A True History of the United States: Indigenous Genocide, Racialized Slavery, Hyper-Capitalism, Militarist Imperialism, and Other Overlooked Aspects of American Exceptionalism

Book Information

Brilliant, readable, and raw. Maj. (ret.) Danny Sjursen, who served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and later taught history at West Point, delivers a true epic and the perfect companion to Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States.

Sjursen shifts the lens and challenges readers to think critically and to apply common sense to their understanding of our nation’s past—and present—so we can view history as never before.

A True History of the United States was inspired by a course that Sjursen taught to cadets at West Point, his alma mater. With chapter titles such as “Patriots or Insurgents?” and “The Decade That Roared and Wept”, A True History is accurate with respect to the facts and intellectually honest in its presentation and analysis.

Meticulously researched, Sjursen provides a more complete sense of history and encourages readers to view our country objectively. Sjursen’s powerful storytelling reveals balanced portraits of key figures and the role they played.

Essential reading for every American with a conscience.

Challenges & Bans

This book has been challenged for being seen as “unpatriotic” or “promoting a distorted, negative view” of our nation’s past, due to it’s focus on aspects like Indigenous genocide and racialized slavery rather than just the “positive” historical even. Parents have complained that this sort of whole-view approach to history could cause children to be uncomfortable or feel guilt.

Specific Challenges*:

Awards & Accolades

This book has not currently won any awards.

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