The Secret Histories: Hidden Truths That Challenged the Past and Changed the World Book

A one-of-a-kind collection of political histories that have changed the way we look at the worldThroughout the course of modern history, there have been commonly held truths about the actions of governments and businesses. We had, at one time, accepted the justifications for engaging in war. We trusted our presidents to behave honorably. We bought products from companies that we believed operated under the guidelines of U.S. and international law. But throughout our very same history we+ve seen the appearance of documents-investigative journalism, historical research, written transcripts-that have upended our views of governments and businesses. These -secret histories+ changed, either through popular acceptance or gradual reform, the way we see the rule makers of our age. From Edwin Black+s investigation into the strategic alliance between IBM and the Nazi regime to I. F. Stone+s classic study of the hidden history of the Korean War, from the 1952 Reader+s Digest expos? of tobacco+s link to cancer and heart disease to Seymour Hersh+s report on the My Lai massacre (as well as an expos? on the abuse in Abu Ghraib prison), this is the perfect anthology for those seeking to revisit-or discover for the first time-the hidden stories that have shaped our world.An invaluable resource guide and a ground-breaking tool for further social change, The Secret Histories is a must-have book for anyone yearning to expand their understanding of the past, and the past+s tenacious hold on the present.To appear in The Secret Histories:¥ -Torture at Abu Ghraib,+ by Seymour M. Hersh, The New YorkerIn his devastating account, Hersh exposes the torture of Iraqi detainees by the American military. His expos?, more complete than the 60 Minutes report which appeared about the same time, sent shock waves around the world.¥ IBM and the Holocaust by Edwin BlackBlack+s expose on how American corporations-IBM and Ford chief among them-aided the Nazi war machine has encouraged investigations into the wartime activities of other corporations. ¥ The Hidden History of the Korean War by I. F. StoneStone at first accepted the official theory that the Korean War was a clear example of unprovoked aggression. But upon investigation, Stone discovered gaps, distortions, and outright lies in the official record.¥ -Secrets of History: The C.I.A. in Iran-A Special Report,+ by James Risen, The New York TimesWhile it has long been known that the American and British governments were behind the coup that removed Mossadegh-a leading proponent of nationalizing the oil industry-and restored Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi to the throne of Iran, the Times article revealed the inner- workings of the affair.¥ -Cancer by the Carton,+ Reader+s Digest A significant shift in society+s attitude toward smoking occurred in the 1950s, triggered by a 1952 expos? that described the dangers of smoking and detailed the risks of lung cancer and heart disease. The piece led to similar reports in other publications, and the year following its appearance cigarette sales declined for the first time in more than twenty years.Read More