Customer Reviews

The Story of Oklahoma

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was really surprised that I turned out to like this book. It was the required reading text for a section of Oklahoma history I took in college last semester and though I am majoring in history, I expected it to be a really boring, sugar-coated synopsis. When I thumbed through the first few pages, I was disappointed to see that it was written more for high school level history (which is rarely if ever in-depth enough) but after I read more, I was impressed. Baird and Goble are not afraid to speak about Oklahoma's embarrassing moments--i.e. the disenfranchisement of African Americans after statehood, the common declaration of martial law, the support of socialism, the Tulsa Race Riot, the election of a certifiable lunatic to Congress, etc. I learned much more from this text (and the college class of course) than I had ever imagined and I would highly recommend it for teachers and for anyone seriously interested in learning more about Oklahoma.

I know it sounds silly, by I cried over this book. As long as I can remember, Oklahoma history has been taught in a glossy, Chamber of Commerce style that is both dishonest and boring. This text presents our beloved state without hiding its sometimes dreadful, sometimes endearing realities. In this book I met people I never heard of in my first 40 years in the state, especially women and people of color. It moved me to know that now Oklahomans will learn these names and faces before they get out of high school. It is a fine resource and reference; and as expensive as it is, I finally broke down today and ordered a copy for my personal library.

Which is why it doesn't have the chapter reviews and worksheets that high school students are used to. Dr. Goble uses simple words for complex topics so it meets the reading level requirements for high schools and has been adopted by many. If the students are bored by the material, it's due to the lack of skill of the teachers creating the assignments and not the quality of the book.

I am a high school student. We are using this book as out textbook. I highly dislike the book because it does not come with any form or worksheets even end of the chapter questions. It is very hard to follow though may be informative. It is a very boring book and I would much rather read a different book and get less information than read a book that is so jam packed with information I can not take any of it in. It is just fact after fact after fact after fact. It is very hard to study from. I used to like history. Not anymore.

I am a highschool student in Tulsa, OK and we are using this book for my Oklahoma History class. This book is rather boring and long. There aren't any pre-prepared workbooks or questions to go with it, so all you do is read and then take a test. To say the least I haven't learned very much from this book and I don't think many other highschool students have either. This book would be vastly improved if they chopped it up more into sections. Also if there were questions at the end of each chapter or section it would help.