Unsolved Mysteries of American History: An Eye-Opening Journey through 500 Years of Discoveries, Disappearances, and Baffling Events (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Soon after Columbus landed in America, Europeans began speculating about the people of this New World..." (more)
Key Phrases: lost colonists, lost colony, New York, United States, Pearl Harbor (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In a collection of 30 articles, Unsolved Mysteries of American History takes some of the most notable quandaries of the American past and tries to offer some solid answers, or at least alternate explanations. Paul Aron takes on the serious ("Why did Truman drop the bomb?") as well as the frivolous ("Did Babe Ruth call his shot?"). The book is written to entertain, but Aron provides a bibliography for further reading at the end of each essay, and steers readers to heavier tomes if they wish to dig deeper into the various subjects.

From Library Journal

Aron, a reporter for the Virginia Gazette, presents here his findings on significant "mysteries" of America's past. He briefly examines 30 controversial questions in chronological order, ranging from "When did the first people arrive in America?" to "What did Reagan know about Iran-contra?" Though he does not claim to provide definitive answers, he offers evidence for both sides of every issue. Each chapter ends with a bibliography. Perhaps the most interesting question tackled is "How did Davy Crockett die?"; Aron strongly suggests that Crockett surrendered at the Alamo rather than fighting to his death there. The author's simple, straightforward style is suitable for junior-high level and above. This volume is comparable to Richard Shenkman's Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History (Morrow, 1988). Recommended for public libraries.?Norman Malwitz, Queens Borough P.L., Great Neck, N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (September 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471153699
• ISBN-13: 978-0471153696
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #669,411 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for serious history students, July 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Unsolved Mysteries of American History: An Eye-Opening Journey through 500 Years of Discoveries, Disappearances, and Baffling Events (Paperback)

Does not try to force pet answers to vast historial questions, but gives the readers a good foundation for thought and further study. As a high school history teacher I would want my students to step into something like this; rather than the water down junk in most texts.

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Topics from American History, August 29, 2002

By	Acute Observer (North Jersey Shore) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

It covers thirty topics from America's past, and attempts to provide answers to these questions. Some are controversial, and some will never be solved to most people's satisfaction. But they all make for interesting reading. Each chapter lists books for further reading.

Chapter 14 discusses the death of Davy Crockett. Contemporary reports said he surrendered, then was executed. This also happened to the Anglos after the defeat in Zacatecas, the state that also rebelled against the seizure of power by Santa Ana.

Chapter 15 discusses the battle of Gettysburg, and how General Lee hoped to use JEB Stuart's cavalry. He didn't mention that George Armstrong Custer's cavalry defeated Stuart and helped the Union victory.

Chapter 18 deals with Sacco and Vanzetti. Dr. Henry C. Lee's "Famous Crimes Revisited" has a chapter that tells of the forged ballistic evidence. It also has a chapter on the Lindbergh kidnapping: Hauptmann did not write that ransom note! Why did the dog do nothing on that night?

Chapter 22 asks if FDR knew about the attack on Pearl Harbor in advance; the answer is YES. Curt Gentry's 1989 biography of J Edgar Hoover notes that in July 1941 Ian Fleming brought in a Nazi spy who was assigned to scout Pearl Harbor to see if an attack was feasible. Robert B Stinnett's "Day of Deceit" finally solved this question when he discovered an action plan from October 1940. It listed the steps necessary to provoke Japan into war. When the last step was taken in July 1941, Japan decided to go to war.

Chapter 23 asks if dropping the atom bomb on Japan was necessary. There was a secret protocol to the Yalta Treaty. Stalin agreed to break their Peace Treaty and attack Japan 90 days after the end of the European war. The first bomb on August 6 did not end the war. Russian declared war on August 9 and swept through Manchuria. The Japanese Militarists then knew that resistance was futile.

Chapter 25 ask "Who Killed JFK?". It took hardened criminals to pull the triggers, experienced agents to plan this executive action, and high-level members of the ruling class to cover it up. The 1974 novel "Winter Kills" by Richard Condon provides a symbolic solution. Mark North's "Act of Treason" builds on the work of others.

Chapter 29 discusses the missing 18 minutes on that Nixon tape. About twenty years ago I saw a TV interview of Nixon; he said the missing minutes were "about the Bay of Pigs". H R Haldeman's "The Ends of Power" explain this code word.

Chapter 30 deals with the Reagan's selling government property (military arms) to the Iranians, and then diverting this money to private parties (rebels in Nicaragua). This violation of the law could have been used to impeach Reagan! Reagan's chosen biographer said "Reagan was senile in his second term"; he was truly the Acting President.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Look At The Major Events Of The US, March 13, 1999

By A Customer

This book gives all of its readers a very interesting and in depth veiw of the major events that have shaped America's History. even if you dont know abot all of the events that are included within its pages, it is stil very intriuging. I would say that if if American History floats your boat give this book a read.