What do you think?
Rate this book
American History Revised: 200 Startling Facts That Never Made It into the Textbooks
“American History Revised is as informative as it is entertaining and humorous. Filled with irony, surprises, and long-hidden secrets, the book does more than revise American history, it reinvents it.”—James Bamford, bestselling author of The Puzzle Palace , Body of Secrets , and The Shadow Factory
This spirited reexamination of American history delves into our past to expose hundreds of startling facts that never made it into the textbooks, and highlights how little-known peopleand events played surprisingly influential roles in the great American story.
We tend to think of history as settled, set in stone, but American History Revised reveals a past that is filled with ironies, surprises, and misconceptions. Living abroad for twelve years gave author Seymour Morris Jr. the opportunity to view his country as an outsider and compelled him to examine American history from a fresh perspective. As Morris colorfully illustrates through the 200 historical vignettes that make up this book, much of our nation’s past is quite different—and far more remarkable—than we thought.
We discover
• In the 1950s Ford was approached by two Japanese companies begging for a joint venture. Ford declined their offers, calling them makers of “tin cars.” The two companies were Toyota and Nissan.
• Eleanor Roosevelt and most women’s groups opposed the Equal Rights Amendment forbidding gender discrimination.
• The two generals who ended the Civil War weren’t Grant and Lee.
• The #1 bestselling American book of all time was written in one day.
• The Dutch made a bad investment buying Manhattan for $24.
• Two young girls aimed someday to become First Lady—and succeeded.
• Three times, a private financier saved the United States from bankruptcy.
Organized into ten thematic chapters, American History Revised plumbs American history’s numerous inconsistencies, twists, and turns to make it come alive again.
This spirited reexamination of American history delves into our past to expose hundreds of startling facts that never made it into the textbooks, and highlights how little-known peopleand events played surprisingly influential roles in the great American story.
We tend to think of history as settled, set in stone, but American History Revised reveals a past that is filled with ironies, surprises, and misconceptions. Living abroad for twelve years gave author Seymour Morris Jr. the opportunity to view his country as an outsider and compelled him to examine American history from a fresh perspective. As Morris colorfully illustrates through the 200 historical vignettes that make up this book, much of our nation’s past is quite different—and far more remarkable—than we thought.
We discover
• In the 1950s Ford was approached by two Japanese companies begging for a joint venture. Ford declined their offers, calling them makers of “tin cars.” The two companies were Toyota and Nissan.
• Eleanor Roosevelt and most women’s groups opposed the Equal Rights Amendment forbidding gender discrimination.
• The two generals who ended the Civil War weren’t Grant and Lee.
• The #1 bestselling American book of all time was written in one day.
• The Dutch made a bad investment buying Manhattan for $24.
• Two young girls aimed someday to become First Lady—and succeeded.
• Three times, a private financier saved the United States from bankruptcy.
Organized into ten thematic chapters, American History Revised plumbs American history’s numerous inconsistencies, twists, and turns to make it come alive again.
412 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
241 people are currently reading
704 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 64 reviews
June 8, 2022
Some of the facts in this book I know are correct. Many are very important as well. Knowing that the U.S. is not supposed to be a Democracy is something our presidents lack.
But I noticed a lot of problems in the book. So certainly if I spotted some problems then most likely there are more.
For instance "our constitution and bill of rights have been intact for 230 years and set the record for continuous government". This is not true at all. Rome, Byzantine, and many others surpass 230 years. But we don't even follow our constitution anymore either. Looking over the things our government has done over the past 50 years almost none of it is constitutional.
He says Democracy and economic prosperity go hand in hand, but ancient Greece could have a few words to say about this. It also contradicts what was said about us not being founded as a Democracy. (Even though now we are more so than ever)
He mentions Westinghouse paying his workers well and says he knew the thing to do was serve his employees. Then he mentions Westinghouse losing everything after going into debt. Well one reason he went into debt was because he overpaid his workers. And things didn't turn out so good for his workers after many got fired once he lost control of his companies and they were restructured. But he really misses the point in this lesson that companies aren't supposed to serve their employees, they serve their customers!
