Thomas F. (hardtack) - , reviewed on 10/4/2023 + 2572 more book reviews

Kenneth Davis is the author of the "Don't Know Much About..." books. You might think these are just quickie, light reading without substance. However, I read his "Don't Know Much About the Civil War" and was impressed. For someone who has been reading books about that war for most of the past 66 years I thought it was an exceptionally good presentation. As for the others, I can't vouch for them, but based just upon the Civil War book and this one, I expect they are well researched.

In this book. Davis covers several episodes of early American history and reveals details that will make you wonder why the people in them were white-washed in your school history classes. Our nation and its leaders weren't always something to boast about. It always makes me laugh when someone tells me---usually every Thanksgiving---that the Puritans came to American in search of religious freedom. They came because they were religious bigots and wanted to escape from people who were tolerant of other creeds!

In our history, mistakes were made and misdeeds were covered up. Reading about some of them in this book might make you believe early America was the worst place to live....... except for all the other countries in the world. Just for instance, the average American in the late 1700s took for granted liberties that people living in Europe in the 1800s and 1900s couldn't imagine having. And there are millions of people living in countries today that wish they could live in America during the worst of our times.

I was delighted Davis featured Benedict Arnold---the great American traitor---in this book, as he is one of my favorite historical personages from our history. My year-long American History course in college required one long term paper, and I wrote it on Benedict Arnold. I firmly believe that without his pre-treason activities on behalf of the American Rebellion, we would never have gained our freedom from Britain. At least, not during the Revolutionary War period. In fact, I made a special trip to the Saratoga Battlefield in my early 20s just to view the monument to Benedict Arnold's leg and boot. Read this book to find out why.

My major interest in history is in the little-known or unknown episodes and people. Or in the truth that was whitewashed by politicians, the military, teachers or others with ulterior motives. The truth is George Washington did tell lies, and many of our political leaders were corrupt if not outright criminals, and not only did we mistreat people of our own race or religion, but we did worse to those who weren't. But we still, for some unknown reason, have a great country. For proof, look at all those people risking death to come here. So accept the bad parts of our country's history with the good. Collectively, we must be doing something right. It is why dictators hate us so much.

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