James W. Loewen

Historian & Critic of Textbook Bias

Author of “Lies My Teacher Told Me”

About James Loewen

• American sociologist, historian, and author (1942–2021).
• Best known for challenging misconceptions in American history education.
• Wrote extensively on race, class, and the presentation of history in schools.

Major Works

• Lies My Teacher Told Me (1995): Critiques how U.S. history textbooks distort or omit important facts.
• Lies Across America (1999): Examines historical markers and monuments for misinformation.
• Teaching What Really Happened (2010): Guides educators in honest historical instruction.

Key Ideas About Textbooks

Textbooks often omit uncomfortable truths about slavery, racism, and inequality in US history.

Textbooks encourage a “feel-good” narrative, promoting myths rather than critical thinking.

Loewen advocated for honest, nuanced history teaching that empowers students to question and analyze.Discover more: James Loewen’s Official Page