He says slaves from Africa were mostly indentured servants in one section then says they were slaves for life in Africa and sold as slaves to the whites. The second assertion is correct. Blacks were rarely indentured servants. Whites that were in prison due to debts or other reasons typically were the indentured servants. He also has a very strange view on slavery throughout the world compared to the U.S. saying only in the U.S. were blacks slaves for life. Well all of south and central America say differently. Lifetime slavery was the norm all throughout latin America, even before many colonies were started in North America.
The entire section in Insull is very distorted. Insull wanted regulations to protect him from competition, and that's how his companies got so large. The phrase "no monopoly should be trusted to run itself" is still a commonly used piece of sales jargon. Monopolies form from government favors and restrictions, so no monopoly exists in the first place without government regulations. And the regulations that were put in place were not those that were repealed and led to Enron's crimes. Enron was cooking the books, and engaging in securities fraud.
Also the U.S. military did not invent the internet. The did choose a standard for the TCP protocol and anyone they communicated with had to then use that same protocol which led to it becoming the standard.
But I noticed a lot of problems in the book. So certainly if I spotted some problems then most likely there are more.
For instance "our constitution and bill of rights have been intact for 230 years and set the record for continuous government". This is not true at all. Rome, Byzantine, and many others surpass 230 years. But we don't even follow our constitution anymore either. Looking over the things our government has done over the past 50 years almost none of it is constitutional.
He says Democracy and economic prosperity go hand in hand, but ancient Greece could have a few words to say about this. It also contradicts what was said about us not being founded as a Democracy. (Even though now we are more so than ever)
He mentions Westinghouse paying his workers well and says he knew the thing to do was serve his employees. Then he mentions Westinghouse losing everything after going into debt. Well one reason he went into debt was because he overpaid his workers. And things didn't turn out so good for his workers after many got fired once he lost control of his companies and they were restructured. But he really misses the point in this lesson that companies aren't supposed to serve their employees, they serve their customers!
He says slaves from Africa were mostly indentured servants in one section then says they were slaves for life in Africa and sold as slaves to the whites. The second assertion is correct. Blacks were rarely indentured servants. Whites that were in prison due to debts or other reasons typically were the indentured servants. He also has a very strange view on slavery throughout the world compared to the U.S. saying only in the U.S. were blacks slaves for life. Well all of south and central America say differently. Lifetime slavery was the norm all throughout latin America, even before many colonies were started in North America.
The entire section in Insull is very distorted. Insull wanted regulations to protect him from competition, and that's how his companies got so large. The phrase "no monopoly should be trusted to run itself" is still a commonly used piece of sales jargon. Monopolies form from government favors and restrictions, so no monopoly exists in the first place without government regulations. And the regulations that were put in place were not those that were repealed and led to Enron's crimes. Enron was cooking the books, and engaging in securities fraud.
Also the U.S. military did not invent the internet. The did choose a standard for the TCP protocol and anyone they communicated with had to then use that same protocol which led to it becoming the standard.
June 7, 2010
Fascinating book. Not so much the "what you've always thought is wrong" type of history book but more of a "hey, here's something interesting you probably didn't know."
I found it quite enjoyable with just enough detail on each piece of history to get the feel but not too much to make it dry and boring.
I found it quite enjoyable with just enough detail on each piece of history to get the feel but not too much to make it dry and boring.
December 9, 2014
Written like a textbook with double columns,
American History Revised
is intended to be a supplement to the history your high school textbook ignored or glossed over. This is a fine goal because almost every history textbook is a dry, tedious tome that bores its readers to sleep before they can learn any history.
American History Revised approaches this challenge with a scatter-gun style of random facts that are very loosely grouped into categories like "Forgotten by History", "In Pursuit of Riches" and "Simple Mathematics, My Dear Watson." I can only imagine that those who are not already well-acquainted with history would find this jumping back and forth style quite confusing.
But, that is not the reason for my concern.
