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Summary: A Common Sense History of the United States
Review: After having this book quoted to me for twenty years, I finally decided to buy my own copy. I expected to be shocked, but as it turned out, I wasn't even surprised. I think a better name might have been a "common sense" history of the United States. That's because this is what it is, common sense, and not the wild-eyed radicalism some people claim it is. Indeed, I read this book by constantly comparing it to the people and events I have known all my life in the middle west. In every case, I found that it all had a ring of truth, it all seemed "true to type" with the sort of people I've dealt with for the last five decades. This is in stark constrast with most histories, where I begin to wonder just what country is being discussed, because it sure ain't the one I grew up in....
Maybe it is because our family has some American Indian blood, but we've always known that the "official government version" of anything was usually moonshine....
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Summary: A dark history?
Review: He tells another side, the embarrasing parts of American history some would rather forget. He seems biased, but as he says in his last words of the book, it is not a tell all history. One couldn't possibly put it all in a book this size. Our 'official' history books tell us of the stuff we should be 'proud' of. He puts a different perspective on these things, and brings out everything that is wrong with what we should be 'proud' of. If you want to know about the trials of the common man and the less-than-fortunate throughout America's history, in the face of big government and big business, he will give you an insight to that.
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Summary: An insightful rendering of American history
Review: This book has left several impressions on me. First, it's hard to get through, due both to its content (disturbing) and its style (dry, with a tendency to tell each chapter in the same formulaic method). Aside from those two criticisms, the account is fascinating. From the beginning, you're wretching at the accounts told of Columbus' barbarism, and soon begin to see the propaganda the American school system has taught us as just that. With that said, I think it would be wise to view this in its context. It is not the be-all-end-all account of American history. It should be balanced with other perspectives. To come away believing America an evil empire I think would be to lose sight of the reality of our history: namely that despite the corruption and evil, the principles written down in our Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights have lived up to their true promise and continually get closer to their ideal. An informed electorate is essential to a functioning democracy, and the facts presented here go a long way towards helping Americans confront their dark past and learn from it, rather than trying to sugar-coat it to prop us up as an honorable Christian nation with a right to arrogance. The truth is nothing to fear. Still, I recommend trying a conservative viewpoint after this, like Paul Johnson's "A History of the American People". That way you'll come away with both sides of the story, rather than an overly slanted perspective. As in all things, don't ever fear a dissenting opinion. Fundamentalism from the right _and_ left is dangerous. Keep an open mind and weigh both side's arguments for yourself before you join a bandwagon After reading this book, I've become more skeptical of patriotism based on the founding father's genius and benevolence, but much more proud of the achievements of regular Americans who often gave their lives fighting a corrupt government that used religion and money to support the rich and exploit the poor. Americans do have a history to be proud of, but the over-riding theme that I came away with was that it is possible for Americans to make a difference in their government and the world today. We need to take action and contribute to making this country great, not just rest on the acheivements of those who came before us and made our country what it is.
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Summary: You need this book!
Review: Just amazing. Read this now!
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Summary: A People's History Rocks!
Review: This book absolutely changed my life. In high school, I abhorred history: a series of dull facts, heroes who didn't seem all that heroic to me, and bland stories with black and white morals attached to them. My first semester of college, I read this book in my American History class, and learned that history does not have to be bland, dull, boring, or black and white. This book includes many things I NEVER learned in high school: the oppression of the Arawak Indians by Columbus, the idea that we didn't HAVE to drop the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, why we intervened in Latin America. I cried when I read this book. The end is awesome and inspiring. I call A People's History my "Bible." It is truly a book to be treasured and read over and over again. I recommend it to any American, or any person in the world who is trying to understand the broader themes of history!
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Summary: unobjective history
Review: I knew this book was going to deal more with the labor and social movements and there are a lot of would-be great chapters that are ruined because in-between the facts, Zinn the historian lets Zinn the socialist take over. The book started out great with an accurate assessment of Columbus and colonial atrocities only to go off on a tangent come 1776. Here is a list of some of Zinn's opinions that he puts forth as fact: -The Constitution was written in such a way to give the lower classes the illusion of equal rights.
