The Smart Aleck's Guide to American History

November 30, 2009
This 11-chapter, tightly condensed guide to history posits that most know little on the subject, and that's a shame: its aim is to provide an overview of significant topics speeding along on humor, Daily Show
–style. The first chapter declares, “Any idiot will tell you it was Columbus , but that's just proof that he or she is an idiot.” The following chapters (such as “A Nation Declines to Bathe” and “The Depressing Thirties”) give profiles of historical figures, events, and concepts, along with photographs, sidebars, end-of-chapter questions (“Who would have made a better president than Harding?”), and assignment ideas. The irreverent, often laugh-out-loud approach should win over reluctant readers. Ages 12–up.

January 1, 2010
Gr 8 Up-In the style of acclaimed writers Jon Stewart ("The Daily Show") and Steven Colbert ("The Colbert Report"), this witty, comedic, and appealing volume abandons the world of historical dates and battles to fill in some of the gaps in young Americans' knowledge of their country's history. Readers learn of General Washington's rebellion against the "basic rules of boating safety" as well as encounter James K. Polk's mullet ("Business up front, party in the back, baby.") while benefiting greatly from the book's efficient presentation of pivotal themes and events such as the American Revolution, Civil War, and Civil Rights Movement. This clever and informative work follows a chronological arrangement from early exploration to the inauguration of President Barack Obama in January 2009. Each chapter concludes with a "Some of the Stuff We Missed" section, essay questions such as "Who was the bigger jerk, Hitler or Stalin?"; vocabulary words; and multiple choice "End-of-Chapter Questions" that range from "What do "you" think happened to those Croatoan guysand what gave you "that" idea?" to "What Civil War guy had the best nickname?" Small black-and-white photos and reproductions appear throughout. The companion Web site contains supplemental information, links to relevant documents and other sites, and "Assignment Alerts!" for further exploration. This informal approach is sure to appeal to even the most reluctant of readers."Brian Odom, Pelham Public Library, AL"

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