Don't Know Much About the Pilgrims

Description

Thirty-four children on the Mayflower
Three days of Thanksgiving feasting
And hundreds of facts about the hardworking Pilgrims

Pilgrims in Plymouth: True or False Quiz

1. The Mayflower was a huge ship—nearly as large as the Titanic—with a bowling alley and a swimming pool!
2. Squanto, an Indian who helped the Pilgrims, spoke English.
3. Pilgrim farmers buried fish in the ground to help their corn grow better.
4. The Pilgrims called their harvest feast Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving today is a time for families to say grace and gobble turkey. But why did the Pilgrims start this tradition? And who were these people anyway? In this latest outstanding entry in the Don't Know Much About^® series by renowned author Kenneth C. Davis, you can discover all you ever wanted to know about the Pilgrims.

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Customer Reviews

Don't Know Much--Pilgrims
This is a great book full of interesting facts and presented in an interesting way. It was very engaging for the whole family. I read some of it on the way to Thanksgiving dinner and no one wanted to stop reading when we had to take a break! We liked this so much we bought more Don't Know Much books.

2007-01-09 | Celtic Mom (Grand Rapids, MI) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 4

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Great Book!
This is a great informational book about the Pilgrims. Recommended for older children and teachers preparing their lessons.

2003-11-30 | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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A Nation Rising: Untold Tales of Flawed Founders, Fallen Heroes, and Forgotten Fighters from America's Hidden History

Product Details

• Stipulation: New
• ISBN13: 9780061118203
• Notes: BUY WITH Certitude, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and use to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Description

Following his New York Times bestseller America's Hidden History, Kenneth C. Davis explores the gritty first half of the nineteenth century—among the most tumultuous periods in this nation's short life.

In the dramatic period that spans roughly from 1800 through 1850, the United States emerged from its inauspicious beginning as a tiny newborn nation, struggling for survival and political cohesion on the Atlantic seaboard, to a near-empire that spanned the continent. It was a time in which the "dream of our founders" spread in ways that few men of that Revolutionary Generation could possibly have imagined. And it was an era that ultimately led to the great, tragic conflagration that followed—the American Civil War.

The narratives that form A Nation Rising each exemplify the "hidden history" of America, exploring a vastly more complex path to nationhood than the tidily packaged national myth of a destiny made manifest by visionary political leaders and fearless pioneers. Instead, Davis (whose writing People magazine compared to "returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had") explores many historical episodes that reverberate to this day, including

• Aaron Burr's 1807 trial, showcasing the political intrigue of the early Republic and becoming one of our nation's first media circuses
• an 1813 Indian uprising and an ensuing massacre that exposes the powerful conflicts at the heart of America's expansion
• a mutiny aboard the slave ship Creole and the ways in which the institution of slavery both destroyed lives and warped our nation's founding
• the "Dade Massacre" and the start of the second Seminole War, a long, deadly conflict between Indian tribes, their African American allies, and the emergent U.S. Army
• the bloody "Bible Riots" in Philadelphia, demonstrating how deadly anti-immigrant sentiment could be
• the story of Jessie Benton FrÉmont and Lt. John C. FrÉmont, a remarkable couple who together helped open the West, bring California into the Union, and gave literal shape to the nation today

The issues raised in these intertwined stories—ambition, power, territorial expansion, slavery, intolerance, civil rights, freedom of the press—continue to make headlines. The resulting book is not only riveting storytelling in its own right, but a stirring reminder of the ways in which our history continues to shape our present.

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Customer Reviews

Another America hater
Although there are recounted some interesting events in the book, the obvious anti-American western civilization bias is truly sickening. The unchecked immigration detailed in the book probably contributed to the first Civil War as the unchecked immigration of today is undoubtedly leading us to another one. Books like this one are helping pave the way for that unfortunate eventuality.

Although I don't have time to do the research, and this is an opinion only, I'd say the book is full of half truths if not out and out lies. It depends on what "lies" means, like in the case of Bill Clinton and that woman he never had relations with, Ms. Lewinsky, it depends on what "is" means.

Still, as a history fan I have to say the events chronicled are interesting, and I did learn things I hadn't known before. I just wish books were not "politicized".