I am concerned because there are blatant untruths throughout the text. "Facts" that are not facts. Please note that I an reviewing an uncorrected proof and maybe, just maybe these items have been addressed in the text (I tried to use the Amazon peek inside feature to verify but this book does not have it enabled). But, I can tell you that when one of the reviewers who wrote a blurb in the product description above notes that "the book does more than revise American history, it reinvents it" - he was not kidding. History is reinvented with misinterpretation and misinformation.
Some examples (Note: I would normally include the page numbers but publishers don't like reviewers to do that with uncorrected proofs because those page numbers are likely to change):
He claims that Amerigo Vespucci worked for Columbus when, at most, there is plenty of evidence that Columbus and Vespucci may have only met, at most, only a few times. But, the blurb in the book was about how America got its name and the story is better if the employee steals his boss's thunder.
He claims that the United States had the world's first census. An ironic claim since he laments about our ignorance of history in the preface. Perhaps Morris is unaware of the Christmas story and the trip to Bethlehem to be counted in the census ("In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world." Luke 2:1). Or, maybe he was unaware that one of the jobs of the Roman Empire's censor (censura) was to keep up with the census - note the shared root of the words. Or, maybe he's never heard of William the Conqueror's Domesday Book - the 1086 census of his conquered territory in England - one of the foundational documents of English history and perhaps all of Western history. Ancient China and the Incas also kept census records. Ancient Egypt may have as well.
He claims the...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2010/...
American History Revised approaches this challenge with a scatter-gun style of random facts that are very loosely grouped into categories like "Forgotten by History", "In Pursuit of Riches" and "Simple Mathematics, My Dear Watson." I can only imagine that those who are not already well-acquainted with history would find this jumping back and forth style quite confusing.
But, that is not the reason for my concern.
I am concerned because there are blatant untruths throughout the text. "Facts" that are not facts. Please note that I an reviewing an uncorrected proof and maybe, just maybe these items have been addressed in the text (I tried to use the Amazon peek inside feature to verify but this book does not have it enabled). But, I can tell you that when one of the reviewers who wrote a blurb in the product description above notes that "the book does more than revise American history, it reinvents it" - he was not kidding. History is reinvented with misinterpretation and misinformation.
Some examples (Note: I would normally include the page numbers but publishers don't like reviewers to do that with uncorrected proofs because those page numbers are likely to change):
He claims that Amerigo Vespucci worked for Columbus when, at most, there is plenty of evidence that Columbus and Vespucci may have only met, at most, only a few times. But, the blurb in the book was about how America got its name and the story is better if the employee steals his boss's thunder.
He claims that the United States had the world's first census. An ironic claim since he laments about our ignorance of history in the preface. Perhaps Morris is unaware of the Christmas story and the trip to Bethlehem to be counted in the census ("In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world." Luke 2:1). Or, maybe he was unaware that one of the jobs of the Roman Empire's censor (censura) was to keep up with the census - note the shared root of the words. Or, maybe he's never heard of William the Conqueror's Domesday Book - the 1086 census of his conquered territory in England - one of the foundational documents of English history and perhaps all of Western history. Ancient China and the Incas also kept census records. Ancient Egypt may have as well.
He claims the...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2010/...
May 14, 2019
The number of errors in this book exceed the value of the tidbits provided.
Just a few:
The US did not finance government by selling land (at least not primarily as suggested).
Jefferson was not part of the Constitutional Convention (book states he was).
NSAM 263 was not an order to withdraw troops from Vietnam (book gets it completely wrong).
The Quasi-War was waged by John Adams (book claims Adams waged no war).
New England threatened to withdraw during Jefferson's administration (2d term).
Frequency hopping was used well before the cellular telephone age (book claims otherwise).
"Because there were no income taxes, the federal government was small" referring to McKinley's administration. Inaccurate in more than one way.
Russia was not at war with Germany in 1940 (book states they were).
Most US servicemen in WWII were drafted because it was made illegal to enter the service (with a few exceptions) except by the draft - FDR Executive Order on December 5, 1942 - so the claim that a higher percentage of troops were drafted during WWII than Vietnam is not really a surprise.
Coca-Cola may not have a patent, but they sure have a Trademark that they actively protect (regarding the claim that Coca-Cola doesn't use IP protection).
B29s didn't bomb Cologne (book suggests they did).
