EduClaytion

If you like to read and hate wasting time, let me save you some. Somehow I’ve managed to read three popular history books already this year.  One was decent, another okay, and the third rubbish.

1. A Short History of the United States by Robert Remini

     This ambitious work moves swiftly and covers the basics with lots of sweet, little nuggets along the way.  Remini balances the tone to appeal to both long time students and newcomers to the material.

2. The Politically Incorrect Guide To American History by Thomas Woods Jr.

     Here you go conservatives.  This book assumes a couple of things.  First, that you’ve probably heard some traditional history lessons in the past.  Second, that you don’t bowl with liberals on Friday nights.  Woods doesn’t attack anyone directly but makes the general argument that history has been revised in favor of a liberal agenda.  He certainly makes some interesting claims, but I would have to analyze the work more to be sure everything he says holds up. Nevertheless, a good change of pace and certainly better than…

3. American Creation by Joseph Ellis

     Ugh.  Where to start.  You know that look the American Idol judges give a contestant who completely bombs?  How anyone can take the Founding Fathers and American Revoluton and make it downright boring, let alone unreadable, is beyond me.  If you can stay awake, beware.  Ellis is motivated by something and it ain’t exactly accuracy.  The overall goal of this dribble seems to be to:

            a. Make people hate history by shredding every bit of fascination from the story. Read more »