FattyZ

2010-09-01 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 2

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American History Your Probably Forgot
Davis is a wonderful writer who moves a story. Some of his Ph.D. colleagues no doubt would classify this as "history lite," but I think he performs a service for those of us who either skipped this period in U.S. History or forgot what our teachers tried to teach.

Yes, I would have liked a little more depth and "the other side" on some of the subjects chosen. For instance, was there any validity to the claims that the Catholics were anti-independence? Davis skips the question and writes entirely about the injustices committed against them. These were atrocities, to be sure, but a good historian presents the facts and lets the reader decide.

That being said, I did enjoy this book. Davis unearths a lot of material and upsets our traditional views of Cowboys and Indians, Aaron Burr and Andy Jackson. I would read another book of his.

2010-08-18 (Somis, California United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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A Nation Rising
The author ventures behind the scenes in the lives of some of history's popular, well known and oft times controversial players on the stage of American history, writing of the late 18th and 19th centuries including War of 1812, the War with mexico and Seminole War's. Parts of the writing wil be repetitious; to those of us less well steeped in American history there is much that is new, exciting and even amusing, for example John Fremont's ancestry. The chapters are inclusive, allowing the reader to pick and choose, completing the volumne at his leisure. I found the book from Amazon very interesting and time reading it well spent.

2010-07-22 | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Really dry. It would have been digestable if it were just a list of time-lines.

2010-07-12 | Good Mourning Sunshine (California) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 2

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Food for Thought (perhaps cotton candy)
I do not specifically subscribe to notions of our founders and leaders being bigots who destroyed the rights and the way of life of those in their path to make the USA a nation. I do not necessarily believe in the bashing of our history
I do, however, think Kenneth Davis does paint an interesting, if not convicting case against our nation and the attitudes that were brewing in the minds of its leaders (intentionally or unintentionally.)
I am not sure if his motives were to pile on with the current trend of bashing our founding in light of more enlightened and progress thought. There were definite hints of this theme, and I must admit did find myself building a barrier to prepare for such allegations in the book.
As the USA matured, it did so at the expense of slaves, Native Americans and immigrants. The tales of natives and slaves together fighting for freedom against US forces are left off or skimmed over in the telling of our national story.
These stories, add to the scores accounts of civil rights violations and brutality in almost every chapter of our history, especially at the expense of slaves, Native Americans, immigrants and more than a few issues of religious bigotry at all faiths.
No matter what camp you follow, this is a compelling book that challenges you to investigate your notions of `the land of the Free," and your notions of how a country listens to the concerns of its people.
We are an imperfect nation, and our finding wasn't without compromise to what is right, but I think we need to have a clear head and clear heart as we continue build this country.

2010-07-04 | ...one small voice. (ANGOLA, IN, US) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 3

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Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History but Never Learned (Don't Know Much About...)

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780060083823
• Notes: BUY WITH Trust, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and military talents to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• Fettle: New

Description

Who really discovered America? What was "the shot heard 'round the world"? Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: Did he or didn't he?

From the arrival of Columbus through the bizarre election of 2000 and beyond, Davis carries readers on a rollicking ride through more than 500 years of American history. In this updated edition of the classic anti-textbook, he debunks, recounts, and serves up the real story behind the myths and fallacies of American history.

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Finally, someone who tells history like it was, without the old textbook gloss that's put so many students into premature naptime and misinformed the few who stayed awake. Davis corrects the myths and misconceptions from Columbus up through the Clinton administration, and shows that truth is more entertaining than propaganda.

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Customer Reviews

Deserves no stars
This is the only book I ever threw in the trash. I regard books as precious. When I read a paperback, you can't even see a crease. I threw it away because I didn't want some fool to read it and think that this is what American history is. Being a buff of the Revolutionary period, I could debate him on nearly every point. This book is more his opinion and selecting the darkest examples possible. This book is written from a hard left point of view and meant to demonize us. There are NO positives mentioned about America in this book. This may be useful to someone that's read ultra patriotic historical texts looking for an alternate point of view, but it marketed towards children. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK FOR A CHILD/TEEN.

