The "40 Hours of Angicos" project, conducted by Paulo Freire in 1963 in rural Brazil, is often highlighted as a milestone in adult education. Supported by the U.S. Alliance for Progress and the Catholic Church, it aimed to teach 300 adults to read and write in just 40 hours, cementing Freire's reputation as one of the 20th century's leading educators. This study revisits the initiative based on historical records and participant data, offering a balanced analysis of its objectives, implementation, and outcomes. Evidence shows that the number of completers was 122, not 300, and that the 40 hours were, in practice, 38, with literacy skills limited to writing names and a few words. The project's termination, often attributed to political repression, appears to have been driven by a lack of literacy-focused materials and an excessive emphasis on political debates, as noted by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). While it inspired participants, the educational outcomes were more modest than the narrative suggests, indicating the need for a careful reassessment of this historical experience.