Has anyone read: A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

[RethugAssKicker]

I've heard it is life changing? Is that so. Tell me a little about it please.

Thanks

[arcane1]

1. repeatedly

that, and Loewen's "Lies My Teacher Told Me"

the two books are perfect together

[RethugAssKicker]

4. So , tell me about it.....

[defiant1]

6. "Lies" is a fantastic book as well....

d1

[flakey_foont]

19. I totally agree

both are must reads!

[Melody Watson]

31. just finished it

I was sad to see that Jefferson was sexist and was sad about the Constitution only being written to get poor farmers to fight on their revolutionist's behalf.

However, the part about indentured servants and black slaves teaming up for slave revolts was kinda awesome. I had never heard that in my history class and it made me feel better about humanity in genera after reading itl.

[arcane1]

32. indeed!

and it is far more of an interesting, relevant, and refreshing history, than reading about nothing but successive presidential administrations

[goddess40]

2. I've been thinking about it

I'll check back here to see what others thought about it.

I saw the documentary about Zinn, wow!

[Exiled in America]

11. What is that documentary called?? I want to see it

[goddess40]

24. Howard Zinn - You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train

They have it at Amazon and I'm guessing Barnes and Noble would have it too. I saw it on TV about a week ago but I couldn't even tell you what station had it as I found it by luck.

[a la izquierda]

3. It's a wonderful book...

the first 100 pages will change your perception of the founding of this country.

[defiant1]

5. Well....

It's the history of the United States as told by the people you generally don't hear from i.e. slaves, migrant workers etc. Mr. Zinn goes through our history and uses writings from various people who were affected, by the changes, the most.

As for life changing, I'm not so sure. It's a fascinating book, though, and it will definitely give you insight into people you might not know about or would have thought to ask about.

Highly recommended.

d1

[bonzotex]

7. It's excellent, mind-opening if not life changing.

Very good history of the US as seen from the POV of the underclasses, workers, slaves, Native Americans. Zinn also paints a good picture of how American elites have and will manipulate the economy and politics to gain and hold power.

Highly recommended.

[proud patriot]

8. I've read it twice

It made me understand the hopefulness of the people's movements
throughout history .

I learned about my Irish/Scottish American Heritage
I learned about my Native American ancestors . I learned
about suffrage and about labor laws and union movements .

Yes it changed my life , It made my love history , where as
before people's history it bored me .

[Exiled in America]

9. Oh I am happy to tell you about it!

First, a disclaimer:

A People's History is, well, a history book. So right up front I will tell you that I have not yet read every page cover to cover. The parts I haven't yet read I listened to on tape, narrated by Matt Damon. And in that way I've probably read the whole thing. I've also ready Declarations of Independence: Cross-examining American Ideologies by Zinn and that book was earth-shattering for me at that time in my life.

But about People's History - it is unlike any other history book I've ever read, because of the fact that it tells the history from the perspective of the PEOPLE. So instead of reading the history of Columbus the way it was taught to me (and probably you) in school, Zinn instead tells the history of Columbus as seen through the eyes of native americans. Instead of the history of the industrial revolution as a story of the triumphant advance of technology, Zinn tells the story of the history of organized labor and the bitter struggles they undertook.

Howard Zinn was the author that first made me realize how much my high school history books were largely propaganda and a story with a clear agenda written from the perspective of the powerful, not the people. Now, not all history books out there are like that, but certainly the ones they gave to me in school were. Reading since - and since then reading other expert historians, was like reading a completely parallel history of our country, only their accounts were far more expertly supported and well documented than my school books had ever been.

Should be read by all.

[RethugAssKicker]

13. Thanks... I must get it...

Sounds like something we all should read!

[mom cat]

23. Absolutely.

[Codeblue]

10. In Poli Sci class

I read most of the beginning and some parts between beginning and end for a Poli Sci class I had. It really made me change my outlook on the way this entire country has been run from the outset.

Frankly, for some reason my veiws about Jefferson or my respect for him has never changed, but Zinn really made me think twice about the other Founders...

[RethugAssKicker]

18. Read it in school??

How old is the book?

[Mass]

27. 1980, I think.

[Codeblue]

30. In College

Yeah I'm sure it's fairly old. I wish I still had it so I could tell you the date for sure.

[ngant17]

12. Zinn's books and audio tapes

I think his "People's History" is the best, or at least the most thoroughly researched book. I'm still planning on getting the Zinn audio tapes when I get the extra cash to buy them.

I use it often to challenge established perceptions of events in US history. You really can't argue against the facts, it's all there if you can just handle the truth.

[acmejack]

14. Terrific book.

I enjoyed it thoroughly as did my pool guy who I gave it too. His brother liked it a lot, as well. I have no idea who has it now, but it is easy to read and very enlightening. It is a history book written from the perspective of the victims, the vanquished, vice the victors, which is quite unique.

[Bitter Cup]

15. Yes, should be required reading in high schools

but I doubt it ever would be...telling history from the viewpoint of those who were not conquering just isn't in fashion.

[Mass]

16. The book is on line here, if you want to look at it and decide if you want

to buy it.

http://historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html

IMHO, it should be a required reading in 12th grade.

[RethugAssKicker]

21. Thanks... I'l l check it out... but it sounds like something

I need to buy and put on my shelves!

Required reading in high school?.... Never by this govt!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

17. I LOVED chris columbus. And from there, my universe changed.

yes, it is a VERY effective book.

[cspanlovr]

20. Yes, I've read it cover to cover, and loved it. I feel so knowledgeable

about the country's history now. Just finished "The Birth of America" by Polk, a really great book.

[Disturbed]

22. I have read it and reference to it often.

It is instructive about America and relevant to now.

[WCGreen]

25. I think, and I know this will get some eyebrows to be lifted...

That Zinn did a much better job explaining the real history the further away he was from it...

He was able, in a lot of ways, able to inject the way people approached life and did not overlay modern sensibilities over past actions...

But when he hit around the depression, he was too wrapped up personally to divorce himself ...

I imagine any historian would have the same problem with not putting his own personal spin on events...

Having said all that, I would, if I taught history, require his book to be read along side the official text book...

[megatherium]

26. Yep. It's every Indian massacre and labor uprising you've never heard of.

But it's quite eye-opening. Maybe not life changing. A bit thin near the end (not much about feminism, nothing about gay liberation).

[ComerPerro]

28. Was a text for my high school AP history, lol

[patrice]

29. You realize history is about more than the "famous" people who

make it into the text books - a lot more!

[rinsd]

33. Possibly the best propaganda piece put out by the left ever.

[UTUSN]

34. Yip. Most of it is totally MOVING regarding the suffering inflicted on

the Native Americans, Blacks, women, other minorities, labor groups, and more. It is not a personality-based narrative. It is eco-cultural- based, the effects of broad policy decisions on masses of people. Once he gets past the Civil War, the repeated theme that there is "no difference" between the ruling political factions or parties starts to sound like NADER. He is VERY hard on CARTER and CLINTON for being the tools of the big market forces. The chapter on the THEFT of the Southwest from Mexico is unflinching. The chapter on the Vietnam war seem anti-climatic since most of it has been discussed for 30 years. Overall, it IS life-changing.