A True History of the United States

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

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, listenable, 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)

©2021 Daniel Sjursen (P)2021 Truth to Power

Critic reviews

"An engaging warts-and-all history of the U.S. meant to better educate those who fight for it...Strongly written and thought-provoking—a must read for nonhistorians seeking a firm grasp of accurate American history."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Sjursen’s analysis compels the reader to think critically, in order to move beyond the half-truths that keep us from collectively solving America’s most persistent and damaging inequities.”—Seattle Book Review

"Eye-opening and thought-provoking . . . for anyone wanting a solid and more complete understanding of our shared history, this is a great book to have."—Lily Bartels of The Open Door Bookstore on Northeast Public Radio

hard facts

this is a very critical thinking must read to better understand how the united states has become what it is today

The history of the United States

Sometime has passé d since I heard your story therefore some of the pertinent details have now passed me by. I recall vividly how beautiful the story of your country was presented.The revelation ally war, the civil war and the conflicts of the last century was given in a beautiful fashion. Since I am aNorwegian I missed a more critical dis cription of the Indian wars, with more critical details about the faith of the Indians.

Myth makers cover your eyes and ears!

While it is somewhat encouraging to me to learn that we have occasionally lived through worse times I do not feel very optimistic about escaping our present state of delusion.
As the author points out we have missed many opportunities to become a nation that is responsible to and for its citizens so what evidence do we have that this behavior will change?
I do want to thank Mr. Sjursen for writing this book. I hope it helps.

excellent

excellent, a must listen and the truth about America's past. a worthy moral man in the mold of Noam Chomsky

Perfect Plebe Prep

As a future West Point cadet, this book has been immensely helpful in preparation for R-Day and the academic year. I feel much more competent speaking about American history. Beat Navy

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.

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!!

Truth

As a Tour Guide at Crazy Horse memorial, often asked about the history of The Indian Removal Act or other events that happened in history. Now my family tree is unique and as a Genealogists and family historian a value knowing the truth about my ancestors. My highest ethnicity is English then Native American, and I can state using historical documentation and DNA research that Crazy Horse and Goerge Washington are distant relatives. I can trace my European ancestors back to the Plymouth colony 1620 and Jamestown 1629 plus the Early colonist of New Franch. My personal research through the archives has led me to believe that some of my white Anglo-Saxon ancestors of British descendant were bit full of themselves. The people that were immigrating to this country in the late 1800's were viewed by people from the Founding families as "Fresh Starts" and were not and would never be "True Americans" in their mind set. This doesn't set right with me the Railroad and other industry were encouraging them to immigrate to the United States for cheap labor and to seed the plains so the Railroad would have commerce to haul. I'm believe they would rather have people of English and Protestants descendant. However, it was people from Eastern Europe, Norway and Italy who were Catholic that came to get out to get out from under the thumb of the elites in Europe. The Elites in Europe are Related to the Warner Hall line here in American which is where most of our Presidents and Politicians high in Washington come from. Many of the Indian agent were embezzling the money that was meant for the Native that sold their lant to the Government and many of those Indian Agents had family ties to people high up in Washington. Money was going back into those families' pockets to keep those founding families in control.