major biography of Jesse James is convincing that he was hardly an exemplar of virtue (authored by Stiles).
Etc. Most of the vignettes are pretty well substantiated.
The value of this book is, simply, to raise questions about commonly accepted views of history. It is sometimes important to confront people's commonly held views, to get them to think more critically. To the extent that this volume can achieve that, it will have had some value.
March 19, 2014
I really liked this book and thought it was a fairly good read. The book is about how some "truths" told to people by history textbooks, famous people, etc. were actually false or misinterpreted. The author covers a wide range of different time periods and topics including the Great Fire of Ancient Rome, the Horrors in the Bastille and the Shoot out at OK Corral (Earp Gang vs. the "Cowboys" Gang).
The author had a fairly good style and voice in the book, using a plethora of words and phrases, but at times the book seemed to become rather dry. I actually found myself losing interest in some chapters, wanting to skip over them quickly, but I refrained myself. That being said, the entire novel did have some rather interesting chapters and lines that made me want to read the entire chapter all at once, wishing the entire book was as exciting as this certain chapter. The author writes the book in a third-person limited omniscient point of view, giving us a small amount of insight on some characters thoughts whilst a certain historical event was going on. This view allowed the reader to know a bit more about characters that most history books seemed to rather briefly cover.
The plot of the book, although changing topics completely after each chapter, is very well defined and well developed due to the author's use of introducing each topic to us very well by covering both the myth and factual aspects of each historical legend. Being a historical book, however, the plot of some chapters did lack some basic storyline aspects such as a climax, but this is to be expected in this genre.
Overall, I did enjoy this book because it covered a topic I liked and was decently written. My rating has to do with an average star rating based on how much I enjoyed the topic (4/5), how well I thought the story was written (3/5), and how well I felt the author kept my interest (3/5); a total score of 3/5 stars
The author had a fairly good style and voice in the book, using a plethora of words and phrases, but at times the book seemed to become rather dry. I actually found myself losing interest in some chapters, wanting to skip over them quickly, but I refrained myself. That being said, the entire novel did have some rather interesting chapters and lines that made me want to read the entire chapter all at once, wishing the entire book was as exciting as this certain chapter. The author writes the book in a third-person limited omniscient point of view, giving us a small amount of insight on some characters thoughts whilst a certain historical event was going on. This view allowed the reader to know a bit more about characters that most history books seemed to rather briefly cover.
The plot of the book, although changing topics completely after each chapter, is very well defined and well developed due to the author's use of introducing each topic to us very well by covering both the myth and factual aspects of each historical legend. Being a historical book, however, the plot of some chapters did lack some basic storyline aspects such as a climax, but this is to be expected in this genre.
Overall, I did enjoy this book because it covered a topic I liked and was decently written. My rating has to do with an average star rating based on how much I enjoyed the topic (4/5), how well I thought the story was written (3/5), and how well I felt the author kept my interest (3/5); a total score of 3/5 stars
July 20, 2010
The revelations in the book shock and amaze by exposing veiled motivations and convenient inaccuracies in well-documented events by established leaders that often have a continuing affect on the world. Each chapter points out a lie that is held as a common truth in history, and summarises what we think we know. Then the author shreds the lie to academic ribbons using the latest findings on each subject. Each true story sets the record straight, revealing timeless ulterior motives, and introducing important personalities who successfully (and suspiciously) avoided responsibility in common history texts.
August 6, 2016
The main problem with this is that the chapters and ideas chosen don't seem to be lies as such, Afghanistan can't be conquered isn't exactly a world famous lie, nor is the Goths are barbarians, and anybody believing the protocols of the elders of Zion isn't a lie are not going to be convinced ny this, sadly yet another set of random essays with very little connecting tissue.
December 26, 2014
Generates thoughts and broadens insight
Well sourced and written in a story telling fashion. Provides great insight into a few of history's great events. Though the book claims tell the truth that history books got wrong, the book provides poor analysis of the "so what" of these events that makes history important.
Well sourced and written in a story telling fashion. Provides great insight into a few of history's great events. Though the book claims tell the truth that history books got wrong, the book provides poor analysis of the "so what" of these events that makes history important.
April 24, 2019
This is a very quirky, enjoyable book, it takes many historical "myths" and disproves them. The thing I wonder is, all along historians said it was one was, in this authors view the "mythical" way. Now he says we've been lied to all these years, whose really correct? However, very broad subject matter it covered topics in many various times of history which made it a very interesting read.
January 28, 2016
the book actually lives up to its title, exposing popular simplified historical stories as masking far more complex narratives. It is NOT alternative history: it presents well-researched summaries of the historical consensus for each topic. The point is that real history is a lot messier than the timelines we learn in school. This is an excellent point.
February 9, 2010
This was an interesting read, though not a particularly enlightening one. I suppose I was lucky enough to get the more 'true' version of history when I was in school. I did enjoy this book and I think there is a whole lot of material that would fall under the underlying 'theme' of this book.
Currently reading
May 12, 2013Still reading it, on page 55, so far I've read about the Egyptian lies, Christians were always the scapegoats, since the great fire of 64 A.D. And there's not much nice to say about them throughout history, read e book, I'm sure I'll learn more true facts about History as I keep reading.
February 27, 2016
This has been the best all around "trivia" book yet. I've read a bunch, and this one tackles fewer issues, but spends more time on explaining why the myths perpetuated and what actually happened. Highly recommend this one.
October 21, 2013
Provides the "real" story behind some of history's enduring myths, from ancient to recent. I use quotes around real because I think in some cases he doesn't provide enough backstory, but overall an enjoyable read, and a nice addition to my reference section.
January 27, 2016
An interesting, brief history clearing up many of the most common myths in history. Though I knew about most already, it was interesting to hear about others. The language was simple yet sophisticated, easy to read, but it did not assume the reader was an idiot.
March 24, 2011
Good, interesting read.
Read
September 20, 2011It was a interesting read. More of a bits a pieces book then one you would read straight through. It does examine some of history's myths and tries to set the record straight.
September 3, 2010
Rather boring full of history that is gathered from other places.
Nothing new here Move along.
Nothing new here Move along.
Currently reading
October 16, 2010Everything you think you know is wrong ...
February 25, 2011
Fun if a little boring, but probably because I am not equally interested in all the areas it covers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews