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The Horrible History of the USA is bulging with the nastiest and meanest moments in American history since cruel Chris Columbus first sighted land. This work includes details on the grim Pilgrim Fathers, and about Bill the Kid and Calamity Jane.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Terry Deary
557 books742 followersA former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29. Most famously, he is one of the authors of the Horrible Histories series of books popular among children for their disgusting details, gory information and humorous pictures and among adults for getting children interested in history. Books in the series have been widely translated into other languages and imitated.
A cartoon series has been made of the series of books and was shown on CiTV for a period in 2002.
The first series of a live-action comedy sketch show of the same name was shown on CBBC in 2009 and a second series is due.
Terry is also known widely throughout children and adult reading groups alike for his True Stories series (see below for series list).
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Sunderland in 2000. His numerous accolades also include the Blue Peter "Best Nonfiction Author of the Century" Award in the U.K.
-Wikipedia
A cartoon series has been made of the series of books and was shown on CiTV for a period in 2002.
The first series of a live-action comedy sketch show of the same name was shown on CBBC in 2009 and a second series is due.
Terry is also known widely throughout children and adult reading groups alike for his True Stories series (see below for series list).
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Sunderland in 2000. His numerous accolades also include the Blue Peter "Best Nonfiction Author of the Century" Award in the U.K.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 30, 2007
If you're not a fan of reading history books intended for adults, then the Horrible Histories series is the perfect way to learn. It has a great sense of humor and keeps history entertaining. I discovered this series at the British Museum in London and have been addicted ever since!
Also, if you're in the US, this book is nearly impossible to get your hands on as it was discontinued in being published in the US. Apparently, it ruffled too many feathers, but when I read it there was no inaccuracies. Hmmmmmmm.
Also, if you're in the US, this book is nearly impossible to get your hands on as it was discontinued in being published in the US. Apparently, it ruffled too many feathers, but when I read it there was no inaccuracies. Hmmmmmmm.
March 20, 2015
خیلی خوب بود :))
عملا حقش پنج کامل بود ولی به دو دلیل بهش ندادم
اول اینکه کلا تخریب شخصیت بود کتاب . آقای دیری ( که سر آتش دزد خاطره خوبی ازش ندارم ) کلا زد همه رییس جمهورای آمریکا رو نابود کرد . کلا ترور شخصیت بود . هرچی اسطوره بود تو آمریکا ثابت کر که فاسد و تبهکار بودن . بالاخره تاریخ یه ملت وجه خوبی هم داره نداره عایا؟
دومیش هم این بود که هیچ منبعی برای مطالبش ذکر نشده بود . بالاخره برای باور این همه وقایع عجیب غریب یه منبع نیازه دیگه نیست؟
در کل مجموعه ی خیلی قشنگیه :)
چیزایی رو بیان میکنه که تو کم تر کتاب تاریخی میشه پیدا کرد به علاوه طنز کاریکاتوراشم خیلی بامزست بعضی وقتا .
عملا حقش پنج کامل بود ولی به دو دلیل بهش ندادم
اول اینکه کلا تخریب شخصیت بود کتاب . آقای دیری ( که سر آتش دزد خاطره خوبی ازش ندارم ) کلا زد همه رییس جمهورای آمریکا رو نابود کرد . کلا ترور شخصیت بود . هرچی اسطوره بود تو آمریکا ثابت کر که فاسد و تبهکار بودن . بالاخره تاریخ یه ملت وجه خوبی هم داره نداره عایا؟
دومیش هم این بود که هیچ منبعی برای مطالبش ذکر نشده بود . بالاخره برای باور این همه وقایع عجیب غریب یه منبع نیازه دیگه نیست؟
در کل مجموعه ی خیلی قشنگیه :)
چیزایی رو بیان میکنه که تو کم تر کتاب تاریخی میشه پیدا کرد به علاوه طنز کاریکاتوراشم خیلی بامزست بعضی وقتا .
April 6, 2008
I'm going to read more of the Horrible Histories! I had an inkling of how awful the American/British/Dutch/French/Spanish settlers were, but didn't really know...and now I do, and I am appalled. It wasn't written as a boring ol' history book, but as a combination comic/chatty story that made history fascinating and awful. I mean, there weren't a lot of happy stories--they're called Horrible Histories for a reason. But I kept thinking, 'Man, why didn't they teach us this stuff in school?' Highly recommended!
