Super Short Summary

In Lies My Teacher Told Me, James W. Loewen critiques twelve American history textbooks, revealing how they distort facts through "herofication" and romanticized narratives. The depiction of historical figures like Woodrow Wilson and Helen Keller is sanitized, while the experiences of racial minorities, class struggles, and governmental corruption are overlooked or misrepresented. Consequently, history is presented blandly and nationalistically, impairing students' ability to critically engage with the past. The book discusses sensitive topics like slavery, racial discrimination, and governmental misconduct.