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A True History of the United States

Indigenous Genocide, Racialized Slavery, Hyper-Capitalism, Militarist Imperialism and Other Overlooked Aspects of American Exceptionalism

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A True History of the United States

By: Daniel Sjursen
Narrated by: Daniel Sjursen
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Summary

 “Thought-provoking—a must read for [everyone] seeking a firm grasp of accurate American history." —Kirkus (starred review)

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.


  • Essential reading for every American with a conscience.
  • 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.

  • "Sjursen exposes the dominant historical narrative as at best myth, and at times a lie . . . He brings out from the shadows those who struggled, often at the cost of their own lives, for equality and justice. Their stories, so often ignored or trivialized, give us examples of who we should emulate and who we must become." —Chris Hedges, author of Empire of Illusion and America: The Farewell Tour
 Americas Civics & Citizenship Politics & Government United States American History Iran Social justice Latin American Middle East Imperialism Military Africa Socialism Capitalism Russia Self-Determination Liberalism Franklin D Roosevelt Soviet Union Vietnam War China War Imperial Japan United States History
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All stars
Most relevant
A story which puts things into context. Strips away fantasy and sets the US in a more correct light. Exposes the hype and demonstrates that after 240 years, like all empires, it’s on its downward spiral. Whilst not a perfect edit or slick production I enjoyed hearing it from the writer. It gave authenticity

Eye opening

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In order to fully understand current events and apparent insanity of the political class of the most powerful nation in the world, one first has to understand its history. Well written and concise. Highly recommended.

Very good book

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What I really liked about this book was the flood of information provided by the author positively encouraging one to look for other books which would provide more detailed writing on the various references made by the author. For instance, the material on the US/Philippines war and the US/Mexican war absolutely necessitate wider readings on those subjects and, worryingly, seem to show the US acting in ways that shocked me. If you want to read a book that opens your eyes to a more cynical approach to US history then this is the book.

Left wanting more (which is a good thing)

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Great book - jolly well read it!!! Very nuanced perspective on American history :-) Well done

Excellent 100% recommend

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The book starts strongly with a revisionist and credible history of America up to the outbreak of World War 1. This is when the book starts to go badly awry. His précis of the origins of WW1 is straight from Barbara Tuchman circa 1960. He clearly has read nothing at all more recent. There then follows a very patchy overview of the origins of WW2. An embarrassing swallowing hook, line and sinker of the 1970s leftist line that the Soviets ‘won’ that war and a frankly infantile analysis of the bombing campaign over Germany. In short, strong on domestic American matters, badly at sea when it comes to geo-politics. As the author reaches more recent times, the history becomes an editorial. Almost a rant. Very little balance. I’m afraid it’s not even terribly well-written, we are offered “a tide of stagnation”. Really?

Some good, much terrible

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