That's Not in My American History Book: A Compilation of Little-Known Events and Forgotten Heroes

by Thomas Ayres Narrated by Jeff Riggenbach

Overview

That's Not in My American History Book collects an illuminating treasury of stories edited out of your textbooks. It explains why the Fourth of July isn't really our Independence Day. It dispels the myth of Paul Revere's ride. It reveals nineteenth-century political mudslinging that labeled Andrew Jackson a murderer and his wife an adulteress. It even unveils the only vice president ever to compose a number-one pop hit.

For generations, history classes reduced the American story into a dry litany of dates, names, and places. Now, Thomas Ayres fills in the gaps, supplying the messy details, reclaiming the overlooked heroes, and correcting the facts you thought you knew. With insight, irreverence, and wit, That's Not in My American History Book uncovers our unknown past.

Editorial Reviews

The Republican

There is just no way to get bored by what he reports. Had my history text in school been this interesting, I may have majored in history.

Advance

Perhaps so few people ... seem to know or care about American history because their teachers bored them into catatonia from grade school on ... if they would only read this little gem of a book ... [they] would find a whole new area of human knowledge in which to immerse themselves.

Virginian - Pilot

Comprehensive. Witty.

The Denver Post

Ayers' conjectures and sidelights ... put life into what is very often a boring subject for school-aged children.

Back Channels Magazine

That's Not in My American History Book...gives the reader fascinating stories on the history of America that is not taught in our schools, and that knocks down the many prevailing myths concerning events in our American saga. This book was a joy to read and should be viewed as the 'real' story of our nation's saga, without the blemishes and politically correctness that we have for so long been used to. Go get it.

Jim Lehrer

Here, finally, is a history book that can be enjoyed by everyone. It approaches history for what it really is-stories of people doing interesting, courageous, and crazy things. Tom Ayres turns history into something that is fun as well as important.

Virginian-Pilot

Riveting true tales of our less-celebrated national past. Comprehensive and witty.

Darwin Payne

A fascinating, irresistible, behind-the-scenes look at historical events that you only 'thought' you knew about. Thomas Ayres knows just where to look for those rare nuggets that capture the imagination, and he relates them all in such an appealing way.

Publishers Weekly

Investigative reporter Thomas Ayresis sets history straight.

Bookwatch

This compilation of little-known events and heroes gathers all the juicy stories edited out of history textbooks.

Post-Tribune

...[T]he kind of refreshing research found in this illuminating treasury of American history [is] most likely not found in the text books you read in school.

From the Publisher

...[T]he kind of refreshing research found in this illuminating treasury of American history [is] most likely not found in the text books you read in school.

That's Not in My American History Book...gives the reader fascinating stories on the history of America that is not taught in our schools, and that knocks down the many prevailing myths concerning events in our American saga. This book was a joy to read and should be viewed as the 'real' story of our nation's saga, without the blemishes and politically correctness that we have for so long been used to. Go get it.

A fascinating, irresistible, behind-the-scenes look at historical events that you only 'thought' you knew about. Thomas Ayres knows just where to look for those rare nuggets that capture the imagination, and he relates them all in such an appealing way.

Ayers' conjectures and sidelights ... put life into what is very often a boring subject for school-aged children.

Comprehensive. Witty.

Here, finally, is a history book that can be enjoyed by everyone. It approaches history for what it really is-stories of people doing interesting, courageous, and crazy things. Tom Ayres turns history into something that is fun as well as important.

Investigative reporter Thomas Ayresis sets history straight.

Perhaps so few people ... seem to know or care about American history because their teachers bored them into catatonia from grade school on ... if they would only read this little gem of a book ... [they] would find a whole new area of human knowledge in which to immerse themselves.

Riveting true tales of our less-celebrated national past. Comprehensive and witty.

There is just no way to get bored by what he reports. Had my history text in school been this interesting, I may have majored in history.

This compilation of little-known events and heroes gathers all the juicy stories edited out of history textbooks.

Denver Post

Ayers' conjectures and sidelights ... put life into what is very often a boring subject for school-aged children.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169545920
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/2007
Edition description:	Unabridged

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