A True History of the United States

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

By: Daniel Sjursen

Narrated by: Daniel Sjursen

“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

Good book, but. I have a few disagreements

Overall, I liked this book, but there are a few historical comments that I disagree with. For example, a comment that communist did not participatie in Vietman anti-war movement which I know is not correct . I saw NBC interviews (that were not aired) with anti-war leaders who stated that they did not care if communist participated in their movement. The only criteria was that participants were anti-war. Moreover, I saw NBC videos (again, were not aired) of communist party leaders speaking at anti-war gatherings. These videos were shown to me at a military leadership school. Yet this author states there was no communist in the Vietnam anti-War moment.
There was no mention that the first colony in the USA is St. Augustine, Florida ( September 8, 1565). Africans were there and they were not slaves. This was a few years before Jamestown (1607).
There was no mention how the Doctrine of Discovery 1493 was used by Europeans to justify that Indians did not own their land (this was also used in 1823 by the US Surpreme Court case Johnson vs McIntosh).
These are a few examples of where I disagee with the book , but overall I liked this book.

Mandatory information!!

Eye opening,mind blowing knowledge that SHOULD have been taught in schools from kindergarten to college! Hold the government accountable!!

An unflinching review of American history

This book puts together the bits of American history we all know but we’re afraid to say out loud In a single narrative. Even if you’re well versed in American history you will probably learn something new or see something in a different light with this book.

Eye opening and terribly honest!

This is an excellent telling of the American story. It is uncompromisingly honest. The fairy tale version of the United States of America will not survive this book. Dare to read it or listen to it.

I personally felt the story he told moved along quite rapidly. In no way could you call this telling of our American history boring or slow paced. I highly recommend this book.

Informative, but Narration Terrible

I loved the writing, and information. This book is a Need right now for this country. But the author needs to have someone else narrate this. His research and writing skill is 5 stars, but his reading was horrible. He sounded bored with his own book, and it was as if it was his first time reading it. I will narrate this for free just so more people can actually listen to this if offered. Please do something about this.