Ruth did play against the best black players. In exhibitions. Book claims he never did.
Aiming through a scope does not make the target closer - the issues of accuracy at distance (breath and squeeze, error of angle, variation of flight) all still apply. In reference to the assassination of JFK.
Eisenhower did not jump from Lieutenant to General as claimed in the book.
"received a report of 600,000 Vietnamese troops" - ARVN? NVA? VC? Very unclear comment.
"Only 25% of those who served in Vietnam were drafted" - primarily because draftees freed volunteers from assignments in Germany and elsewhere to serve in Vietnam.
Not to mention plagiarizing the introduction for A Message to Garcia.
I have no idea how many of the other stories in this book are accurate or inaccurate, but the number of mistakes illustrated by the above list suggests that the author has not done a very good job of doing research.
Just a few:
The US did not finance government by selling land (at least not primarily as suggested).
Jefferson was not part of the Constitutional Convention (book states he was).
NSAM 263 was not an order to withdraw troops from Vietnam (book gets it completely wrong).
The Quasi-War was waged by John Adams (book claims Adams waged no war).
New England threatened to withdraw during Jefferson's administration (2d term).
Frequency hopping was used well before the cellular telephone age (book claims otherwise).
"Because there were no income taxes, the federal government was small" referring to McKinley's administration. Inaccurate in more than one way.
Russia was not at war with Germany in 1940 (book states they were).
Most US servicemen in WWII were drafted because it was made illegal to enter the service (with a few exceptions) except by the draft - FDR Executive Order on December 5, 1942 - so the claim that a higher percentage of troops were drafted during WWII than Vietnam is not really a surprise.
Coca-Cola may not have a patent, but they sure have a Trademark that they actively protect (regarding the claim that Coca-Cola doesn't use IP protection).
B29s didn't bomb Cologne (book suggests they did).
Ruth did play against the best black players. In exhibitions. Book claims he never did.
Aiming through a scope does not make the target closer - the issues of accuracy at distance (breath and squeeze, error of angle, variation of flight) all still apply. In reference to the assassination of JFK.
Eisenhower did not jump from Lieutenant to General as claimed in the book.
"received a report of 600,000 Vietnamese troops" - ARVN? NVA? VC? Very unclear comment.
"Only 25% of those who served in Vietnam were drafted" - primarily because draftees freed volunteers from assignments in Germany and elsewhere to serve in Vietnam.
Not to mention plagiarizing the introduction for A Message to Garcia.
I have no idea how many of the other stories in this book are accurate or inaccurate, but the number of mistakes illustrated by the above list suggests that the author has not done a very good job of doing research.
April 30, 2020
Interesting anecdotes, but poor word choice and falling in lockstep with the whitewashed view of history made this cringy.
May 22, 2019
Enjoyed this outlook in history... Loved it...
May 3, 2019
...and the rest of the story
This should be required reading, especially for college students. Concise, but humanly written . I could not put it down.
This should be required reading, especially for college students. Concise, but humanly written . I could not put it down.
April 18, 2018
I think this would make a better history book than most of what I remember. I think a curriculum designed around this book, with a standard history textbook as a back up would be a good way to teach history.
For one thing, in this book each event is chosen because it's interesting and would probably get the attention of the high school teens down who's throats we are trying to cram enough information for them to be able to function; for another contextualizes each event and makes it pertinent to modern life. It powerfully illustrates the point that we keep making the same mistakes, and explores how we make them.
I have to admit, that I didn't find events like Teapot Dome and the Dustbowl interesting when I was a kid, heck even the Grapes of Wrath didn't appeal. But the way that these events are compared to modern ones makes them more interesting. I'll admit that sometimes the way Morris often describes what happened in a way that makes it seem like what we've seen recently (until at the very end of the story identify the actual names and dates) irritated me. I often skipped to the end to figure out what he was talking about then went back to finish reading. Perhaps this is because I read "visually", and I need to be able to picture what the clothing, setting, and faces are in order to understand. Perhaps others do to- which is why too many "look at the pictures and turn the pages". But this is a book I could recommend to almost anyone.
