Over the past few years, historians have found themselves increasingly pulled into arguments about the hot-button issues of our times. In more than a few cases the opposing sides have invoked parts of the history and traditions of our nation to bolster their arguments. As a result of this, historians have felt compelled to step into these discussions to “set the record” about some of our most cherished assumptions about the country's past. That is the goal of Myth America.
This book is a series of essays by various historians prominent in their field. It challenges many beliefs Americans have about the history of the nation with a focus on those that have been hot-button issues recently. The book's topics run the range from American Exceptionalism, Voter Fraud, The Southern Strategy, and violence in policing. With each topic, the author approaches the issue like they would any other academic by making systematic arguments using plenty of documented sources to back them up. This not only bolsters their argument but allows the reader to investigate further.
One of the things I liked the most about the book is that you do not have to read the book in sequential order since each chapter deals with a different topic. It is also written with a general audience in mind yet it is not “ dumbed down”. Each chapter is about 20-30 pages long which makes for a quick read. While you may not agree with some of the conclusions that the authors reach, you will still find it an engaging and informative read. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American History or who would like a new fresh perspective on the hot-button issues of today from people who know what they are talking about.
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Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Legends and...
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American Deceptions
History lessons often leave out crucial information. This is especially true of lessons taught at the high school level and younger. Part of it is due to limited classroom time, part of it is due to the presumed need to protect young people from knowing the real truth. This book, Myth America, takes on some of the more prevalent historical omissions and falsehoods from the past, many of which are still told today.Myth America includes twenty separate chapters from America’s past, each contributed by different authors. Some of the articles touch on topics most of us have heard before, like police violence or the recent insurrection. Others, like the founding myths and American exceptionalism may not be topics that readers have thought much about. Each article presents angles on these twenty topics that dissect some of the more common fallacies surrounding them, letting the reader know more of the story.I like books that help expand knowledge and Myth America does succeed at busting apart some of the more common myths that we still hear about America’s past. But there are some issues I had with this book, starting with the use of the word ‘myth’. In many instances, ‘deception’ would have been a more accurate term to use. I also didn’t find each of the twenty articles equally convincing. The Great Society chapter and the new Deal chapters are good ones, for example, because they back up its claims with statistics about poverty and economics. Other chapters, like the United States is an Empire, is a little more debatable and less convincing.With contributions from so many different people, there are different writing styles in every chapter and different methods used to persuade. This can be both good and bad. It’s nice to have an assembled volume with so many different points of view, but I prefer a book written by one or two authors. I would rather get the bottom line from just one or two people, rather than a collection of articles from so many different writers.There is no doubt that American history isn’t told as thoroughly as it should be. People often have motives and will only include parts of the story that fit their own political or social philosophy. Myth America is good at exposing some of the commonly told deceptions surrounding America’s past. It has its share of hits and misses, but it’s a good book overall and most anyone who reads will come away with newfound knowledge, at least to a degree.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2023
History lessons often leave out crucial information. This is especially true of lessons taught at the high school level and younger. Part of it is due to limited classroom time, part of it is due to the presumed need to protect young people from knowing the real truth. This book, Myth America, takes on some of the more prevalent historical omissions and falsehoods from the past, many of which are still told today.
Myth America includes twenty separate chapters from America’s past, each contributed by different authors. Some of the articles touch on topics most of us have heard before, like police violence or the recent insurrection. Others, like the founding myths and American exceptionalism may not be topics that readers have thought much about. Each article presents angles on these twenty topics that dissect some of the more common fallacies surrounding them, letting the reader know more of the story.
I like books that help expand knowledge and Myth America does succeed at busting apart some of the more common myths that we still hear about America’s past. But there are some issues I had with this book, starting with the use of the word ‘myth’. In many instances, ‘deception’ would have been a more accurate term to use. I also didn’t find each of the twenty articles equally convincing. The Great Society chapter and the new Deal chapters are good ones, for example, because they back up its claims with statistics about poverty and economics. Other chapters, like the United States is an Empire, is a little more debatable and less convincing.
With contributions from so many different people, there are different writing styles in every chapter and different methods used to persuade. This can be both good and bad. It’s nice to have an assembled volume with so many different points of view, but I prefer a book written by one or two authors. I would rather get the bottom line from just one or two people, rather than a collection of articles from so many different writers.
There is no doubt that American history isn’t told as thoroughly as it should be. People often have motives and will only include parts of the story that fit their own political or social philosophy. Myth America is good at exposing some of the commonly told deceptions surrounding America’s past. It has its share of hits and misses, but it’s a good book overall and most anyone who reads will come away with newfound knowledge, at least to a degree.
Myth America includes twenty separate chapters from America’s past, each contributed by different authors. Some of the articles touch on topics most of us have heard before, like police violence or the recent insurrection. Others, like the founding myths and American exceptionalism may not be topics that readers have thought much about. Each article presents angles on these twenty topics that dissect some of the more common fallacies surrounding them, letting the reader know more of the story.
I like books that help expand knowledge and Myth America does succeed at busting apart some of the more common myths that we still hear about America’s past. But there are some issues I had with this book, starting with the use of the word ‘myth’. In many instances, ‘deception’ would have been a more accurate term to use. I also didn’t find each of the twenty articles equally convincing. The Great Society chapter and the new Deal chapters are good ones, for example, because they back up its claims with statistics about poverty and economics. Other chapters, like the United States is an Empire, is a little more debatable and less convincing.
With contributions from so many different people, there are different writing styles in every chapter and different methods used to persuade. This can be both good and bad. It’s nice to have an assembled volume with so many different points of view, but I prefer a book written by one or two authors. I would rather get the bottom line from just one or two people, rather than a collection of articles from so many different writers.
There is no doubt that American history isn’t told as thoroughly as it should be. People often have motives and will only include parts of the story that fit their own political or social philosophy. Myth America is good at exposing some of the commonly told deceptions surrounding America’s past. It has its share of hits and misses, but it’s a good book overall and most anyone who reads will come away with newfound knowledge, at least to a degree.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024
Top reviews from other countries
Geraldine
Excellent book on Modern America with an historical background
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2024Amazon Customer
Too Academic in nature avoids basic myth concepts
Reviewed in Canada on February 3, 2023