You Said What?: Lies and Propaganda Throughout History (Paperback)

by Bill Fawcett (Author)
Key Phrases: buzz box, million little pieces, royal touch, United States, World War, Viet Cong (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A fascinating, fun, and fact-filled compendium of the greatest lies, deceptions, propaganda, and frauds ever perpetrated

Throughout history—from the dawn of man to the War on Terror—governments, corporations, historians, and high-level braggarts of every stripe have freely engaged in the time-honored pastime of lying for fun and profit. You Said What? is an endlessly entertaining and outrageously edifying look at some of the biggest whoppers of all time, chock-full of deceptions, trickery, and incredible untruths both infamous and obscure.

• The press conspiracies that protected FDR's legs, as well as JFK's sex addiction and failing health
• Lies that caused the Knights Templar fall, the Salem witch trials, and the Black Death
• Big lies that changed history: Vietnam's Gulf of Tonkin, the Cuban missile crisis, the “Polish” raid that kicked off WWII . . . and remember the Maine?
• The self-made, self-serving myths we still believe today of Davy Crockett, Lawrence of Arabia, and Napoleon
• Plus our own personal pick for History's #1 Biggest Liar . . . and much more!

The lies will out! You Said What? is an indispensable treasure trove of true falsehoods, and an irreverent introduction to the world's greatest lies and the liars who told them.

About the Author

Bill Fawcett is the author and editor of more than a dozen books, including It Seemed Like a Good Idea, How to Lose a Battle, You Said What?, three historical mystery series, and two oral histories of the U.S. Navy SEALs. He lives in Illinois.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (December 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061130508
• ISBN-13: 978-0061130502
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #793,108 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Despite some factual errors, okay introductory reading, December 30, 2008

By	Steve Reina (Troy Michigan) - See all my reviews

It's true that this book does get some of its facts wrong like in its discussion of the Nazi ascendency to power, it incorrectly recites that the Nazis won election in 1933 prior to their ascent to power in 1933 (factually untrue because the Nazis actually won dominent but not controlling votes in November 1932 and March 1933 Riechstag elections).

But that and -- other similar -- errors aside this book remains still to be fun and thought provoking reading for its thesis that the myth is oftentimes more remembered than the actual history.

For better treatments of these types of issues I would recommend Myths and Lies of American History and Myths and Lies of World History by Rick Shenkman as well as Loewan's book on Lies My Teacher Told Me.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars History for simpletons, June 1, 2008

By	joe chip "joe chip" (cal.usa) - See all my reviews

Some interesting items covered poorly. Conjectural opinions verified as real. Unlikely conspiracies confirmed. Errors.....did you realise the Himalayas are in Europe? All in all a certainty most readers could have 'done it better'.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Inaccurate about lies?, May 21, 2008

By	Kevin M. Mccoy (Mount aukum, ca United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've read about historical mistakes in reviews of his other books, this is no different. In the chapter about Julius Caesar, Julius is called the first roman emperor- while Augustus was really the first emperor. Later in the same chapter Quintilius Varus is described as the "descendent of augustus caesar" which he wasn't as he was killed during the reign of augustus. After all this, Julius caesars lie is never fully explained.dissapointing.