For one thing, in this book each event is chosen because it's interesting and would probably get the attention of the high school teens down who's throats we are trying to cram enough information for them to be able to function; for another contextualizes each event and makes it pertinent to modern life. It powerfully illustrates the point that we keep making the same mistakes, and explores how we make them.
I have to admit, that I didn't find events like Teapot Dome and the Dustbowl interesting when I was a kid, heck even the Grapes of Wrath didn't appeal. But the way that these events are compared to modern ones makes them more interesting. I'll admit that sometimes the way Morris often describes what happened in a way that makes it seem like what we've seen recently (until at the very end of the story identify the actual names and dates) irritated me. I often skipped to the end to figure out what he was talking about then went back to finish reading. Perhaps this is because I read "visually", and I need to be able to picture what the clothing, setting, and faces are in order to understand. Perhaps others do to- which is why too many "look at the pictures and turn the pages". But this is a book I could recommend to almost anyone.
January 25, 2019
I didn't finish the book. As someone who doesn't know much about American history, I did enjoy a lot about the anecdotes. For example, I picked up the story on page 3 about Louisiana Purchase. "French territory was offered first to England". My previous knowledge about Louisiana Purchase was just a vague image of the land sold to America. I happily absorbed this knowledge, only to find out, as pointed out by a person well-acquainted with history, that this "fact" is not likely because Napoleon on brink of war with the British. I double checked it with different sources, and he was right. Louisiana Purchase was first just about a small territory for $10 million, which later included a much larger territory for $15 million, but it was always offered to Washington. Napoleon retrieved the land from the Spanish, and needed money to beat Britain, how on earth would he sell the land to the England?
Anyhow, this book is quite misleading. I am going to read A People's History of the United States instead.
Anyhow, this book is quite misleading. I am going to read A People's History of the United States instead.
November 10, 2018
Poorly written and poorly edited by someone who clearly has no background or education in history. This book is full of flaws. As many reviewers have pointed out, it is very poorly organized. Also, each chapter starts with a rant on some topic that is way more philosophical than the intended audience can handle. It all comes off very holier-than-thou. Furthermore, there are all kinds of historical inaccuracies, especially in things relating to the Civil War. He attributes actions to the wrong commander, called John Bell Hood a cavalry commander and gets dates wrong. Additionally, his stories are full of bias, usually in an anti-liberal way. Finally, he says that much of his purpose is to dispel conspiracy theories, but there is a whole chapter that is full of conspiracy theories.
To be fair, there are a few good tidbits of information and some things I hadn't heard of before, but overall, these stories are poorly researched, edited and written.
Give this book a miss unless you can get it for free and have nothing else to read.
To be fair, there are a few good tidbits of information and some things I hadn't heard of before, but overall, these stories are poorly researched, edited and written.
Give this book a miss unless you can get it for free and have nothing else to read.
June 10, 2010
American History Revised is an enjoyable read. It is not revisionist history, but rather a look at some of the lesser known aspects of American history. "200 startling facts" are spread through ten theme-based chapters. It makes for easy reading, and as each startling fact only takes up a page or two, this book works best as something to keep on the coffee table to flip through now and then.
However, I do not recommend this book for serious history readers. The format prevents the author from providing much detail in any of the vignettes. They are about one or two pages each. The author also has a bad habit of making (very confident) assumptions about how history may have turned out had things been slightly different. There were also a bit too many references to current events which have yet to play out and which I do not think belong in a history book.
However, I do not recommend this book for serious history readers. The format prevents the author from providing much detail in any of the vignettes. They are about one or two pages each. The author also has a bad habit of making (very confident) assumptions about how history may have turned out had things been slightly different. There were also a bit too many references to current events which have yet to play out and which I do not think belong in a history book.
June 25, 2018
Exceptional details and insights into the "popular" descriptions of events in our history. The book directs and reassembles much of our history in ways we were not exposed to in the past. It gives details of what really happened at times we know only from popular history books, often contradicting the popularized events. As the book points out, the events are what did happen, the written accounts are history.