October 31, 2017
Horrible histories are always great fun, yet sometimes you feel like they focus too much on the horrible :-). Then again, that wouldn't really do with such a title.
July 26, 2020
Minulý týden se mě kolegyně ptala na oblíbený Děsivky. Jo, tohle jsou ony a skvěle se hodí k nynější situaci jako úžasná satira.
November 6, 2012
I enjoyed these series more when I was teenager. They should have Horrible Histories for adults too! HH are not perfect but really, really good series.
One of GR reviewers, Rach, in her review mentions that "Also, if you're in the US, this book is nearly impossible to get your hands on as it was discontinued in being published in the US." Funny, isn't? Mr Deary was pilloried by a separatist group and professors in Scotland who said they wanted my book, Bloody Scotland, banned,”
Here have Cowboy song and Pilgrim Rap from Horrible Histories TV show!
One of GR reviewers, Rach, in her review mentions that "Also, if you're in the US, this book is nearly impossible to get your hands on as it was discontinued in being published in the US." Funny, isn't? Mr Deary was pilloried by a separatist group and professors in Scotland who said they wanted my book, Bloody Scotland, banned,”
Here have Cowboy song and Pilgrim Rap from Horrible Histories TV show!
June 3, 2022
One of the most wide-ranging entries in the series in terms of all the sub-topics and eras it covers - but also the most brutal I can remember reading, from the USA's bloody origins to the St Valentine's Day Massacre. It's just as informative and entertaining as ever, but perhaps not really for kids!
July 24, 2020
Read- July 2020 for The Reading Rush (different continent)
- Christ, America's history is dark.
- Christ, America's history is dark.
August 26, 2021
Awesome book, entertaining and fun to read. Very funny and enjoyable at the same time, this book is recommended to read.
September 13, 2021
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
I grew up with Terry Derry’s horrible histories. Although I only read (re-read time and time again) the ones about WW1, the French Revolution, and the rowdy revolutions; I treasured him and this series highly.
The cartoons, unconventional trivia (I still remember the one about Luis XIV only bathing three times through his lifetime) history, and the jokes were fun, informative and exciting to read about.
The one about the US is more of the same (I am going to get my hands on all of these one day). The jokes, trivia, realization of some horrifying truths and breaking down of legends is presented. Although it is a lightly themed book and it does contain a lot of humorous illustrations, the treatment of Native Americans and people of color isn’t shrugged over. I appreciate that.
I read the book at a strange time in my life. For a week or so I didn’t even get the chance to properly log entries in. But it was short book and well, the topic was in a way relevant to where I was (still am 🤦🏻) in my life. So all in all I do consider it a good read.
PS:
I read a Persian translation of the book. I hope my overactive brain doesn’t trouble me too much about logging for the wrong edition.
I grew up with Terry Derry’s horrible histories. Although I only read (re-read time and time again) the ones about WW1, the French Revolution, and the rowdy revolutions; I treasured him and this series highly.
The cartoons, unconventional trivia (I still remember the one about Luis XIV only bathing three times through his lifetime) history, and the jokes were fun, informative and exciting to read about.
The one about the US is more of the same (I am going to get my hands on all of these one day). The jokes, trivia, realization of some horrifying truths and breaking down of legends is presented. Although it is a lightly themed book and it does contain a lot of humorous illustrations, the treatment of Native Americans and people of color isn’t shrugged over. I appreciate that.
I read the book at a strange time in my life. For a week or so I didn’t even get the chance to properly log entries in. But it was short book and well, the topic was in a way relevant to where I was (still am 🤦🏻) in my life. So all in all I do consider it a good read.
PS:
I read a Persian translation of the book. I hope my overactive brain doesn’t trouble me too much about logging for the wrong edition.
April 29, 2021
The way that Terry Deary writes reminds me of Roald Dahl. Using humor and the perfect selection of nouns/verbs to tell a story in a special way. Another way Teary relates to Roald Dahl is by using illustrations on almost every page. One interesting fact I learned about the US from reading the book was that the Vikings were the first people to lead an expedition from Europe to America. During more than half of the duration of the book, Terry Deary uses a timeline and newspapers to tell the story of the US.
