I just started "A People's History of the United States" it is very eye-opening.

[white_wolf]

I'm just on the third chapter, but I've already learned a lot. It is very enlightening to see just how bad it was for the poor in early America, and the fact that John Locke's Fundamental Constitution had elements of Feudalism in it, really weakens his image as hero of freedom. I was just wondering what you all thought of it?

[AnOhioan]

1. Thought is was a great read...a book I would recommend to any and all

[banned from Kos]

2. Locke is the Father of Liberalism -- Madison/Jefferson followed

You are a really voracious learner, WW.


My advice - don't jump so fast...

[ThomWV]

7. +1 and you can go read Hobbs to see the father of Conservatism

[Taverner]

3. Excellent book. I have read it 5 times.

[WilliamPitt]

4. You'll never look at things the same way.

it's that good, and that important.

[RoccoR5955]

5. Howard ZInn is a saint, and...

I preach from that book on Fridays.
(As a Pastafarian, it's our holy day)

[Exultant Democracy]

12. +1 I love everything about this post :-)

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Locke in some ways is a bridge

His ideas on government were revolutionary, even heretical. As tl Zinn..must read.

[alphafemale]

8. I read "Lies My Teacher Told Me"

a few years back. That was pretty amazing.

http://www.amazon.com/Lies-My-Teacher-Told-Everything/dp/0684818868

[arcane1]

10. Great minds post alike! :)

I recently finished his more recent book "Lies Across America" about misleading historical sites and markers. Very very good but I think I like "LMTTM" better :)

[arcane1]

9. Great book! And another great companion to it:

is "Lies My Teacher Told Me" by James Loewen.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. This is the most important history book there is.

I am glad you are reading it. It will change how you look at history forever, and I have no doubt it will influence how you look at current events too. It did for me.

I know that I was shocked at so many things that I had never been taught in school, both high school and college. But then again, I always hated history because it was all about wars and the power players. I was enthralled by learning how the common people lived and were treated.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Ah you were taught elite history!

Zinn is part of the New History movement...there are more where he threads.

:-)

White Cargo, on indentures...is a hard but good read, in the same school as it were.

[Cirque du So-What]

13. I cannot heap enough praise upon that work

although I recommend it at every opportunity.

As you read, you will become aware that the version of history you were taught in school (even college-level) is the 'revisionist' version and that Howard Zinn tells the unvarnished truth. He was absolutely right in focusing on class struggle, as it's a common thread running the entire length of our history. It strengthened my resolve to fight for justice and against corpocracy.

[orpupilofnature57]

16. The NWO is at hand ,We need to expose the facilitators , and oust

the lot of them.

[cilla4progress]

15. What resonated most for me

was the union history, and how it is bound up with the travails (and successes) of the middle class. Were it not for unions, there would BE no middle class. Unions = middle class.

[scarletwoman]

17. Kick, because I hope that anyone who may not know about this book will see your OP.

And rec because: good for you that you're reading it! :)

sw

[orpupilofnature57]

18. " You Cant be Neutral " was great.

[Luminous Animal]

19. Indeed it is! I used that as my daughter's textbook to teach her U.S. history

when I home schooled her.

[southmost]

20. Reading that book is fundamental

great source of info