Compared to regular freshman composition textbooks, materials for advanced instruction in English as a foreign language are unsubstantial. An examination of EFL tests reveals the triviality of much of the content, particularly in comparison with the sophistication and significance of literature taught to native speakers. In addition, some EFL narratives reinforce racial stereotypes. History texts present many inaccurate or biased interpretations of events. There are several reasons for the inferiority of EFL texts: (1) sentimentalism interferes with the presentation of reality; (2) textbook writers confuse simple syntax with simple-minded content; and (3) there are too few advanced EFL texts compared to the number of freshman composition texts; consequently, EFL teachers have little from which to choose. We need more and better books that encourage foreign students' contact with the western humanist tradition of learning in the U.S. (LG)