The question “What happened?” is at the heart of the study of history. It should be an easy and straightforward one to answer. But people can’t seem to agree on it. Today’s episode explores the way national governments teach history to their peoples in ways that shape the populations. In some nations, history is taught in a manner that is designed to fill students with patriotism and nationalism. In others, it is taught in ways that make the students ashamed of their country. But perverting history—whether to make it brighter or darker—obscures its precious and vital truth. This episode offers listeners a free book that unlocks crucial truths about history that are unavailable anywhere else.