Whether our knowledge is that of historical details, the lives of people both in government and in the private sector, is is very common for historians to simplify and summarize in the most expeditious way. This book selectively gives the level of detail that gives surprising new insights of what is more factual, and often surprisingly different that the popular notions of past events.
Excellent reading, well compiled, and surprisingly insightful.
Whether our knowledge is that of historical details, the lives of people both in government and in the private sector, is is very common for historians to simplify and summarize in the most expeditious way. This book selectively gives the level of detail that gives surprising new insights of what is more factual, and often surprisingly different that the popular notions of past events.
Excellent reading, well compiled, and surprisingly insightful.
July 31, 2010
A high-quality bathroom reader (200 articles - some as short as a couple of paragraphs) on the "betcha didn't know that" of American history. The book is better than that description makes it out to be - there's some incisive analysis of economics, trends & common wisdom amidst the mini-profiles of important Americans unrecognized by standard history texts.
For me, the kicker was the story of the Bennett Place negotiations at the end of the Civil War between General Johnston & General Sherman... I really had NEVER learned any of that in a history class. (I'd appreciate a recommendation on a good "end of the Civil War" book from someone who knows the territory... oh, Alfred!)
And I'm always OK with anyone who rakes Oliver Stone over the coals for the hot mess that is "J.F.K."
For me, the kicker was the story of the Bennett Place negotiations at the end of the Civil War between General Johnston & General Sherman... I really had NEVER learned any of that in a history class. (I'd appreciate a recommendation on a good "end of the Civil War" book from someone who knows the territory... oh, Alfred!)
And I'm always OK with anyone who rakes Oliver Stone over the coals for the hot mess that is "J.F.K."
May 16, 2013
Really great book with a lot of fascinating, nuanced, pieces of history that are either lost, forgotten, or never spoken about. As a lover of history I was amazed at the number of things I DID NOT know within it's pages. As a general rule, there are only a handful things I didn't know when reading up on history so this book was more than a pleasant surprise to me.
Another great thing is that it is not limited to just one period of American history but up through the time of the books publication. I think that was very god idea as some many not care about certain periods in America's history and for those people, they are able to read up on those areas of history in which they do have an interest and will likely learn something they never knew before.
Another great thing is that it is not limited to just one period of American history but up through the time of the books publication. I think that was very god idea as some many not care about certain periods in America's history and for those people, they are able to read up on those areas of history in which they do have an interest and will likely learn something they never knew before.
August 17, 2010
History has a tendency to be sanitized and abridged, and lots of facts drop through the cracks. This book attempts to bring to light a lot of the omissions and misconceptions of American history.
I really enjoyed both the concept and the content of this book. It was fun to read through in bits and pieces and learn a lot of new things. The thematic chapters made a lot of parallels, but I did find myself a little confused as I would read about the Revolution multiple times throughout the book, but not together.
I really enjoyed both the concept and the content of this book. It was fun to read through in bits and pieces and learn a lot of new things. The thematic chapters made a lot of parallels, but I did find myself a little confused as I would read about the Revolution multiple times throughout the book, but not together.
June 20, 2010
I was half asleep when I picked up this book, but I was wide awake by the end of the introduction. Then I kept going. Wow. Lucidly written and vigorously explained, it combines specific historical events analysis with honest self-reflection.
It's both insightful and fresh. The strength of the book its focusing on specific issues that could spark further research and awareness.This is a provocative and enjoyable book, full of eye-opening surprises, which can be read cover to cover or dipped into like a box of favorite Godiva chocolates.
It's both insightful and fresh. The strength of the book its focusing on specific issues that could spark further research and awareness.This is a provocative and enjoyable book, full of eye-opening surprises, which can be read cover to cover or dipped into like a box of favorite Godiva chocolates.
February 8, 2011
We went to the nat'l archives yesterday and i found this in the gift shop. I read the preface last night and have decided that this could possible be the best American history book every written. He quotes Samuel Johnson "Anecdotes are the gleaming toys of history." In 1931, while crossing Fifth Avenue in NY, an Englishman used to looking to the right looked the wrong way and was hit by a taxicab - but survived. Had Winston Churchill walked a second faster, he could have been run over. I'm really looking forward to this one!