2010-08-28 (Valdosta, GA United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

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History with a twist.
History with a twist. Any opportunity to color a conservative in a more negative light is done with extra time and detail in this work. Overall, there are some interesting "facts" presented but this seems to be more of a liberal leaning Opinion Editorial than a accurate historical account of the selected topics in American history. After a few subjects, you can accurately predict which angle he is going to take or which "facts" will be emphasized before he even gets there. He does do it gently, though. I'd love to see this guy go head-to-head with a more unbiased historian. A good example of how subtle bias can be infused into history - and here be presented as historical "fact".

2010-07-15 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 2

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Perfect for a long drive
This audiobook carried me on a redeye drive from Los Angeles to Phoenix. Don't Know Much always kept my attention despite much of the basic history not being new for me.

For that I give it 4 stars.

I agree re: the commentary re: liberal bias. It is pronounced.

However, the author frequently presented both sides of the issue on a given subject, so there are of plenty of nods to fairness. I felt the treatment of the founding fathers to be respectful and balanced. As the subject material gets closer to the present day, the bias becomes more evident.

(The mention of the legendary smallpox blanket gifts to the Indians was gratuitous, I thought, given how uncertain the facts are on the subject. Yes, there was at least one incident during the French and Indian War. But it was neither official policy nor widespread as is commonly believed.)

But the audiobook is solid, chunky with information, and presented with a lively narrative.

2010-07-13 | www.WaynesBooks.net | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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The People's History Of The US and Why Do Men Have Nipples
The "Peoples History of the United States" provided ground breaking debunking of "accepted" history of accepted historical texts used in schools. Even the establishment of the school system embraced it as a required second book to more "codified" American History books.

"Don't Know Much About History" rips off most of the previous book. And must annoyingly uses a format that reads like "Why Do Men Have Nipples". Short on substance and new historical research.

If you want to know the truth of US history, the "Peoples History Of The United States" is a must read.

If you are looking for beach reading, like "Why Do Men Have Nipples", the book "Don't Know About History" is light reading and you can add it to your bag when you do to the beach!

2010-06-26 (Chicago IL) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 2

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GOOD STUFF
I liked this one but then again I appreciate all of the works by Kenneth C. Davis. This little gem highlights some folks in history that sometimes get overlooked, like Sequoyah, Nat Turner, Chief Joseph, Tecumseh, etc. and historical stuff like hula hoops, frisbees, saddle shoes, poodle skirts, hot rods, etc (we all remember these, right?). Davis takes a fun, interesting look at our history. We're read it together as a family, and enjoy finding out about obscure parts of history, and how the foundation of our country was developed, a la Constitution, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War period, and the huge losses during World War II. A good read for history and new knowledge.

2010-06-21 | Jose Mango (SAIPAN, MP United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation

Description

Kenneth C. Davis, author of the phenomenal New York Times bestseller Don't Know Much About History, presents a collection of extraordinary stories, each detailing an overlooked episode that shaped the nation's destiny and character. Davis's dramatic narratives set the record straight, busting myths and bringing to light little-known but fascinating facts from a time when the nation's fate hung in the balance.

Spanning a period from the Spanish arrival in America to George Washington's inauguration in 1789, America's Hidden History is an iconoclastic look at America's past, connecting some of the dots between history and today's headlines, and proving why Davis is truly America's teacher.

Find out:

• Which Pilgrims arrived in Florida fifty years before the Mayflower sailed.
• What Supreme Court Justice went to prison.
• What traitor is honored with a statue for his bravery.
• Which fighting woman in colonial New England scalped her Indian captors.

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Customer Reviews

Stories not normally covered in other history books
I read this book as part of my research on the history of New England for a book that I am working on. I just love these types of history books that tell stories not normally covered in other history books. I reminded me of the book "Lies My Teacher Told Me." The writing was excellent and the stories were intriguing, giving me another look at the people and events you think that you already know but you do not! I recommend this book and books like this that tell the true stories not the watered down version so often recorded in school textbooks.

