Criticizes the way history is presented in current textbooks, and suggests a fresh and more accurate approach to teaching American history. Loewen examined leading high school American history texts, and concluded that not one does a decent job of making history interesting or memorable. In this edition, adapted for young readers, he helps students develop a deeper understanding of our world. He begins with Native American history, and covers diverse events up to the present day.

Based on: Lies my teacher told me : everything your American history textbook got wrong / James W. Loewen. Revised and updated [2nd] edition. New York : Simon & Schuster, 2007.

Introduction : Why I wrote this book -- and other questions answered -- The problem with making heroes -- What did Columbus really do? -- The truth about the first Thanksgiving -- Through red eyes -- Invisible racism -- John Brown, Abraham Lincoln, and invisible idealism -- The land of opportunity -- Keeping an eye on the government -- Seeing no evil in Vietnam -- The disappearance of the recent past -- History and the future -- Does this way of teaching history work? -- Afterword : The future lies ahead -- and what to do about them.