Critiques of Textbooks
Examining how textbook narratives shape our understanding of history — and what gets left out.
Textbooks are the backbone of history education, but they are not neutral documents. Every textbook reflects choices about what to include, what to omit, and how to frame events. This section examines those choices — highlighting scholarship that critiques textbook narratives and offers alternative perspectives for educators and students.
Featured Research
Textbook Analysis
Analyzing the Portrayal of the Atomic Bombs Dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Textbooks and Non-Profit Curriculum Sources
Published in The Oregon Journal of the Social Studies, this study examines how U.S. history textbooks and non-profit curriculum sources portray the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Kendall finds that textbook narratives often frame the bombings through a nationalist lens that emphasizes American justification while minimizing Japanese suffering and downplaying ongoing historical debate about the decision to use nuclear weapons.
Comparative Study
U.S. & Chinese Textbooks
Teaching Empire: A Comparative Analysis of U.S. and Chinese History Textbooks on 20th-Century U.S. Imperialism
This study compares how U.S. and Chinese high school history textbooks portray 20th-century U.S. imperialism. Li and Kendall find that textbooks in both countries serve national narratives — American textbooks downplay imperialist ambitions while framing U.S. actions as spreading democracy, while Chinese textbooks emphasize American expansionism as a form of hegemony. The article reveals how national identity shapes textbook narratives on both sides and argues for more transnational approaches to teaching imperialism.
Why Textbook Critiques Matter
Missing Perspectives
Textbooks often center American or Western viewpoints, leaving out the voices and experiences of those most affected by U.S. actions abroad.
Simplified Narratives
Complex historical events are often reduced to tidy stories that minimize controversy and eliminate nuance.
Better Teaching
Understanding textbook biases helps educators teach more complete, critical history that prepares students for informed citizenship.
More Critiques Coming Soon
We are building a library of textbook critiques covering topics from Reconstruction to the Cold War, immigration to environmental history. If you have research to contribute, get in touch.