Lies My Teacher Told Me: A Graphic Adaptation
Named one of the Best Art Books of the Year by Hyperallergic
Winner of The Society of Midland Authors "Children's Reading Round Table Award" for Children's Nonfiction
Since its first publication in the 1990s, Lies My Teacher Told Me has become one of the most important and successful--and beloved--history books of our time. As the late Howard Zinn said, "Every teacher, every student of history, every citizen should read this book." Having sold well over 2 million copies, the book also won an American Book Award and numerous other commendations and prizes and was even heralded on the front page of the New York Times long after its first publication.
Now, the brilliant and award-winning artist Nate Powell--the first cartoonist ever to win a National Book Award--has adapted Loewen's classic work into a graphic edition that perfectly captures both Loewen's text and the irreverent spirit of his work. Eye-popping illustrations bring to life the true history chronicled in Lies My Teacher Told Me, and ample text boxes and callouts ensure nothing is lost in translation. The book is perfect for those making their first foray past the shroud of history textbooks, and it will also be beloved by those who had their worldviews changed by the original.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
I wanted to love this. Really, I did. A graphic adaptation of Lies My Teacher Told Me sounds like the perfect way to engage a new generation with the complexities of history. But instead of a well-researched, nuanced take, this felt more like a one-sided political op-ed in comic book form. The book claims to dismantle historical bias, yet it swings so hard in one direction that it ends up doing exactly what it condemns—oversimplifying the past to fit a modern narrative.
For instance, Powell cites absolutely no sources other than Loewen’s 1995 edition, yet he manages to squeeze in events as recent as 2017. Are we just supposed to take his word for it? Because that sounds an awful lot like the blind trust in authority this book rails against. And let’s be honest: no biased history text would be complete without a casual jab at Trump, because apparently, a book about centuries of historical inaccuracies wouldn’t be complete without a detour into modern politics.
The illustrations? Engaging. The content? Frustratingly selective. If you’re looking for a history book that actually presents multiple perspectives and encourages critical thinking, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you want a visually striking, extremely left-leaning history lesson that conveniently ignores its own contradictions, this one’s for you.
For a comic, it's pretty dense. But I thought it was interesting. I wouldn't have otherwise read a nonfiction history book; the reasons why were talked about in this book. It also gave some insight into how textbooks are made, which was disappointing but unsurprising. A lot of what's talked about has to do with issues involving racism and social class. And because of the nature of this book, it made me (encouraged me to?) think about the perspective and biases being presented here as well. This is a good read for anyone that wants to get upset about American propaganda/information censoring and/or wants confirmation that your history classes sucked.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.