Best quote from The War You Were Never Taught: US Empire and Forgotten History
There is a profound difference between the 'official history' sanctioned by textbooks and the archival reality that reveals a more complex, often troubling, picture of empire.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
The War You Were Never Taught
![[PDF] what do we want students to remember about the “forgotten war”? a](https://d1y2du6z1jfm9e.cloudfront.net/assets/podcast/blue.png)
Frequently Asked Questions
The podcast examines the discrepancy between official history sanctioned by textbooks and the archival reality of the US Empire. It challenges the tidy narrative of manifest destiny and American exceptionalism by exploring complex chapters of history that are often intentionally left out. By peeling back layers of misleading myth, the show reveals how conscious decisions like overthrowing leaders and arming dictators shaped our modern global standing.
The Korean War is frequently referred to as the Forgotten War because it is often tucked quietly between the triumph of World War II and the trauma of Vietnam in historical narratives. Despite its significance in defining global borders and racial dynamics, it remains a less discussed conflict in the official history taught in many United States classrooms, serving as a key example of the history we were never taught.
The Second Seminole War was a major conflict that lasted seven years and cost the equivalent of over a billion dollars in today's currency. Despite this massive scale and its impact on the nation's development, it remains a mere footnote in most history classrooms. The podcast highlights this war as a prime example of how significant conflicts that reveal the reality of empire are often omitted from the standard American narrative.
The podcast defines the US Empire through the lens of archival reality rather than the myth of spreading democracy. It explores how the United States has functioned as an empire by making conscious decisions to brandish nuclear threats, arm dictators, and overthrow elected leaders. This perspective contrasts with the official history of manifest destiny, revealing a more troubling and complex picture of how the nation established its global standing.
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
