(Larger Image)
|
Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History
by Richard Shenkman
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (1992-08-03)
ISBN: 0060972610
EAN: 9780060972615
Dewy Decimal #: 973
Paperback: 224 pages
Release Date: 1992-06-19
SKU: OZ122814
Condition: Very Good
Comments: 0060972610 Book free of markings. Cover shows light to moderate wear. Interior & spine evidence little if any use; overall, a very serviceable copy. Your book will be carefully protected for transit in sturdy, weather-resistant packaging. We are prompt, efficient, communicative.
|
Editorial Reviews
|
Product Description
The truth and nothing but the truth--Richard Shenkman sheds light on America's most believed legends: - The story of Columbus discovered that the world was round was invented by Washington Irving.
- The pilgrims never lived in log cabins.
- In Concord, Massachusetts, a third of all babies born in the twenty years before the Revolution were conceived out of wedlock.
- Washington may have never told a lie, but he loved to drink and dance, and he fell in love with his best friend's wife.
- Independence wasn't declared on July 4 (and the Liberty Bell was so little regarded that Philadelphia tried to sell it for scrap metal but nobody wanted it).
- After World War II, the U.S. Government concluded that Japan would have surrendered within months, even if we had not bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
|
Customer Reviews
|
Legends, lies, and myths in America
Rating  (4)
Date: 2008-09-18
An eye opener about the myths in America. Subjects vary from sex, war, the frontier, education, art, and slavery. A great companion if your studying World History and American History. It gives you the reality and not the world in rose colored glasses. This book will give you insights about the American life and society.
|
|
A Look Beyond the Obvious
Rating  (3)
Date: 2008-03-19
Legends, Lies and Cherished Myths of American History
Richard Shenkman
Jeopardy buff? Any trivia or history aficionado will enjoy this book tremendously and find it a great addition to her/his library. Shenkman touts little known facts on a wide range of topics in the relatively short, but certainly intense history of the "Land of the Free." Most importantly, for a fact-filled myth buster like this one, he carefully cites his sources.
Where questions remain about people, places, events and celebrations, Shenkman provides the reader with ample and balanced background information to forge onward with new and unique theories. His perspective is not critical or in your face, and he gives fresh insights on long and widely held incorrect concepts. The entire work is like a written version of Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story.
I didn't wholly agree with all the positions set forth in the work, but deeply appreciated Shenkman's efforts to encourage thought and his subtle nudge to delve deeper into the subject matter. As an educator, I loved many of the fascinating tidbits mentioned throughout the book. I draw from the book regularly in my classes in hopes that I will help my students identify with characters or events in our country's illustrious history.
|
|
A lot of fun
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-03-10
0 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
I bought this for my teen-age son, who is homeschooling, and he loves it. Actually, I learned a lot, too!
|
|
Garrison Review, Southern Methodist University
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-02-22
0 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
Most people go through their lives without questioning our nation's history. The events of our nation's past, as told by our elementary school teachers, are filled with great stories with obvious morals to be learned. As it turns out, many of these recalled past events, which most consider accurate beyond a shadow of a doubt are actually lies or misinterpretations. Richard Shenkman, in his book Legends, Lies and Cherished Myths of American History works to show his readers some of the common misconceptions associated with American History. Some might consider his approach unpatriotic because these facts are engrained in the minds of Americans and part of our nation's history. He asserts that some of the most important events in our history were actually fabricated out of thin air. He does this, not to tear down the history that American is so proud of, but to shed light onto concepts that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Shenkman starts off by calling the American public ignorant of our history. Not ignorant in the sense of unintelligent but of being vastly misinformed. Americans know "less than we think we do. For as it turns out, even many of the best known stories from our history are false." Christopher Columbus is his first example, probably because the story of his three ships traveling over the vast ocean and not falling off the edge of the Earth is known to almost everyone with any knowledge of American history. Unknown to most, Aristotle beat Columbus to this idea that the world was round centuries earlier along with countless others between the two. Also mentioned are numerous travelers who beat him to the New World as well. As the book continues through years of American history, the events that he is debunking steadily grow in significance. The story of Columbus may be a disappointment to some but it is no earth shattering news. The fact that Independence Day may be held on the wrong day may ruffle a few more feathers. The government indorses July 4 as the day our nation declared its independence, but as records show, this may not be the true anniversary to our independence. Also, the story of The Alamo was mentioned. Thought of as one of the most epic battles of Texas history, where such men as Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie despite the overwhelming odds stood their ground against the Mexican army and fought until the last man fell. Contrary to this story, Shenkman asserts that some of the men actually surrendered, were captured and were killed later. The story could have been remembered in the way that it was because there was no first hand account on the Texas side, or because dead to the last man is a better way to be remembered. Be sure to be careful when reading facts such as these. The impulse to throw out these notions may come quickly and your ability to understand these events will be lost.
Despite the severity of a few of the events mentioned, most tend to be common misconceptions about our past. Sex, war, drugs, education, immigrants, family and many other topics are within the range of Shenkman's research into American history. You will be amazed at how many times he can surprise you with obscure facts of our past. Events that seem like common knowledge and universal to everyone may in fact be inaccurate to say the least. He also knows how to keep the attention of the reader. It was hard for me to put this book down because with the way it was written it is impossible not to ask, "What else could I have missed?"
Shenkman showed no restraint in picking his topics; in fact, it seems as if the topics he chose were deliberately chosen to stir up emotion in the reader. This tactic only works when the right emotions are the ones coming out. He was trying to show the reader how credulous we are when it comes to our history. However, he does show caution when mentioning certain subjects which might have brought forth the emotions he did not want the reader to experience. President Lincoln was one example. There are numerous rumors surrounding Lincoln before and during his presidency. However, Shenkman tended to focus on the issues less well known to the public, such as the house he was born in, his personal correspondents and how he actually hated the name "Abe." Much less restraint was shown when President John F. Kennedy came up in the presidents section. With his ideas that women were simply "sex objects" and that some of his escapades actually may have put the nation in danger (such as having an affair with a mobster's daughter), "John Kennedy is still one of the two or three most admired presidents in the history of the United States." This is how he is remembered and for some reason, no matter what evidence is brought forth to the contrary, people will still love him.
Richard Shenkman was a Vassar College graduate and attended Harvard graduate school. Still he was not afraid to mention misconceptions pertaining to his very own school. He also has worked with television networks for many years and has written five New York Times Best Sellers, this book being one. My point is that Shenkman is very in tune with the public and what they want to read. This book is extremely well written and is very easy to get through if you have an open mind and remember that this book is not meant to spit in the face of five hundred years of American History. It is simply meant to show the reader that even if something is accepted by everyone that does not necessarily mean it is completely accurate.
"Americans, despite everything you hear, know plenty of history." Though some may think that bringing these facts to our attention is dismissing the ideas of countless historians around the world, I believe Shenkman writes not to dismiss them, but simply to bring to attention alternative views on these events. Therefore, if you have an open mind and you are curious about the events of the nation, you will find this book very enjoyable and interesting.
|
|
Good Read
Rating (4)
Date: 2007-05-12
0 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
I like this book for when I am on the train...not so in-depth that it requires a lot of concentration.
|
|
|