2010-06-01 (Massachusetts) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Great unknown American History
Great book for American History lovers. Easy reading.Fun facts not found in school history texts

2010-04-11 | Edwardo Pepperoni (WNY, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A Fun Read
This work by Mr. Davis was not intended to be a sweeping historical overview of Colonial America; rather it was to convey to the reader some interesting and quirky facts that are often never mentioned in your standard fare of this period. I personally found each of the six episodes both amusing and informative. They give glimpses into what popular figures thought and why they acted as they did. Washington, Arnold, Adams, Franklin, Warren, Columbus, and others come alive in a new and refreshing way, giving them a sense of humanity, heroic and faltering, that many, including myself, had heretofore not considered or been apprised of. Take it for what it is: enjoyment, readability, and enlightenment.

2009-08-25 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Hiding in plain sight
None of the history in this book is really "hidden" in any meaningful sense of the word. In fact, for the reader with any familiarity with Colonial American History, this will all be very familiar. This is another example of the light-weight work put out by Davis. That being said, it's not a "bad" book; it reads well and deals with interesting (if familiar) material. This is a good book for someone who doesn't like history but is trying to take an interest. For serious readers, though: save your money.

Not recommended.

2009-08-03 (St. Louis) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 3

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Lesser-Known Details in American History
In six chapters, the author presents events in American history that span the period from the mid fifteenth to the late eighteenth centuries. Each chapter has a different focus but follows chronologically from the preceding one. The topics that are progressively highlighted in these different chapters vary from frontier survival and religious dogma to various military alliances and encounters to hotly debated political issues. The writing style is fairly fast-paced, lively and broadly accessible. I found some passages quite gripping while others much less so; but this depends on the reader's interests. I also found the timelines in some chapters to be a bit difficult to follow. However, this book makes for fascinating reading in that it provides many interesting details that were mostly left out of our standard history textbooks. This book can be enjoyed by anyone, but American history buffs will likely relish it the most.

2009-05-11 (Orleans, ON, Canada) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 4

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Don't Know Much About American History

Description

Was Columbus the first European in the Americas?

What sport became more popular after the Civil War?

Were the Little Rock Nine a rock-and-roll band?

As best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis knows, history can be fun, fascinating, and memorable. When his don't know much about® history was published in 1990, it was a sensation. The book delivered a fresh take on history with its wit and unusual detail. Davis now does for young people what his earlier book did for adults. In his trademark question-and-answer style -- peppered with surprising facts, historic reproductions, and Matt Faulkner's lively illustrations -- Davis introduces our ancestors who settled the East and expanded the West, as well as those who had been living here all along. His sure touch brings the drama and excitement of the American story vividly to life.

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Customer Reviews

Don't Know Much About American History
Excellent Book....I really enjoy reading this to my students. It's very interesting and has a lot of humorous facts. Something new learned every day.....We love it! Michelle in Alabama

2010-04-09 | Alabama Teacher (Anniston, Alabama) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Don't know much about American History
This book was vey informative and it is in a good format for teaching kids about American History. It focuses evenly on topics that are appropriate for children to know about and topics that every child should learn sometime in their early school life. It really captures the audience that it was written for.

2009-05-30 | History Freak (Browerville, MN, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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History book
This is a good book since it's written for kids - but adults can also learn from it. I refreshed my memory of all the history that I learned and promptly forgot in school.

2009-01-27 | Fan of Favre | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Excellent for any age!
I'm 40 years old, have a master's degree, and thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's supposed to be for kids but I think anyone would enjoy it who's interested in brushing up on things they forgot or never really learned. Very entertaining!

2008-12-17 (Seattle, WA) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Enjoyable Book
This is a wonderful way to brush up on history! It is fast and easy to read. This would be a great book for someone who missed history the first time around!

2008-08-12 (Summersville, WV) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Don't Know Much About the Universe: Everything You Need to Know About Outer Space but Never Learned (Don't Know Much About...)

Description

Who dug those canals on Mars?
What was the biblical star of Bethlehem?
Were the pyramids built by extraterrestrials?

From the ancients who charted the heavens to Star Trek, The X-files, and Apollo 13, outer space has intrigued people through the ages. Yet most of us look up at the night sky and feel totally in the dark when it comes to the basic facts about the universe.

