Customer Reviews

The Smart Aleck's Guide to American History

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I really can't believe no one has reviewed this book yet. I work at a bookstore and picked this up after flipping through a couple of random chapters. If only textbooks were this amusing the world would be a much better place, believe me. I'm 35 and found myself cracking up at the jokes yet strangely dredging up all these facts and tidbits I thought had seeped out with time. Guess some of that stuff sticks around in the old grey matter somewhere. The book seems geared toward young adults and teens but I think anyone with half a sense of humor would appreciate it, from teens all the way up. The Smart Aleck's Guide is short and to the point, touching on only the most important (or ridiculous) aspects of American History, and I certainly wouldn't rely on it to get me through college. How much could they cram into one book, though, seriously? Where textbooks fail and this achieves, for me anyway, is spark some new or long forgotten interest in the history of us as a people and our beloved yet not-perfect nation. This is done with brief yet informative chapters, sidebars and footnotes, and a helluva lot more fart jokes. My personal favorite has to be the wealth of paintings and photographs we've all seen before, yet with laugh-out loud captions by some Smart-Aleck (check out the pants on the guys on the back of the two-dollar bill sometime). Anyway, I'd highly recommend this book to any parents with young adults, teens, or some 90 year-old coot wanting to brush up on his/her history. I can only hope the Smart Alecks continue what they started and come up with more volumes to add to this. There's a lot of history out there, and a lot more jokes to be had at the expense of some centuries-long dead guy. Trust me, they won't care.

i cant stop laughing. Facts are intermingled with true «smart aleck» humor. i am only a fourth of the way through the book and want to buy it for friends...history teachers...family. Not really a kids' book. This is adult humor.

There are some books that simply feel like they are made for a certain type of reader. This book, I have to say, "called out" to me when I opened the battered box that looked like it had survived the fast-paced world of the postal service just to get into my hands. One of my favorite things in life is sarcasm (in case this was unclear). I have a sincere affection for writers who have the ability to make people enjoy and learn a subject by using the power of laughter. Mr. Selzer and his crew certainly have the ability to make a reader laugh until they cry - which is exactly what happened to me when I decided to "bone" up on American History.

With Jon Stewart-like savvy, the Smart Aleck's organization decided to begin history at the beginning (or, at least, what we Americans like to think of as the beginning. You know? When we came along). Before that it was all just these strangely-dressed, short Europeans who had no idea of the concept of soap, let alone shampoo. The introduction begins when we were all Europeans - some of us had boots and some were barefoot - while shoveling manure in Europe looking toward the far distant shore, yearning for freedom. We are then led through the pages by a very able hand who shows us what it was like to ride across that ocean in a very leaky, cold boat, and stand before the Indians with looks of intense fear on our faces. We spend a lot of time with those macho explorers who risked their lives and the lives of others to discover treasures that were real (America), and things imaginary (El Dorado, anyone?) We are shown the ones who made it and the lesser known ones who were eaten by cannibals. I'm always amazed that these people chose this job, especially without the benefit of health insurance. (Huh...come to think about it...the lack of that certainly hasn't changed).

The next chapters introduce us to The Puritans who liked to scream Witch! just about as often as they could (and kept a supply of really strong rope handy.) I can only imagine what Cotton Mather would have said about Harry Potter...no one would've been safe. We are shown the fashions of each century and, let's face it the costumes - especially the hats - were far cuter than they are nowadays. We've literally gone from colorful, feather-encrusted caps for our leaders, to boring old suits. It really is a shame. We then read about the Colonists, who were a little revolting to say the least, and the whole George III guy who was a real nutbag right from the beginning. Through Valley Forge we trudge without the benefit of snow pants, eating rock cakes and suffering horrible digestive issues - to the signers of all those documents we care so much about that make us what we are today. The Boston Tea Party seems to have been a real lot o' fun, too; and, then, some of us hearty folk looked to the West - where there was most assuredly plenty of room to set-up strip malls.

From Lewis and Clark and their explorations, to The Civil War, where we all decided that Yankees and Confederates could just NOT live together in harmony - (I'm a Yankee, so I'm always pleased that we won this one) - to the Gold Rush; through the roaring twenties, meeting and greeting every well-known and also the most forgettable presidents of the time periods. WWI, WWII...pretty much everything that Billy Joel sings about in his song "We Didn't Start the Fire," is brought up in this wonderful look at American history.

Do not only read this book, covet this book. Not only are the "extras" offered - including experiments, like hanging a one-legged man just to see which way he'll turn in the breeze - but the writing, itself, is a way to unwind, release the tension, and turn off the television set so you don't need to look at the next group of "suits" trying like heck to destroy everything that this country fought so hard for in the first place. Congrats! Bravo! I hope the Smart Aleck's keep making these left and right so that We the people can have a whole lot of fun and learn something at the same time.

Until Next Time,
Amy Lignor, [...] Reviewer

I enjoyed reading the second time as much as the first. A must read for people who may have slept through history class :)

I'm 16 years old, and getting ready for AP US History next year. My teacher recommended I read this book, and I've been taking notes as well. This book is legitimately funny and for the first time since 5th grade, I actually found history INTERESTING.
I wish history teachers taught this way, I really learned a lot.
The quizzes at the end of each chapter were a pointless joke, though. (Personally I thought it was sort of a waste of paper).
Regardless, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in US History or learning something before APUSH!

This book is so funny. I read it in two sittings (only because my mom caught me at 4 am during the first sitting). It was really funny but the information was actually correct. The reference jokes were hilarious. I can't wait to read it again (and I will).

This is the only history book I've ever enjoyed reading. I love how the author gives funny little tidbits about people's personalities and lives - it makes them seem more like real people. I hated American History in school because it was so dry and boring - I don't think I retained a single fact or date from those classes. This book would be a great addition to any American History classroom if it weren't for some inappropriate parts - I don't think kids need to know about Benjamin Franklin's skirt-chasing habits. Great book for OLDER teens or adults - I disagree that it's appropriate for 8th grade and up as it's listed here on Amazon.