October 15, 2013
The Horrible History of the USA is bulging with some of the nastiest and meanest moments in American history since cruel Chris Columbus first sighted land...
Want to know:
which president was so scared of electric switches, he slept with the light on.
why cowboys declared war on sheep.
how to have a civil war battle.
This would be a better history lessons then the ones at school. - Te Ahu
Want to know:
which president was so scared of electric switches, he slept with the light on.
why cowboys declared war on sheep.
how to have a civil war battle.
This would be a better history lessons then the ones at school. - Te Ahu
December 1, 2014
Hilarious book which describes the history and the foundation of the modern day superpower which is America through intricate satire that revolves around child appealing diagrams and drawing allowing oneself to enjoy a hilarious comic along with hard, cold facts.
October 16, 2017
My favourite thing about the Horrible Histories series is that Terry Deary doesn't shy away from the horrid stuff that people did to one another. Though I felt this one was a bit lacking on some fronts, it is still a great edition to the series.
October 20, 2012
entertaining and interesting at the same time :)
January 24, 2024
It's Quite an Amusing Read although I Wish this was Updated to Include More Recent Events in American History.
February 11, 2019
Good
It is pretty good 👍 it has really a lot of description and understanding of what's happening so I'll say that was pretty good
It is pretty good 👍 it has really a lot of description and understanding of what's happening so I'll say that was pretty good
November 23, 2021
A horribly fun read about many aspects of the USA.
June 2, 2021
3.5/5
Horrible Histories were books I adored as a child. Most of my knowledge of history came from those books and I loved how funny and kooky they were. My mum likes to tell the story of the time I wrote "Nil desperandum auspice deo" on all my SATS papers because there was a line in Stormin' Normans suggesting to do so.
So recently it came to my attention that my knowledge of US history is somewhat lacking. In a time when a lot of consumable media contains references from this, it was beginning to annoy me that I didn't know exactly what the references were from. I did what any adult would do and did a little Google search and confused myself further. I needed something easy to understand, succinct, and covering as much of the relevant history as possible... Enter Horrible Histories: The USA.
- This book is clear, chronological for the most part and, as it is really a children's book, very comprehensible. It covered most of the events I could think of plus lots I had no idea about.
- As you would expect from the Horrible Histories series, the book does not shy away from the more gruesome, vicious and bloodthirsty elements of history. There are many violent anecdotes told.
- Whilst this book does mostly focus on things from a white POV, there is a lot of focus on how the white colonists were not nice to Native Americans, BIPOC and other minority groups. It is made very clear that was was done to these groups is not okay. The section on racism at the back of the book was a nice touch for a twenty year-old book but could have been much larger and more detailed. The achievements and treatment of BIPOC, Native Americans and other minorities in the 20th century are not really touched upon at all which I feel is a really sad oversight and drags down an otherwise really good book.
I think you could do much worse than reading this book as a beginner's guide to US history but I would advise that anyone reading this should then go on to research more about the twentieth century and especially focus on the achievements of those (BIPOC, Native Americans, etc) who are omitted from this book.
Horrible Histories were books I adored as a child. Most of my knowledge of history came from those books and I loved how funny and kooky they were. My mum likes to tell the story of the time I wrote "Nil desperandum auspice deo" on all my SATS papers because there was a line in Stormin' Normans suggesting to do so.
So recently it came to my attention that my knowledge of US history is somewhat lacking. In a time when a lot of consumable media contains references from this, it was beginning to annoy me that I didn't know exactly what the references were from. I did what any adult would do and did a little Google search and confused myself further. I needed something easy to understand, succinct, and covering as much of the relevant history as possible... Enter Horrible Histories: The USA.
- This book is clear, chronological for the most part and, as it is really a children's book, very comprehensible. It covered most of the events I could think of plus lots I had no idea about.
- As you would expect from the Horrible Histories series, the book does not shy away from the more gruesome, vicious and bloodthirsty elements of history. There are many violent anecdotes told.
