The 10 Big Lies about America: Combating Destructive Distortions about Our Nation

by Michael Medved

Book Overview

"It ain't so much the things we don't know that get us into trouble," nineteenth-century humorist Josh Billings remarked. "It's the things we know that just ain't so." In this bold New York Times... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307394069
• ISBN13: 9780307394064
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: Crown Forum
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Book

Arrived on time Interesting

an eye opener

Michael Medved is arguably one of the most well informed minds on History or Politics; definitely the most interesting. He doesn't talk down to his listener or bore them. I am no history buff but this was so contrary to what we learned in school, college or television and what my kids are learning today! It's so important to not let your kids be brainwashed with the wrong information. This is the first step for my kids to think for themselves, not believe everything they hear, dig deeper. I wish I had a book like this in High School or College it would have made some fun conversations around the dinner table. You will be more interesting at social events after reading this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone. It's not offensive, just fact, unless your more comfortable being lied to by the system?

Thank you, America

As European (Spaniard), I have enjoyed the most peaceful period in our 2000 + years of History... thanks to those vilified Americans. You helped us getting rid of fascism and communism (well, maybe you helped Franco to stay in power more than desired, but when he died, your Government was a good mediator in our transition period to democracy). And thanks to your protection, we didn't have to spend that much in weapons to scare off the soviets, thus establishing our so much well-liked welfare society(sorry, not as good as many American lefties think it is). You have been a bargain to Europe. Thank you. I will buy this book as a vaccine against the lies I have to endure in Spain regarding USA and its noble people.

You need to read this.

The 10 Big Lies About America: Combating Destructive Distortions About Our Nation by Michael Medved is a timely book that will set the record straight.....I hope. After years of "PC" and revisionist history, I'm amazed that anyone writing books remembers American history as it used to exist. Medved doesn't shy away from sensitive subjects in The 10 Big Lies. Dealing with misconceptions about slavery is always a touchy issue. Medved doesn't sugar coat slavery in America, but he does put it in perspective. I'm always amazed at how misinformed people are on the topic anyway. Slavery was tragic, and the United States shouldn't attempt to hide from its involvement in the trade. However, slavery was as much a legal trade activity in the seventeenth through nineteenth century as trading oil today. We need to keep that in perspective. Medved dismantles, one by one, ten lies about the United States. In doing so, he dismantles and disarms the arguments "the blame American first" crowd and does so in a direct manner. He also buries other misconceptions and outright distortions about this country. For me the biggest lie Medved deals with is that this has always been a multicultural country. Not true. Throughout our history the objective has always been to Americanize newcomers and their children as soon as possible. The U. S. was never invisioned to be one comprised of a multitude of cultures coexisting. Poles yes, but Americans first. Italians yes, but Americans first. Germans, Chinese, Africans all. But Americans first. The other big lie Medved deals with is that the founders always intended us to be a secular country. Medved slam dunks that lie in short order. Also, that corporations are oppressive toward their workers and society. Maybe in the nineteenth century but not now, not for the last ninety years. Try doing anything without an economic base. Michael Medved is a breath of fresh air. Written in concise language and in an entertaining manner and well researched, The 10 Big Lies is a book you'll want in your personal library. If you don't want to buy it, check it out from your library. I highly recommend. Peace always.

Balance to What My Children Hear in School

My high-schoolers' history textbooks casually spout several of the lies that this book debunks in easily-understood, well-researched chapters. I was looking for something that would present the "other side" of what they hear, and this is authoritative and so engrossing that my son (age 16) read the entire book without stopping (even eating while he read!) as soon as we got it. I'd heard Michael Medved on the radio and was always struck by his knowledge of history and ability to communicate, which this book confirms. Reading The 10 Big Lies restored my positive feelings about the history of our nation, and also added to my pride and gratitude for living here. It was especially helpful to read well-supported GOOD news as a counterbalance to the negativity all over TV and the newspapers. An uplifting book filled with useful and sometimes surprising facts--that I enjoyed reading.

A great book for the American patriot

In The 10 Big Lies About America, Michael Medved addresses 10 popular misconceptions about the US that are taught in the world of academia. The types of issues he addresses cover both the history of the country (Myth: The United States is uniquely guilty for the crime of slavery and based its wealth on stolen African labor) and modern political dialogue (Myth: The alarming rise of big business hurts the United States and oppresses its people). In his clear-thinking style of writing, the author makes the case that America is by and large a force for good in the world and that it is really the "greatest nation on God's green earth".