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Summary: Excellent Read. A Shocking and Needed Jolt of Revisionism.
Review: Zinn's People's History is a fascinating, intriguing journey of the American people told through the eyes of the poor and the forgotten. Zinn's selection is more blatantly biased than your standard U.S. history text but his style of quotations, opinion and text makes for a surprisingly quick read. While those who read it may not agree with Zinn, it will make you think and it is sure to have a lasting impression on you. His description on the struggle of the labor movement and the plight of the American Indian saddened and awakened me. A must read for all Americans in search of a different take on the formation of this great nation.
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Summary: PC Power Trips: Howard Zinn's Comic Book History
Review: Howard Zinn writes history much like Superman saves Lois Lane ... with a steel jawed determination to dispense violent "justice" upon the world's many "evil doers". And, just as the exploits of the Man of Steel fuel the power fantasies of pubescent boys Zinn's work plays well to an audience of perpetual (and professional) victims. Infrequently, Zinn makes a half interesting observation. But for the most part his writing has about as much relationship to history as Superman's powers do to the laws of physics. In the end the portrait of America Zinn paints is as real a place as the planet Krypton.Zinn has managed (rather brilliantly one must say) to palm off his work as some sort of courageous attack on the "official" (read "evil) history of America. One has only to read some of the other reviews posted herein to see how many people have swallowed that particular hook, line and sinker. Indeed, Zinn plays extremely well to an audience that somehow buys into the absurd notions that what appeared (or appears) in their highschool history books constitutes the sum of all scholarship, that highschool history teachers are an army of unthinking clones, (OK maybe they're on to something there), and that highschool students are incapable of critical thought. Similarly, the idea that the "bulk" or "majority" of historical works produced are somehow the product of a "dominant/victor" culture (part of the increasingly infamous "vast right wing conspiracy") is just willfully ignorant. It is also almost obscenely patronizing when you stop and think about it from the perspective of the very "victims" Zinn seeks to write a history for. People who actually believe that sort of thing have to read a little more history. However, this book won't help. Zinn writes for people who don't study history, don't know history, and have no desire to start studying or knowing history. This is tired socialist propaganda and convenient distortion ... nothing more. Zinn's interpretation of the motivations of the founders with respect to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is (to be charitable) silly. But his history of the Cold War is quite frankly down right stupid ... particularly so in light of materials in hand since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Zinn's willfully ignorant defense of the Rosenbergs suffers from the same problem. His treatise on Vietnam begins with a false contention (that the full might of the US military was reigned down upon the North Vietnamese) and ends with an overall impression of American involvement in that conflict that is about as accurate as the reflections in a carnival fun-house mirror. Zinn seems to argue that we cannot end evils like genocide, exploitation, and abuse until we "face" them ... drag them into the light of day. To that point we are in complete agreement. But, the very heart of Zinn's "history" is distorted and distorting. To use the two most obvious examples; he condemns Columbus for genocide and America for slavery. However, on the genocidial religious practices of Native Americans and on the African elements of the international black slave trade Zinn is virtually silent. That silence is a crime of sorts. It is a crime because it distorts the truth rather than advances it and justice cannot be had by any coin other than the truth. If Zinn wants justice he needs to face the truth and to face it he has to be willing to look for it. By his own admission he has attempted nothing of the sort in this book.
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Summary: The Real History of the United States
Review: For those who don't "get it": THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS UNBIASED, BALANCED, TRUTHFULL HISTORY. When a historian sits down to write a History of a people, he has a certain amount of room, otherwise known as pages. Every historian, according to his/her own education, training, class in society, and innumerable other influences and biases selectively picks the history presented in his/her book. Most historians pretend that their selection process is rational, that they include the most important or "relevant" events and leave the rest. But this is the worst form of pretense and hypocracy. Which is more important: That Columbus made his way to America or that he treated the natives horribly? Which is more important: That the Declaration of independence states that "all men are created equal" or the fact that the author of the Declaration owned hundreds of slaves? Howard Zinn makes it clear from the beginning that he will value what happened to the oppressed over what was done by the oppressor. He describes the Conquest from the point of view of the native population. He describes the South from the point of view of the slave. He describes industrialization from the point of view of the shop floor. He describes the Vietnam war from the point of view of the Vietnamese. Every historian selects his/her own History. "Conventional" historians write for and about the events and doings of people of power. Zinn has selected a history of the people. Zinn's history of the United States is as complete as any other and more important than the others, because it brings history home. Five Stars.
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Summary: The best alternative history of the U.S.A.
