The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know
by E. D. Hirsch, Joseph F. Kett, James Trefil
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Book Summary Information
Author: E. D. Hirsch, James Trefil, Joseph F. KettEdition: Hardcover
Published: 2002-10-03
ISBN: 0618226478
Number of pages: 672
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Book Reviews of The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know
Book Review: Poorly written and riddled with inaccuracies.
Summary: 1 Stars
I agree that every American should be culturally literate; however, many entries in this book are simply inaccurate. For example, Guttenberg did not invent the printing press, and he did not invent movable-type printing. These inventions trace their origin to the east, where they were used aeons before Guttenberg even conceived of them.
I was also left with the impression that this book is too eurocentric, failing to adequately respresent non-european ancient cultures, to whom many Americans now trace their ancestry. No mention is made of mathematical or scientific discoveries by non-european cultures. For example, no mention is made of the fact that the maya independently discovered the concept of zero, or that they built the largest pyramid in the ancient world (containing 15% more volume than Egypt's largest). These little-known facts are just as important to cultural literacy as the fact that the ancient Greeks invented logic.
This is not to bash Europe. I think Europe is a great continent, with a rich history, and I certainly pay no homage to politically correct dimwits who equate tolerance with Europe-bashing. But Americans are increasingly diverse in their cultural and ethnic origins, and any book seeking to truly educate the American populace should keep that in mind...
Summary of The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know
In this fast-paced information age, how can Americans know what's really important and what's just a passing fashion? Now more than ever, we need a source that concisely sums up the knowledge that matters to Americans -- the people, places, ideas, and events that shape our cultural conversation. With more than six thousand entries,The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy is that invaluable source.Wireless technology. Gene therapy. NAFTA. In addition to the thousands of terms described in the original Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, here are more than five hundred new entries to bring Americans' bank of essential knowledge up to date. The original entries have been fully revised to reflect recent changes in world history and politics, American literature, and, especially, science and technology. Cultural icons that have stood the test of time (Odysseus, Leaves of Grass, Cleopatra, the Taj Mahal, D-Day) appear alongside entries on such varied concerns as cryptography, the digital divide, the European Union, Kwanzaa, pheromones, SPAM, Type A and Type B personalities, Web browsers, and much, much more.
As our world becomes more global and interconnected, it grows smaller through the terms and touchstones that unite us. As E. D. Hirsch writes in the preface, "Community is built up of shared knowledge and values -- the same shared knowledge that is taken for granted when we read a book or newspaper, and that is also taken for granted as part of the fabric that connects us to one another." A delicious concoction of information for anyone who wants to be in the know, The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy brilliantly confirms once again that it is "an excellent piece of work . . . stimulating and enlightening" (New York Times) -- the most definitive and comprehensive family sourcebook of its kind.
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- History > Americas
- Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Anthropology
- Reference
- Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > English (British)
- Encyclopedias > History
- History: Americas: United States: General
- Nonfiction: Social Sciences: Anthropology: General
- Reference: Dictionaries & Thesauruses: General
- Reference: General
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