I've always enjoyed reading
The Economist to see the news from a non-US viewpoint, even if that viewpoint is usually somewhat loosely aligned. And also just because
The Economist's reporters are such awesome writers that they can make pretty much anything and everything interesting...
.
Now here's a book that purports to do the same thing for US history:
History Lessons: How Textbooks from Around the World Portray U.S. History, by Dana Lindaman and Kyle Ward. From looking at the sample, this appears to be pretty much what the title says, and although the sample seems a little disjointed, with maybe not great connection between the various sections, the first few entries were interesting enough for me to buy the book at its current Kindle US sale price of $2.99. I think it'll be one of those books to keep on my phone and read when I'm in line at the store or bank...
Kindle US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XU7IHC
Kindle US/Smile:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B003XU7IHC
Spoiler:
Quote:
A “fascinating” look at what students in Russia, France, Iran, and other nations are taught about America (The New York Times Book Review).
This “timely and important” book (History News Network) gives us a glimpse into classrooms across the globe, where opinions about the United States are first formed.
History Lessons includes selections from textbooks and teaching materials used in Russia, France, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Canada, and others, covering such events as the American Revolution, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Iran hostage crisis, and the Korean War—providing some alternative viewpoints on the history of the United States from the time of the Viking explorers to the post-Cold War era.
By juxtaposing starkly contrasting versions of the historical events we take for granted, History Lessons affords us a sometimes hilarious, often sobering look at what the world thinks about America’s past.
“A brilliant idea.” —Foreign Affairs
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