History is Good For You

I really love reading about history. I mean, it's not something that I do often, but when the mood strikes me and I have time, I love to sit down and learn about all the stuff I feel like I should have learned in school but didn't or couldn't. I'm indignant that I never once -- not one single time -- in tweleve years of public schooling had European History. It wasn't offered. What's worse, American History wasn't offered as a standard class -- only as an A.P. Course. I really think that the U.S. education system needs overhaul in that area (and in the area of foreign languages), but that's a different post altogether.

I'm excited this semester to be taking a course called History of American Foreign Policy in the 20th Century as well as visiting a lecture called History of the United States Since 1945. Both courses are taught by the same professor, who is a total Americophile and really interesting to listen to. So cool! I made an absolute fool of myself in the first sitting of the foreign policy class when the professor began talking about Manifest Destiny and asked me what started the whole idea of M.D. back in the 1800's: "What did President Tyler say that prompted this idea that America needed to expand?" My response was, "We had a President Tyler?"

Needless to say, the Germans in the class that day found support for the stereotype that Americans know nothing of their own history and/or are complete idiots. The history part probably isn't even a stereotype.

Anyway it was at that point that I decided I needed a full-on review of American history to prepare for this course. So I went on Amazon.de and ordered myself a copy of Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know about American History but Never Learned. While it's not a snooty, high-profile review of American history, it reads well, it's entertaining, and most importantly, it will keep my attention and give me a rough overview of the stuff I never learned. As they say, knowledge is power! [insert corny smiley face and thumbs-up here]

I am DYING for this book to arrive in the post on Monday or Tuesday. Can't wait to start reading it.