Books : A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present (P.S.)

• Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, Revised and Updated Edition
• A People's History of American Empire
• Voices of A People's History of the United States
• The Twentieth Century: A People's History
• Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media
• see more

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• Humanities - New & Used Textbooks - Custom Stores - Specialty Stores - Books - General AAS
• Social Sciences - New & Used Textbooks - Custom Stores - Specialty Stores - Books - Political Ideologies
• Social Sciences - New & Used Textbooks - Custom Stores - Specialty Stores - Books - General AAS
• New & Used Textbooks - Custom Stores - Specialty Stores - Books - General AAS

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.

This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

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.

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.

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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 ... Read More

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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 ... Read More

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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!

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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!