The survey starts on the West Coast and moves east, a deliberate break from the traditional American history found in textbooks, which begin with the Pilgrims and follow westward expansion.

The first deals with historical markers established in the Southern United States that attempt to whitewash the history of slavery and the period of Reconstruction.

The author challenges and corrects many of the inaccurate and Eurocentric mistruths spread by historical markers across America.

At the end of his book, Loewen makes suggestions for how those concerned about the misrepresentation of history can change markers and monuments to convey historical truth and accuracy.

The organizations running historical sites are faulted in Loewen's book according to Wilton Corkern.