I could never understand how anyone could NOT watch the History Channel. After all, aren’t we supposed to learn form our mistakes instead of being destined to repeat them? Those who are not learned in the events of the past may not be destined personally, but to be forewarned is to be prepared. (Do you think anyone who knows history would have voted for our current administration? I think you see my point.) But learning from our mistakes isn’t the only reason to educate yourself about history, where's the thirst for knowledge in general gone? Why do most people find history boring? I think I know the answer (and it's not just the general dumbing down of America). Part of the problem is that in the past (I sense a lesson in history coming up… ) the way history was taught might have been boring in its presentation. After all, who wants to sit through a filmstrip (listening to the dreaded 'BING' between every slide)? Or listen to someone lecture at length in front of a room of sleeping students? These methods have been so ingrained in our heads that most people think that's the way history is still taught.

But if you take the time to check out places like the History Channel, you'll find that learning can be exciting (not just fundamental… )

A perfect example would be the highly rated series "Digging for the Truth" hosted by Josh Bernstein. I got caught up in this series about a year ago (it’s currently starting its 3rd season) and while it can be a bit contrived at times, makes the search for knowledge exciting. And now the 1st season is being released this month on DVD, and would make a perfect gift for any adventurers in your family. And if kids are not adventurers yet, it makes a perfect introduction for those past the "Stanley" age. Each episode follows Bernstein as he jets around the world trying to dig up the answers to some of history's biggest mysteries.

You might find him heading out to the Egyptian desert to try and uncover the secrets to who really built the pyramids or trudging up the sides of a mountain looking for Noah's lost ark. And though the series often utilizes dramatizations to show some of the theories or interviews experts, the bulk of the time we see Bernstein digging, climbing, swimming, chiseling, or sliding on the ice. He's not afraid of getting his hands dirty, and from the looks of it has few fears at all. Admittedly, you generally walk away from the series without definitive answers to the mysteries, but you get a fairly detailed account of the theories at hand.

The DVD set features all 13 episodes from the 1st season, and I enjoyed every single one of them. I was especially into the episodes that dealt with the Nazca Lines (which are miles long lines in the deserts of Peru, which from the air resemble the shapes of animals) and the giant statue heads of Easter Island because I've read a great deal on both subjects. It was interesting to compare what I've learned over the years with what is discussed here.

There are only two special features available on the set, the first being a bit of a 'Making of…' featurette and the other a basic biography. But even without any special features at all, I'd still recommend it to those who wanted to be Indiana Jones when they grew up. Here's a chance to watch a guy living the dream and teaching us a little history to boot.

Episodes:
Who Built Egypt's Pyramids?
Nefertiti: The Mummy Returns
Pompeii Secrets Revealed
Hunt for the Lost Ark
The Holy Grail
The Iceman Cometh
Quest for King Solomon's Gold
Passage to the Maya Underworld
The Lost Tribe of Israel
Secrets of the Nazca Lines
The Search for El Dorado
Giants of Easter Island
Mystery of the Anasazi

Starring: Josh Bernstein
Extras: History in the Making Featurette, Biography of Josh Bernstein
Specifications: Full Screen, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound
Studio: History Channel / New Video
Release Date: 9/26/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Digging for the Truth: Season 1 a B-.