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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know Specs:
Product Name
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know
Manufacturer
Houghton Mifflin
Product Number MPN
0618226478
Retail Price
$29.95
UPC
978061822647
Specifications
Title
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know
ISBN
0618226478
Author(s)
E. D. Hirsch, James Trefil, Joseph F. Kett
Release Date
2002-10-03
Format
Hardcover
Num of Pages
672
Num. of Items
1
EAN
9780618226474
Weight
0.5 lbs.
Deal first added on:
19-February-2004
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United States history Reference English language History - General History Social Science United States - General social history Civilization Dictionaries Encyclopedias and dictionaries Dictionaries - General Anthropology - General
WONDERFUL resource! No age limit...important information for everyone...great graduation gift! I gave many of the original version to my friends and all loved it!
Hirsch has done a great service for the public at large by compiling this reference work. Although the entries are intentionally very concise it lists for the reader all the basics and pointers needed to be literate in today's day and age. It masterfully avoids being superfluous. Supplements for specialized fields in this format would also be very useful to extend the core knowledge.
This is an excellent book for someone who wants to understand the basics of American culture, a survey. It contains definitions in alphabetical order. But do not be fooled--the information comes together through the definitions at the end of each section, making the book excellent for studying.
As a recent FSO test taker, this book was somewhat helpful for answering the questions on the test.
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...
Every American family should own this book! It has all the essential details presented in an organized, succinct manner. Easy to use, fun to flip to random pages and see what you do or do not remember from school.
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"WONDERFUL RESOURCE FOR EVERYONE!"
"A must-have reference book"
"Poorly written and riddled with inaccuracies."