Kenneth C. Davis steps into that void with a lively and readable guide to the discoveries, theories, and real people who have shed light on the mysteries and wonders of the cosmos. Discover why Einstein was such a genius, the truth behind a blue moon or two, the amazing secrets of Stonehenge, and even how one great astronomer lost his nose.

With the fun question-and -answer format that has appealed to the millions of readers of his bestselling Don't Know Much About® series, you'll be taking off on an exciting armchair exploration of the solar system, the Milky Way, and beyond.

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Customer Reviews

Need to know a little more
I am a big fan of the series, but this one is lacking. Some factual errors, first and foremost. Not everything covered and a little long winded in some areas. The section on Einstein is one of the better ones, as is the missions to the moon. Overall, not one of Davis' best works. If you are looking for one of his better writings in this series, the one about the Bible is a good reference book. Better books written on the universe beginning with "Cosmos."

2010-01-26 (MD) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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Astronomy for Dummies
Astronomy is interesting. For those who wish to learn more about it, there is a whole variety of books, from the simple to the medium to the ultra-complex. For those just being introduced to astronomy, it's of course best to start with the basics, and Kenneth Davis's Don't Know Much About the Universe serves well as an introduction to the field.

For those unfamiliar with Davis' "Don't Know Much About..." series, the format is essentially a question and answer format with a good amount of humor to lighten the reading. It is similar to a "For Dummies" book, though a little more compact and a little less expensive. Davis also goes beyond just the nuts and bolts of astronomy but also explores related topics such as history and even astrology.

Davis starts with the history of astronomical thought, showing how the ancient Greeks got a lot right (such as the diameter of the Earth) but a lot wrong too (such as placing the Earth at the center of the universe). It would take many centuries to correct these wrongs, starting with Copernicus's proposal of the Earth orbiting the sun, followed by Galileo's proof of that proposal and Newton's demonstration that the universe operated by natural laws that could be described mathematically.

After a section on history, Davis goes into detail on our solar system, followed by that of the galaxy and universe itself, even touching upon such exotic topics as the Big Bang, black holes, dark matter and string theory that are still the subject of much research.

For those more familiar with the topic, this book offers little that you don't already know. It's a decent book, but not without its flaws. I noticed a couple minor errors, and he also has a tendency to repeat himself, occasionally using the same joke multiple times. Also--and this isn't Davis's fault--the book, originally published in 2004--is already out-of-date on a couple topics such as Pluto's planetary status. Even with these problems, however, Davis gets enough right to make this a worthwhile read for those new to astronomy.

2009-02-22 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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An Introduction To Space
"Don't Know Much About The Universe" takes the reader on a delightful journey through space. It provides an educational introduction to the known Universe without becoming boring or getting over your head. It provides a good combination of scientific information with historical explanations of man's investigation of the mysteries of the Universe.

This book overwhelms the reader, in a good way, with the unimaginable vastness of space. The billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars is more than we can comprehend. The descriptions of comets, meteors and meteorites, planets and asteroids, stars, quasars, black holes, white dwarfs, brown dwarfs and others which I do not remember raise the reader's scientific knowledge while keeping him entertained.

The recitation of exploration of the cosmos brings to mind manned and unmanned spaceflights which, those of who are old enough, followed intently during the golden age of space exploration during the 60s and 70s.

Author Kenneth Davis engages in inquiry into matters such as whether there is life out there, how did it all start and how it will all end. He presents the best theories available without engaging in groundless speculation.

This is a definite recommendation for anyone with an interest in the mysteries of the Universe which we are just beginning to comprehend.

2008-12-10 (St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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"Don't Know Much About.." Series is Excellent!
I've read all of the books in the "Don't Know Much About.." series. If you're interested in getting a rather thorough overview without becoming an expert, these books are for you. They are so easy to read, that I couldn't but them down.

2008-09-27 (Delaware County, Penna.) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Crash course in astronomy
Plenty of good information especially for teaching astromomy. So interesting, my copy was stolen from my classroom bookshelf within two weeks.

2008-02-09 | N7EOJ (Tucson, AZ) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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