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lavoiture's review against another edition
4.0
I'm going to read more of the Horrible Histories! I had an inkling of how awful the American/British/Dutch/French/Spanish settlers were, but didn't really know...and now I do, and I am appalled. It wasn't written as a boring ol' history book, but as a combination comic/chatty story that made history fascinating and awful. I mean, there weren't a lot of happy stories--they're called Horrible Histories for a reason. But I kept thinking, 'Man, why didn't they teach us this stuff in school?' Highly recommended!
cliobemuzedbookworm's review
3.0
Horrible histories are always great fun, yet sometimes you feel like they focus too much on the horrible :-). Then again, that wouldn't really do with such a title.
tammie_2207's review
3.0
Read- July 2020 for The Reading Rush (different continent)
- Christ, America's history is dark.
- Christ, America's history is dark.
dev720's review against another edition
5.0
A sweeping and broad study of American history up to the 1960s, with special focus on the differences between American myth and fact. This children's book doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of US history, but presents it as it is with little exaggeration or embellishment.
tammie's review
3.0
Read- July 2020 for The Reading Rush (different continent)
- Christ, America's history is dark.
- Christ, America's history is dark.
sweekune's review
dark
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
Horrible Histories were books I adored as a child. Most of my knowledge of history came from those books and I loved how funny and kooky they were. My mum likes to tell the story of the time I wrote "Nil desperandum auspice deo" on all my SATS papers because there was a line in Stormin' Normans suggesting to do so.
So recently it came to my attention that my knowledge of US history is somewhat lacking. In a time when a lot of consumable media contains references from this, it was beginning to annoy me that I didn't know exactly what the references were from. I did what any adult would do and did a little Google search and confused myself further. I needed something easy to understand, succinct, and covering as much of the relevant history as possible... Enter Horrible Histories: The USA.
- This book is clear, chronological for the most part and, as it is really a children's book, very comprehensible. It covered most of the events I could think of plus lots I had no idea about.
- As you would expect from the Horrible Histories series, the book does not shy away from the more gruesome, vicious and bloodthirsty elements of history. There are many violent anecdotes told.
- Whilst this book does mostly focus on things from a white POV, there is a lot of focus on how the white colonists were not nice to Native Americans, BIPOC and other minority groups. It is made very clear that was was done to these groups is not okay. The section on racism at the back of the book was a nice touch for a twenty year-old book but could have been much larger and more detailed. The achievements and treatment of BIPOC, Native Americans and other minorities in the 20th century are not really touched upon at all which I feel is a really sad oversight and drags down an otherwise really good book.
I think you could do much worse than reading this book as a beginner's guide to US history but I would advise that anyone reading this should then go on to research more about the twentieth century and especially focus on the achievements of those (BIPOC, Native Americans, etc) who are omitted from this book.
So recently it came to my attention that my knowledge of US history is somewhat lacking. In a time when a lot of consumable media contains references from this, it was beginning to annoy me that I didn't know exactly what the references were from. I did what any adult would do and did a little Google search and confused myself further. I needed something easy to understand, succinct, and covering as much of the relevant history as possible... Enter Horrible Histories: The USA.
- This book is clear, chronological for the most part and, as it is really a children's book, very comprehensible. It covered most of the events I could think of plus lots I had no idea about.
- As you would expect from the Horrible Histories series, the book does not shy away from the more gruesome, vicious and bloodthirsty elements of history. There are many violent anecdotes told.
- Whilst this book does mostly focus on things from a white POV, there is a lot of focus on how the white colonists were not nice to Native Americans, BIPOC and other minority groups. It is made very clear that was was done to these groups is not okay. The section on racism at the back of the book was a nice touch for a twenty year-old book but could have been much larger and more detailed. The achievements and treatment of BIPOC, Native Americans and other minorities in the 20th century are not really touched upon at all which I feel is a really sad oversight and drags down an otherwise really good book.
I think you could do much worse than reading this book as a beginner's guide to US history but I would advise that anyone reading this should then go on to research more about the twentieth century and especially focus on the achievements of those (BIPOC, Native Americans, etc) who are omitted from this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gun violence, Gore, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
bookishrach's review
5.0
If you're not a fan of reading history books intended for adults, then the Horrible Histories series is the perfect way to learn. It has a great sense of humor and keeps history entertaining. I discovered this series at the British Museum in London and have been addicted ever since!
Also, if you're in the US, this book is nearly impossible to get your hands on as it was discontinued in being published in the US. Apparently, it ruffled too many feathers, but when I read it there was no inaccuracies. Hmmmmmmm.
Also, if you're in the US, this book is nearly impossible to get your hands on as it was discontinued in being published in the US. Apparently, it ruffled too many feathers, but when I read it there was no inaccuracies. Hmmmmmmm.
bibliophage's review
What I especially loved about Terry Deary's USA Horrible History was that it was a new and important perspective to read about historical events as portrayed by a British historian and author. Even as a kid reader I was able to pick up on the perspective and bias (and I don't say that in a bad way) of the history, and it was healthy. And as usual, Deary always does an amazing job.
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