- Whilst this book does mostly focus on things from a white POV, there is a lot of focus on how the white colonists were not nice to Native Americans, BIPOC and other minority groups. It is made very clear that was was done to these groups is not okay. The section on racism at the back of the book was a nice touch for a twenty year-old book but could have been much larger and more detailed. The achievements and treatment of BIPOC, Native Americans and other minorities in the 20th century are not really touched upon at all which I feel is a really sad oversight and drags down an otherwise really good book.
I think you could do much worse than reading this book as a beginner's guide to US history but I would advise that anyone reading this should then go on to research more about the twentieth century and especially focus on the achievements of those (BIPOC, Native Americans, etc) who are omitted from this book.
September 17, 2022
Ah, the good old US of A. What a place, and what people. I remember them being the butt of some of the jokes of the earlier HH books so it’s nice to see them get a book all to themselves.
And it’s also nice to see a history book that doesn’t gloss over the horrific things that have happened in American history, especially given that this is aimed at children. It’s refreshing to think that the children that do read this book will at least be learning more than the propaganda that they would normally be subjected to.
And it’s also incredible to think that for a country that has only been established for about 250 years, so much has happened in that time.
And it’s also nice to see a history book that doesn’t gloss over the horrific things that have happened in American history, especially given that this is aimed at children. It’s refreshing to think that the children that do read this book will at least be learning more than the propaganda that they would normally be subjected to.
And it’s also incredible to think that for a country that has only been established for about 250 years, so much has happened in that time.
May 17, 2017
تقریبا از هر نظر در جهتی که هدف نویسنده بوده (له کردن ادعای تمدن آمریکایی) موفقیت آمیز بود، این نکته را هم تا توی گلویم گیر نکرده بگویم که قطعا از نسخه ایرانی اش یعنی تاریخ مستطاب آمریکا بسیار بهتر است.
May 23, 2021
مثل بقیه کتابهای مجموعه، بدون خجالت جنایت‌های استعمارگران آمریکا رو بیان میکنه
تصویرسازی ها عالی
ترجمه هم خیلی خوب بود و خیلی از جک هارو تمیز و خوب به فارسی درآورده بود.
«در سال ۱۴۹۲، یعنی در زمان ورود کریستف کلمب کثیف به آمریکا، جمعیت آراواک های ساکن در هند غربی و جزایر آنتیل تقریبا حدود ۲ میلیون نفر بود. اما ۶۰ سال بعد، حتی یک آراواک در دنیا وجود نداشت.»
تصویرسازی ها عالی
ترجمه هم خیلی خوب بود و خیلی از جک هارو تمیز و خوب به فارسی درآورده بود.
«در سال ۱۴۹۲، یعنی در زمان ورود کریستف کلمب کثیف به آمریکا، جمعیت آراواک های ساکن در هند غربی و جزایر آنتیل تقریبا حدود ۲ میلیون نفر بود. اما ۶۰ سال بعد، حتی یک آراواک در دنیا وجود نداشت.»
January 17, 2020
A sweeping and broad study of American history up to the 1960s, with special focus on the differences between American myth and fact. This children's book doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of US history, but presents it as it is with little exaggeration or embellishment.
July 12, 2017
Will is addicted to this series, so I read this while he read another. Too funny.
May 1, 2020
Really helpful - 4*
Gotta love Deary's Horrible Histories series. Very helpful for a basic understanding of US history. Skimmed through a bit but enjoyed it.
Gotta love Deary's Horrible Histories series. Very helpful for a basic understanding of US history. Skimmed through a bit but enjoyed it.
January 11, 2021
I finished this book and it is a very interesting book that talks about US history in a very special way. I recommend everybody to read this.
January 17, 2023
Funny caricatures in the book with a fairly humourous presentation of the horrendous history of America from prohibition to slavery. There are imes it got quite disgusting as well. Its a book not meant for everyone but can still be a fun short read.
July 29, 2011
Horrible Histories is a series of illustrated books published in the UK by Scholastic. They are designed to get children interested in history by concentrating on the trivial, unusual, gory, or unpleasant. They are exceptionally well loved by my history loving children
January 14, 2009
there was alot of false information in that book
Read
September 9, 2011This series is really good at capturing a reader's attention, it balances perfectly between funny and informative.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews