America Past and Present, Volume I (Chapters 1-16) (7th Edition)

Rating:
Summary: History is always changing...apparently
Review: If you're buying this book, chances are that it is the mandatory text for a class and you have no choice. It's one of the necessary evils of education. But...it gets worse. This book is not even a true history book. It is a social commentary losely laced with historic facts, as the authors see fit. So much opinion drowns the chapters that the validity of any fact is virtually negated.

The intent was good. The result is terrible. It was the authors' intent to write a broader history of America that encompasses the many cultures and historical events that led to the founding of our country, rather than merely presenting the white/European history that we're accustomed to. A good deal of historical background is given regarding African and native American tribes and cultures. That alone would have been wonderful, not to mention needed. But, the authors spend so much energy injecting their opinions into the text (rather than the opinions of the people at the time), that it is very difficult to sift through and learn the basic events that one must learn for a history class. Any civilized person knows that inexcuseable events took place in our nation's history (i.e. slavery, forcibly taking land fron Native Americans, etc, etc.). I don't know anyone today that would defend these actions, yet throughout the text, we basically beaten over the head with how evil the white Europeans/colonists were.

A real history book, in a free society, should present all the facts possible and allow the readers to come to the rational conclusion themselves. As an example, this book even picks sides on a war between Spain and England. Spain "unfortunately" failed at its attempt to invade and Catholicize England. I don't even know how they came up with this stuff, or how they have the courage to present it as unbiased. I'm embarrassed that we have allowed this sort of material to filter into our schools and be taught as truth.

If you have any way around it, do not buy this book.