- ISBN13: 9781589791077
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
This book tackles the messy details, reclaims disregarded heroes, and sets the record straight. It also explains why July 4th isn’t really Independence Day…. More >>
That’s Not in My American History Book: A Compilation of Little Known Events and Forgotten Heroes
Prior to reading this book, I had already known some of these things (e.g., Israel Bissel finished Paul Revere’s ride after Revere was captured early on, Betsy Ross had nothing to do with the creation of the American flag), but a lot of these stories and facts I had never even heard about. Some of them will appeal to certain people more than others (for example, someone who’s not interested in sports might not be that captivated by the story of Louis “Sock” Sockalexis, the original Cleveland Brave), but overall these are very interesting historical tidbits from a wide variety of subjects and eras. As someone devoted to historical truth and memory, it really makes me angry that so many unsuspecting schoolchildren are still being taught that urban legends and outright lies are undisputed historical facts. Knowing the truth behind these stories doesn’t have to change the basic message; for example, just because Nathan Hale’s alleged last words “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country” were really penned after he’d been dead for five months doesn’t change the fact that he was still a very brave young man who did give his life for his country. Knowing that the Wright Brothers were by no means the first people to invent and fly an aeroplane doesn’t change the fact that they were still pioneering aviators and inventors. More history books should be written like this, witty and engaging, unafraid to knock down sacred cows that have been standing for a long time. I also enjoyed the foreword, “A Note About ‘Politically Correct’ History.” Mr. Ayres points out the difference between multi-cultural all-inclusive accurate history and what has been termed “politically correct” history, wherein people go to extremes in the pursuit of righting age-old wrongs and leaving out historical contributions made by people in the majority. It would be just as wrong to leave out great contributions made by the ruling classes, the same way it was wrong to just overlook or only pay tokenistic lip service to the wonderful contributions made to history by women, African-Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Hispanics, non-Protestants, and other groups which historically haven’t been given much of a voice in America.
Rating: 5 / 5
More history writers should write like Thomas Ayres.
“That’s Not in my American History Book” is very refreshing.
Not the watered-down, approved by the school board type of
history books we all were force to read in school. In short
entertaining stories, Ayres captures our nation’s little known
history, warts and all. Some of it is just plain funny. The way the author relates it is just plain fun. My favorite quote
from the book is in the introduction, when Ayres writes:
“After all, irony and humor have never been missing from history — just historians.” That’s great! Loved it!
I read Thomas Ayres’ most recent book also. It’s called:
“Dark and Bloody Ground.” It’s about the Civil War in Louisiana
and it is also an excellent book.
Rating: 5 / 5
I “read” this book as a book on tape. I liked the book so much I ordered a hard copy. I read some of the “carping” reviews below. Maybe the reviews make some valid points but the over-all book is so interesting that the little quibbles are just that….”little quibbles” in my opinion. I recommend this book. You’ll learn alot from it!
) Email:boland7214@aol.
Rating: 5 / 5
While Wintermeier (above) dismissed Ayres because he disputes three points, he misses the whole point of the book. Who knows who is right on these points of history? As one wag once said, “History is a lie agreed upon.” That some soldier’s name does not show up in the army’s list a hundred or so years ago does not mean they weren’t there. That someone lost to us now claims credit for taps or for California or for the moon — who cares. The only way we will really know is if we get in a time machine and go back there. And if the National Archives wanted to preserve the 4th of July for a special day instead of July 2, what is to keep them from changing the record for their own purposes? Politicians have been known to do that… The quote by Adams certainly sounds correct. I would like to see Thomas Ayres respond to Wintermeier here.
Meanwhile, this is an entertaining book that challenges a lot of our closely held opinions about history and makes us think twice about what we were taught. For that it is invaluable. Women have known forever that there is a reason it is called “history” — it has always been a story about the men. The white men, to be exact. So who can trust Wintermeier’s sources? To the victor belong the spoils and the history lessons. The rest of us minorities, women and non-whites, have largely been left out. What makes Ayres book so good is that he lets us know who some of these “others” are that helped to shape this country.
And if there is a dispute about a few points, so be it. No record is completely pure. No book is perfect. Get it and have a great read for summer.
Rating: 5 / 5
History buffs and anyone curious to know “what really happened way back when” will enjoy this probing look at American history. The goal of the author is to put the human element back into the study of history, which too often is reduced to dry names, dates and places in textbooks. Ayres succeeds admirably, uncovering new facts, shining a light on forgotten movers and shakers and giving some belated credit where it is due.
Ayres’ book is divided into five sections. ‘Stories lost between the pages’ covers the people who flew before the Wright Brothers, the origin of ‘Taps’ and America’s shortest war. ‘America’s forgotten heroes’ touches upon trailblazer James Beckwourth, Bet Freeman and Jonas Salk. ‘The Underside of history’ looks at military sex scandals, America’s most infamous officer, Mary Todd Lincoln, etc. ‘Little known facts about famous people’ supplies tidbits on the likes of Bendict Arnold, Andrew Jackson and FDR. ‘Myths that became history’ uncovers what really happened at the Boston Tea Party and debunks figures like Betsy Ross and Belle Starr.
Ayers’ book is a pleasant read, filled with revelations and interesting twists on American history and personalities.
Rating: 5 / 5