Review: I bought this book several years ago and have browsed through most of it. The book contains many eye-opening facts and first-hand accounts throughout American history that probably would not make it into the standard history texts; they are relevant nonetheless, especially for one who wants to look beyond the standard histories. Some may view Zinn's history as biased, and in a way that is true, but by nature alternative histories cannot be anything else. To be "alternative", as I believe Zinn tries to be, is to deliberately be everything that "conventional" or "popular" is not. Zinn writes his book with the intention at the outset to be the contrarian, and to slaughter a few sacred cows, which, as one saying goes, make the best hamburgers. Alternative history is appealing precisely because it exposes (and is not burdened by) the (occasional) hypocrisies that history as taught in schools can possess. It serves as a useful antidote to the more glossy versions. (Perhaps it is most appropriate that the book is printed on such rough, simple paper as opposed to the smooth, shiny paper of many textbooks. It is more humble and less pretentious, and it relies more on its content than on its saleable and slick good looks.) Still, it is not the best U.S. history book around, which is why I only give it 4 stars. Zinn's book, as can be expected for an alternative history book, is by no means a complete history; in fact, the author seems to selectively pick and choose those aspects of American history that best suit his overall purpose and agenda. To attempt to provide a complete history would require a more committed endeavor to be impartial. Indeed, a less charitable reviewer than myself would dismiss this particular historical work as left-wing propaganda, if not an anarchist tract. I would NOT recommend that you read this book if you have not familiarized yourself with the more conventional view of American history FIRST. As opposed to many people, I do believe that the genuine virtues and successes of America must be appreciated before one can really gain the proper perspective from which to view its less-than-virtuous side. One must appreciate what is good about America before one can understand what is bad about America. To those who are not from the U.S. originally (such as an Afghan-Indian-Canadian like myself), I would not read this book first. In any case, Zinn takes the initiative to say what someone must be bold enough to say, and for that reason I respect him for his courage and candor. America has prospered at the expense of many people - women, aboriginals (i.e. Native Americans), blacks, immigrants, poor farmers, etc. - and it must confront this disturbing fact before it can overcome many of its chronic social, economic, and political problems. There are a lot of people out there who have been taken in by conventional, school-taught American history almost to the point of indoctrination, and thus been rendered nearly blind to America's darker side. To them, I heartily recommend this book, so that they may open their eyes.
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Summary: A great book, should be required reading.
Review: I was made to buy ths book for my AP US History class, and it exposed the text chosen by the school to be nothing more than propoganda to instill a sense of pride without showing the nation's mistakes. The last chapter "The Coming Revolt of the Guards" should get everyone thinking abou their place in society. Zinn cites his sources unlike standard texts, so you can check the truth in the work. It is great and makes a great gift for those interested in history, I have already ordered copies for family members.
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Summary: A well wrought appeal to emotions, but hum-drum history
Review: A People's history of the US was a good book to read when I wanted to exercise my outrage, but not if I wanted to KNOW something intellectually. I hesitate to say that it was propaganda, but it borders. Now, don't get me wrong, its an important book, and its a good eye-opener, but I will argue that as History, its only middle of the road. Zinn tends to omit too much from his quotations, leaving me wondering what's being left out. Also, one of the reasons I liked the book, is another reason its bad History: it panders to your emotions. It seeks, not to tell you the truth, but to insite your emotions through the truth. A small distintction, but important. I recomend this book for someone who only read the books in school, but if you want better history, look elsewhere. Check out LIES MY TEACHER TOLD ME for more on good and bad history...
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Summary: Challenges traditional highschool thought
Review: I am a high school junior in an Advanced Placement U.S. History class. Our teacher assigns reading from this book in addition to the textbook. I find that whatever the textbook maintains, Zinn challenges it almost every time. What a refreshing history lesson!
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Summary: I have been forced to buy this book......
Review: Well, I need this book for my Ethnic Studies 110 class at San Francisco State University. And it is interesting to read history books because it just like story books to me.
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Summary: A different and interesting look at American History
Review: Basically, this book provides a look into American History which will not be found in schools. Zinn tells history from the viewpoint of the oppressed and shows how America is not as great as most school books make it out to be. This should be a requiered complimentary book to the normal US History text. It is a great reading for those interested in looking into America's dark side, as well as for those interested in finding out more about "radical" ideas. Although not very similar, read Noam Chomsky to find out more about US foreign policy, or other Zinn books.
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Summary: Zinn shows readers what America truly is.
Review: Howard Zinn, in this book, has truly gone where Americans are afraid to go. To the truth. Zinn has made a point of making the unheard voices of American history heard. I applaud him for that. Definately a necessary read for all students and citizens.
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