The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About Loving God and Learning from History by Robert Tracy McKenzie


The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About Loving God and Learning from History
Title : The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About Loving God and Learning from History
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0830825746
ISBN-10 : 978-0830825745
Language : English
Format Type : Kindle, Paperback
Number of Pages : 219 pages
Publication : IVP Academic

ForeWord 2013 Book of the Year Award Finalist (Adult Nonfiction, History)The Pilgrims' celebration of the first Thanksgiving is a keystone of America's national and spiritual identity. But is what we've been taught about them or their harvest feast what actually happened? And if not, what difference does it make? Through the captivating story of the birth of this quintessentially American holiday, veteran historian Tracy McKenzie helps us to better understand the tale of America's origins―and for Christians, to grasp the significance of this story and those like it. McKenzie avoids both idolizing and demonizing the Pilgrims, and calls us to love and learn from our flawed yet fascinating forebears. The First Thanksgiving is narrative history at its best, and promises to be an indispensable guide to the interplay of historical thinking and Christian reflection on the meaning of the past for the present.

The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About Loving God and Learning from History Reviews

  • Megan Doucette

    Easily the best book on the real story of the first Thanksgiving that I have ever read! He does a wonderful job of balancing respect for those who have come before with how our ultimate identity and citizenship should be in heaven with Christ. I strongly recommend this to

  • Doug Hibbard

    Pilgrims. Indians. Corn plants with three little fishes around them. Big hats with buckles on them. A blunderbuss or two, stacked with bows and arrows. All of these are the images of the first Thanksgiving from our folklore. Folklore, though, is not quite

  • R. DelParto

    One of the unique aspects about reading about history and the events that shape its narratives is the different perspectives and interpretations that also arise as one looks further to a particular event. Historian Robert Tracy Mckenzie examines the most quintessential

  • A.D. Poole

    Robert Tracy McKenzie has not just produced an insightful account of the Pilgrims' feast that challenges our traditions and presuppositions. He's also presenting here a thoughtful philosophy for studying history as a Christian. It was for this philosophy that I read this

  • Jason G

    The First Thanksgiving by McKenzie ostensibly about the Plymouth Colony's 1621 harvest celebration and its effect in creating modern America's annual Thanksgiving celebration, is really three books in one: a examination of what actually happened that led up that harvest

  • Texas mom

    This is an enjoyable, in depth read for those who enjoy learning the true facts about the lives of the first pilgrims. It sure adds a wonderful conversation starter for Thanksgiving meal. The historical past is nothing like we imagine it to be.

  • D. T. Kleven

    This is an interesting book, part history, part historiography, and part reflection on contemporary American evangelicalism. There was much in the history of the 17th century pilgrims that I didn't know, and the basic historical account (including what we know and what we

  • plk1956

    Books such as these by Professor McKenzie are desperately needed for the evangelical community. Learning to think Christianly is essential for those evangelicals who are engaging the political process; far too often, much of what evangelicals have been taught