A Short History of the World in 50 Lies

Starred review from May 15, 2023
The fourth installment in a series of ""short histories"" that includes places, animals, and books explores the origins of our current culture of alternative facts. Pop historian Tidd, creator of the F Yeah History website, writes in an informal, conversational style ("The Knights Templar actually began life as a kind of roadside assistance for pilgrims"), but her underlying purpose is dead serious: exposing the ripple effect of these lies throughout history. The lies she untangles encompass political spin and cover-ups, history rewritten to fit a present narrative, and the use of literature to push false agendas and ideology, as well as conspiracy theories, forgery, and--particularly relevant to the present day--the rise and development of fake news. Spanning the ancient world through the twentieth century, from a significant omission in the story of Darius the Great's rise to power to the Soviet cover-up of nuclear safety issues that culminated in the Chernobyl disaster, these brief essays emphasize the role of authorial license and purposeful spin in the writing of history and the ways in which subsequent retellings turn fiction into fact. Accessible and engaging, this book is sure to inspire readers to take another look at previously accepted historical narratives.

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September 1, 2023

Gr 10 Up-Throughout recorded time, the powerful have used falsehoods to start wars, cover up atrocities, and justify oppression. A Short History of the World in 50 Lies identifies the ones that have shaped today's world, taking readers from the Persian Empire in 500 BC, where Darius the Great manipulated the truth to secure his reign, to 1970s Ukraine and the attempted cover up of the Chernobyl disaster. Tidd takes a largely European lens to history, and when chapters are set outside the continent, it is through the framework of European colonialism. While one can argue that this leaves much of the world out of this world history, it is worthwhile to consider that the lies that European colonialism has told about itself, and the substantial damage it has tried to hide, deserve to be uncovered again and again. AP History teachers may find this to be a helpful supplementary tool or inspiration for research projects, and librarians considering this for their collections should not forget how thrilling 50 Lies could be in the hands of teen history buffs. VERDICT A timely approach to world history through bite-size chapters highlighting how the lies and propaganda of the past still impact the present day.-Alexandra Quay

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