November 17, 2014
A very interesting if at times uneven book. The author does an interesting job of treating various events in history and presenting them in a light that brings a freshness to them. Occasionally the author seems to be missing or bringing forth a point that he wasn't intending to make, but that doesn't keep the book from being an interesting and enjoyable read.
I would suggest this to anyone that thinks that history is boring. This is more along the lines of what history was intended to be about.
I would suggest this to anyone that thinks that history is boring. This is more along the lines of what history was intended to be about.
September 14, 2010
Well worth reading, answers many questions I've had about history, many details about personalities of history and most importantly rectifies many errors that have crept into current school history books. The author is very good, interesting read, but some facts I don't buy. Some conclusions are made without validation. The most egregious error was stating that the Mountain Meadows Massacre was done by religious fanatics who believe in blood atonement.
November 3, 2010
Mr. Morris picked out an entertaining selection of little-known events and discrepancies in American history. At times, however, it did seem like a later reference would contradict a former, so I would have liked cross-references between the startling facts. As always, I prefer footnotes instead of an annotated bibliography.
The format is well-suited for those times when you're caught in the bathroom without something to read. It's a bit large to be carrying around town.
The format is well-suited for those times when you're caught in the bathroom without something to read. It's a bit large to be carrying around town.
December 17, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. The author is not a professional historian, but a businessman who is interested in history. Which gave it a different perspective. There were definitely some startling facts, and some I already knew, but probably only because I read history books. Second book I've read describing Woodrow Wilson's incredible level of racism. I liked the book's section showing how history repeats itself. Overall, a good read.
January 24, 2011
Breezily written collection of facts that generally are not taught in American History courses. Kind enough to provide bibliography of sources, but did not list sources with each fact. The author swallowed the lie that Soviet Union had overwhelming number of divisions on the Eastern Front (if so why did it take them so long to conquer Germany?). In all a decent read.
January 27, 2012
The book presented interesting facts, but it got tedious as I continued through. I understand that the author wanted the facts to surprise you and as a result concealed details about who was involved or when it happened until later in the description, but I found it aggravating by the end of reading and it took me longer to read it than it should have because I was frustrated and kind of bored.
Read
November 6, 2013Couple of things:
1. Sometimes your context needs context. (This book is about how history textbooks, specifically, don't provide a complete picture of historical events.)
2. Beware absolutes and attention-grabbing language: "Startling" Facts that "Never" Made it ...
3. This book wasn't that bad, but not that great.
1. Sometimes your context needs context. (This book is about how history textbooks, specifically, don't provide a complete picture of historical events.)
2. Beware absolutes and attention-grabbing language: "Startling" Facts that "Never" Made it ...
3. This book wasn't that bad, but not that great.
May 26, 2014
Pretty interesting book. I like that he showed how the things he discussed related to recent events. A couple of sections were a little repetitive, and a couple of things were phrased awkwardly, but the information was interesting enough that overall I was able to overlook those things pretty easily.
April 9, 2018
Very interesting collection of lesser known facts and quips. Enjoyed the book and agree with its theme of looking past the surface. It did get a tad long winded toward the end, but that was due to the type of manuscript it is. I read this book cover to cover, which may have lead to the long winded but almost commercial-esque vibe.
June 29, 2018
This book was boring, pedantic, and poorly organized. There are some great history books out there that cover the same material in a much more interesting and less condescending manner. Did I learn something new from reading this? Yes, but I can say the same thing about a Cracked article, and it would have been better written.
November 8, 2015
The fun facts here are quite fun and interesting, but some sections could have been summarized a bit more or sectioned off differently. I will definitely use this as a resource in the future and am glad I bought it.
October 27, 2016
Interesting tidbits on lesser known aspects of American history. Problem is that chapters claim to be thematic but the book is organized poorly that one easily forgets what they just read. Information overload. The pictures and graphs are interesting. Avoid.
September 13, 2017
A fun read for history nerds like me. Kind of ran out of steam toward the end of the book. Became more of a running discussion rather than the random cool facts in the first half. I would recommend as a side read. Easy to read a few sections and walk away.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews