Don't Know Much About History

As an overview for adult who didn't pay attention in high school, it serves its purpose remarkably well. Yes, it's left-leaning, but so am I, and if I wanted to hear about how America has never done wrong, I would've paid attention in high school.

This is a really fun skip through American history. It breaks down the last few hundred years into periods and then covers major events in each. Attention is paid in particular to noting people, places, and things you may have heard of but may not remember or may never have learned about. The author earns extra points for not being shy about calling a bastard a bastard (e.g. when he talks about the worthless Senator McCarthy he's quite blunt, in contrast to some of the recent apologist tomes penned to try and defend him and his actions).

I read the first edition of this book but if you buy it today you'll get a new edition with a few corrections and new material.

A friendly question-and-answer format with entertaining answers about American history from Columbus to Clinton. The post-Watergate coverage is pretty slim, but at that point it could probably be assumed that most readers remembered those years clearly. (There is an updated version, but my copy was printed in 1995.) I learned quite a bit about those bits we skipped in school, like the Vietnam and Korean Wars. Though it could not replace a traditional history course, since there is an assumption that you know enough basic information to ask the questions being answered, it is an excellent refresher for those who have long since forgotten the names and dates they learned in school. Like most good popular history books, it brings out the show more human side of history, turning the names into people and the dates into actions with consequences. show less

I loved this book when I was younger. And I also might have used it as a crash course to get certified to teach history (to brush up on the basics). I love history and this book is a really fun twist on all the stuff we only know so much about. Great for a teen who's really interested in history!

Who really discovered America? What was "the shot heard 'round the world"? Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: Did he or didn't he?

From the arrival of Columbus through the bizarre election of 2000 and beyond, Davis carries readers on a rollicking ride through more than 500 years of American history. In this updated edition of the classic anti-textbook, he debunks, recounts, and serves up the real story behind the myths and fallacies of American history.

A very quick, and sometimes interesting, survey of American History. Things get started with some tentative speculation about how the first (non-) indigenous peoples arrived, then picks up speed with the arrival of the first European explorers. If you already passed American History in high school and college, you already know this stuff. But it's a reasonable refresher course. Keep in mind that this is somewhat targeted at those with less than a college (or even high school?) education, so there are no big words or deep concepts.

An engaging and amusing overview with consistent depth across time. Somewhat over emphasizing certain political aspects. Not exactly left-leaning, but definitely highlighting environmental and racial issues.