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Books : A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present
Product Description: Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, "A People's History of the United States is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of -- and in the words of -- America's women, factory workers, African Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers.Covering Christopher Columbus's arrival through President Clinton's first term, "A People's History of the United States features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. Revised, updated, and featuring a new afterword by the author, this is "a brilliant and moving history of the American people" "(Library Journal).
Amazon.com Review: Consistently lauded for its lively, readable prose, this revised and updated edition of A People's History of the United States turns traditional textbook history on its head. Howard Zinn infuses the often-submerged voices of blacks, women, American Indians, war resisters, and poor laborers of all nationalities into this thorough narrative that spans American history from Christopher Columbus's arrival to an afterword on the Clinton presidency.
Addressing his trademark reversals of perspective, Zinn--a teacher, historian, and social activist for more than 20 years--explains, "My point is not that we must, in telling history, accuse, judge, condemn Columbus in absentia. It is too late for that; it would be a useless scholarly exercise in morality. But the easy acceptance of atrocities as a deplorable but necessary price to pay for progress (Hiroshima and Vietnam, to save Western civilization; Kronstadt and Hungary, to save socialism; nuclear proliferation, to save us all)--that is still with us. One reason these atrocities are still with us is that we have learned to bury them in a mass of other facts, as radioactive wastes are buried in containers in the earth."
If your last experience of American history was brought to you by junior high school textbooks--or even if you're a specialist--get ready for the other side of stories you may not even have heard. With its vivid descriptions of rarely noted events, A People's History of the United States is required reading for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at the rich, rocky history of America.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - An important perspective
Every high school student should read this book as a part of American history. While there is certainly a great deal more to know about our nation's history than what is contained in Zinn's analysis, it represents a critical perspective that is not to be found elsewhere.
And for those adults that never read it in school, try to find time to work through it. You're guaranteed to learn something important about how our country was founded and built that you didn't know before.
Having said that, this is a VERY dense book. It's not something that will keep you up at night reading bleary-eyed until you finish a chapter. In fact, it will help you sleep... even on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Rating: - Leftist History
When one reads any of Zinn's writings, one should keep in mind Zinn's own admissions and opinions about history and his bias:
"Objectivity is impossible and it is also undesirable. That is, if it were possible it would be undesirable, because if you have any kind of a social aim, if you think history should serve society in some way; should serve the progress of the human race; should serve justice in some way, then it requires that you should make your selection on the basis of what you think will advance causes of humanity." ~ Howard Zinn
"I wanted my writing of history and my teaching of history to be a part of social struggle. I wanted to be a part of history and not just a recorder and teacher of history. So that kind of attitude towards history, history itself as a political act, has always informed my writing and my teaching." ~ Howard Zinn
Also note that there are no references or footnotes. Very poor scholarship from one who leftists laud as one of their best.
Rating: - Essential reading
If you have eyes and a heart, APHOTUS will open them and break it.
I'm guessing that if you asked your average American what the worst things are that their government's done, they'd start with slavery, and then struggle to come up with another example. (They might even blame slavery on slaveowners, or "the South," or "market forces," or something other than government.)
Well, turns out that American history is full of examples of the government elevating profit and its own perpetuation over human life and human rights and human dignity. And Zinn deftly compiles them in a broad yet deep survey.
Granted--and Zinn openly concedes--APHOTUS is history from a particular point of view, viz., that of victims and rebels (i.e., the vast majority of the people of America and the world). But it's a damning indictment of American government and institutions just the same. I mean, so what if APHOTUS doesn't mention the Gettysburg Address or fawn over the Apollo program? Such things as those and the liberation of the Nazi death camps are exceptions, not the rule. (And all have a dark side. E.g., what was the cost of the Apollo program? Not only astronauts' lives, but programs for the disadvantaged that could have used some of those NASA appropriations. And what about the Nazi death camps? American troops basically stumbled onto those. The American government had long known of the atrocities but had done practically nothing to stop them. The end of the genocide was a byproduct, not the aim, of the war effort.)
But to those self-proclaimed patriots who insist on America über alles (I don't believe you could even give a good definition of "America," but whatever): APHOTUS is probably not the book for you. It's not written nearly forcefully enough--nor do I believe it's intended--to serve as a deprogrammer.
All praise aside, I do take issue with Zinn's lack of footnotes. And his almost pathological predilection for passive voice perturbs me as well.
Rating: - Mind-altering Substance!
This book is a classic, yet remains remarkably prescient, as politicians and corrupted individuals try to give us twisted and racist versions of history. Zinn gives enlightening details about the United States both on a grand and small scale; indeed, he remains the preeminent historian in the United States: his ability to reveal uncomfortable truths about inequality , oppression, and how history has actually transpired are extremely important for understanding not only history but the current problems we all face.
This easily digestible book (I'm not saying it tastes good)is a must-have for all literate people on the planet!
Rating: - real history
Howard Zinn was one of my favorite professors at university. This book presents with unflinching candor events that really happened in our history. And he is never boring!
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