-The Founding Fathers wanted to maintain the status quo
-The Labor movement is always right.
-The Depression was caused by class division
-Abraham Lincoln was a racist, who freed the slaves in desperation.
-Big Industry has done nothing but exploit the worker The best way to show the bias of Zinn's prose is to look at any passage where he mentions statistics, especially in the chapters dealing with the labor and socialism movements. He always will highlight x amount of strikers dead, but he rarely talks about casualties when it does not help his argument. The portion of the book dealing with the 20th century is so incomplete, its not worth even noting in this review. This book would be more accurately titled as "Howard Zinn's opinions on United States History."
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Summary: Insightful yet ignorant
Review: It sounds like such a great idea... Explain the History of the United States with a focus on the "little guy." In the end it's pretty typical leftist history. Insightful in its dealing with American imperialism and ignorant when it comes to economics. How anyone who claims to know history can cling to socialist dogma is beyond me. Had Zinn moved past Marx and on to Mises, he might have something more worthwhile to say.
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Summary: The real story...this
Review: As an immigrant to the US, I always viewed US history in a very positive light - one filled with altruisms, fairness, and justice; something for all to be proud about. But was I disappointed. Thanks to Zinn. I have learned that we have a very dark past. I hope all Americans read this book so that we can learn from our transgressions. This is not a book that boasts about the greatness of this country, or one that simply documents all the major political events. This is one that poignantly tells the stories of the oppressed; American and other. Zinn, unequivocally states facts that are well documented by historians. His analysis is scholarly and convincing. Zinn's accounts of the native people of America, African Americans, farmers, and other common folk, is very moving. The chapter on Vietnam brought tears to my eyes. This book evokes strong feelings against the wealthy, as well as against the US government, which is portrayed as the villain in Zinn's story. Except for the repetitious nature of several accounts of socialistic movements, the material in this book flows very smoothly. A must read for every American.
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Summary: At last the unabashed truth about US history
Review: My uncle recommended this book to me many years ago but I only got around to purchasing and reading it recently. I hadn't really thought much about human rights, US imperialism, war, or anything else of substance before I left America in 1995 and began my teaching career and life abroad. Reading The People's History of the United States has expanded my consciousness and made me look more critically at both the US government and my own actions as an American than anything else I've ever read, with exception to Michael Parenti's excellent book, Against Empire. I'm astonished (though I realize I shouldn't be) by how American history was taught to me during my school career. Wars and invasions of weaker, poorer nations justified, bombings glossed over, misplaced patriotism shoved down my throat. Those who have a problem with Howard Zinn or others critical of US policy (e.g. Noam Chomsky) have every right to disagree but I'm left wondering if this is because they just can't accept the brutal truth of US history. It ain't always pretty.
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Summary: For those that have not liked this book.....
Review: Many of the poor ratings for this book have explanations pointing to Zinn being biased and "distorting" the facts. What you don't find in any of those reviews is WHAT facts he distorted. It is called "A PEOPLE'S History of the United States". That is the name of the book and he filled his pages with quotes and historical accounts. I don't hear anyone disputing, regardless of whether or not the Native Americans were perfect, all-loving people, the fact that we maliciously and deceptively murdered these people. No matter their character, no one is disputing the historical facts that Zinn presents in this book. Someone brought up the point of an event happening a year later than what Zinn said, but what ultimately matters is that IT HAPPENED! Also, many "poor" reviews are saying that Zinn is too biased and that he doesn't give credit for the good things America has done. I look at it another way. Our country is wonderful NOT because of our government but because of the people. We wouldn't have the freedoms we have in this country if it weren't for revolt and dissension. Our government reluctantly gave us many of our freedoms only after we demanded them, and PHYSICALLY demanded them. So yes, in that respect, Zinn's book IS a PEOPLE'S history of the United States. Use this book to educate yourself on the beginnings of our country. It may be useful to incorporate a more general history as well, but this book serves its purpose and serves it well. The only way we can learn from our mistakes is to acknowledge them first and this book helps us do that. With that said, I love this country not because of our government because of the people. Without the freedoms our ancestors fought for, this book may not have ever seen the light of day. I HIGHLY recommend this book and think that more and more educators should use it.
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