Product Description

A new, completely revised, expanded and updated edition of the million-selling New York Times bestseller that launched the entire Don’t Know Much About series.

When Don't Know Much About History first appeared, it created a sensation. With humor, great stories, and a trademark conversational style, the book brought Americans a fresh new take on history. Davis proved Americans don't hate history–they just hate the dull version they were force-fed in school.

In his irreverent and popular question-and-answer style, Davis now returns with a completely revised edition that brings history right up to the moment–covering such topics as the end of the Cold War, Clinton's impeachment, the bizarre election of 2000, and the events that led to September 11.

Incorporation new research and discoveries, Davis also updates and expands on such long-standing American controversies as the Hiss trial, and he includes an expanded "civics-lesson" that examines some of America's hottest social and political issues, such as the death penalty and school prayer.

For history buffs and history-phobes alike, Davis proves once more why People magazine said that listening to him "is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1358594 in Books
• Published on: 2003-04-01
• Released on: 2003-04-01
• Formats: Abridged, Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Binding: Audio CD

From Amazon.com
Finally, someone who tells history like it was, without the old textbook gloss that's put so many students into premature naptime and misinformed the few who stayed awake. Davis corrects the myths and misconceptions from Columbus up through the Clinton administration, and shows that truth is more entertaining than propaganda.

From Publishers Weekly
This reference, intended to supplement Americans' insufficient knowledge of their country's history, lists essential people, places and dates from the New World's discovery to the Iran-Contra affair, and compares past events to those of the present.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-Kenneth C. Davis uses wit, candor, and fascinating facts to reveal the very human side of history the textbooks neglect.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

A Contrast Needed
Kenneth Davis' book about American history needs to be compared and contrasted with other recent American history books such as James Loewen's _Lies Across America_. Davis writes another US history including things which he considers everything you need to know, historical shortcomings. "Truth isn't cosmetically perfect, " he writes. Quite often history is skewed by myths and misconceptions.

Davis writes along the traditional line of history from America's "'discovery' by Europe" to the Bill Clinton administration. His intention is to write a narrative that could be read from beginning to end and debunk myths and misconceptions along the way. In that regard he has done a good job. However Davis has a far gentler attitude than Loewen.

Good overview, but biased and editorial
Davis writes a good overview of American history, summarizing some of the key and decisive events of the past. While no substitute for a text book, Davis makes interesting subject areas which have put generations of high school history students to sleep. As augmentation to a prescribed course of study, or as a refresher for a HS/college graduate, this book is worth reading.

A word of caution. This is not a 'bare facts' history. Davis' writing style is heavily laced with very liberal editorialism. Davis also tends to insert his own opinions as fact. Overall he seems to view American history through liberal hindsight, rarely hesitating to impose his own value judgements on historical events and decisions made by political, military and business leaders.

Don't Know Much About History Indeed!
First of all everyone has a bias & no one's on the same page as far as experiences, or books that they have read. I was at the bookstore and just wanted to have a coherent grasp of the Lincoln Assassination- the author could be right, I don't know...it's a little before my time, but the way Mr. Davis cavalierly tells us" The Warren Commission, got it right" Well..I guess then I'm Wilt Chamberlain..how many dozens of people have to come forward that were there,not conspiracy types, but trained medical personnelfor example etc, etc.. at every step of the way in that case-Mexico City,New Orleans, Bethesda Naval Hospital, Parkland Hospital for Davis to wake up and see something different transpired?I've read a couple books on Marilyn Monroe's death & I could not say with any certainty, whether she was murdered or not,it was probably suicide, yet with people like Jimmy Hoffa, Sam Giancana, Hoover, and Counter Intell. honcho James Jesus Angleton possibly monitoring her( all JFK enemies that have potentially interesting linkages to 11-22-63, as either suspects, or covering the case up) who can make a blanket statement of accidental overdose, or suicide? So...how can I put faith in Davis's judgement in other cases?