iffer's review against another edition
3.0
This is a solid, accessible, engaging (especially for a not "pop" non-fiction book) history book. It's a good survey of several instances of injustice, and populations'/communities', espeically marginalized ones, that joined in solidarity to effect change. I found this both a saddening and hopeful book. In addition to mourning for all those who have suffered in silence over the years, I couldn't help but see how much history really does repeat itself (not for the better); yet Zinn also shows the triumphs of various marginalized groups, especially when they come together, and points to this as a long-odds, but optimistic path to the future.
As with any history book, or even any new article, the author curates what he includes, as well as the spin that he puts on the events. I appreciate that Howard Zinn is upfront about his biases as well as his motivations for writing this book. However, at times I was frustrated that the work often felt intentionally created as a persuasive, rather than expository text (even if this was the author's intent). There would be compelling examples from history as well as the arts and personal accounts produced at the time, but instead of letting the reader draw his/her own conclusion, Zinn unsubtly uses section summary paragraphs to support his thesis: those in power cultivate a false sense of national identity and patriotism to prevent unified opposition by the majority while committing immoral actions to maintain the minority's power and profit.
Less obvious attempts at persuasio is a personal preference of mine, though, with nonfiction, and not necessarily a detraction. It is similar to how I prefer documentaries in which the information is laid out and only briefly summarized (even though I realize that presentation of information is also vital in persuasion).
As with any history book, or even any new article, the author curates what he includes, as well as the spin that he puts on the events. I appreciate that Howard Zinn is upfront about his biases as well as his motivations for writing this book. However, at times I was frustrated that the work often felt intentionally created as a persuasive, rather than expository text (even if this was the author's intent). There would be compelling examples from history as well as the arts and personal accounts produced at the time, but instead of letting the reader draw his/her own conclusion, Zinn unsubtly uses section summary paragraphs to support his thesis: those in power cultivate a false sense of national identity and patriotism to prevent unified opposition by the majority while committing immoral actions to maintain the minority's power and profit.
Less obvious attempts at persuasio is a personal preference of mine, though, with nonfiction, and not necessarily a detraction. It is similar to how I prefer documentaries in which the information is laid out and only briefly summarized (even though I realize that presentation of information is also vital in persuasion).
adambwriter's review against another edition
5.0
Une sagesse amère vaut mieux qu'une douce folie.
This is Book 3 for my #TBR2022RBR challenge. I’ll link to an actual review on the blog sometime soon.
https://roofbeamreader.com/2022/02/28/a-peoples-history-of-the-united-states/
This is Book 3 for my #TBR2022RBR challenge. I’ll link to an actual review on the blog sometime soon.
https://roofbeamreader.com/2022/02/28/a-peoples-history-of-the-united-states/
xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.0
This book focuses on United States history. I love history, and am generally not a fan of United States history, so I wasn't sure I would make it through this book without being bored to absolute insanity. I have read a lot of reviews about this book, and it has been discussed a few times in this Non-Fiction book group that I am part of. Based on the comments, I was expecting this to be pretty much the worst US History book ever written. The author did his research into each event/time period he wrote about, and I appreciated that. The writing style was good, not boring like I assumed. I will not say that this was my favorite history book, or that I loved it, but I did like it. I thought there were a lot of really good points in it, and it was nice to see a book that wasn't written based solely on an idea of American nationalism where the people did nothing wrong ever. I would say that this book offers a nice supplemental perspective to some of the current history textbooks.
A lot of the things that I was personally taught in elementary and high school were VERY whitewashed. Everything centered around these AMAZING white men, who traveled to this continent and perpetrated genocide and subjugation. Of course, I respect the work that was put into creating the Constitution and other documents that formed a country that I was born and raised in. I certainly would not know how to go about forming a country. There were a lot of brave people who stood up for what they believed in, whether it was wrong or right, and gave their lives for their beliefs. I have people in my ancestry (which I have had a great time researching) that have fought in the American Revolution and Civil War on both sides of the spectrum, and cannot pretend to know their reasons or circumstances. I think that it is a shame that students (at least where I went to school) were not told all the details about the genocide of Native Americans, and are told about the skirmishes, wars, and murders as though Native people weren't well within their right. I think it is a shame that we were not taught about servants in the White House being black, or about key figures in history being mixed race. People are really just DETERMINED that forced labor and inequality were not used to build this country, and that is really an obtuse thing to think. People will never learn or grow as people, or as a collective country, without reviewing all of the facts of history as they are, not how we wish they were or want them to be.
A lot of the things that I was personally taught in elementary and high school were VERY whitewashed. Everything centered around these AMAZING white men, who traveled to this continent and perpetrated genocide and subjugation. Of course, I respect the work that was put into creating the Constitution and other documents that formed a country that I was born and raised in. I certainly would not know how to go about forming a country. There were a lot of brave people who stood up for what they believed in, whether it was wrong or right, and gave their lives for their beliefs. I have people in my ancestry (which I have had a great time researching) that have fought in the American Revolution and Civil War on both sides of the spectrum, and cannot pretend to know their reasons or circumstances. I think that it is a shame that students (at least where I went to school) were not told all the details about the genocide of Native Americans, and are told about the skirmishes, wars, and murders as though Native people weren't well within their right. I think it is a shame that we were not taught about servants in the White House being black, or about key figures in history being mixed race. People are really just DETERMINED that forced labor and inequality were not used to build this country, and that is really an obtuse thing to think. People will never learn or grow as people, or as a collective country, without reviewing all of the facts of history as they are, not how we wish they were or want them to be.
kimberlyjerger's review against another edition
3.0
*3
I was first introduced to this book the summer before junior year of high school, in completing my summer assignment for AP U.S. History (thank you, Ms. Im!). As part of this assignment, we were required to read a few chapters and answer accompanying questions. I remember my shock, reading the first chapter of A People’s History, where Columbus, a man I had been taught to revere and celebrate, was kicked off his golden pedestal. It was truly eye-opening, and altered the way I thought about history—namely, I started questioning what I had been taught. At its heart, this is what Zinn’s masterpiece is about—recognizing that history is not monolithic, with one narrative, and to question history as we think we know it.
I admire Zinn’s desire to tell history from a perspective not only forgotten, but one purposefully illigitimized, disregarded, and diminished by those who write the history (i.e. the winners). At the same time, this book was perhaps unnecessarily long and dense, likely isolating its target audience, and those who might benefit the most from its content.
Zinn’s critical analysis of American history, from its colonial origins to the war on terrorism, centers upon the coalition between those in power (politically, economically, culturally), suppressing class conflict through small, strategic concessions and rousing nationalistic sentiments. Through anecdotes and stories, some classics, others little-known, Zinn expresses the necessity for people to organize to enact any meaningful change in the United States.
Definitely a book to read at least once in a lifetime, but the density and length made it a bit difficult to get through.
I was first introduced to this book the summer before junior year of high school, in completing my summer assignment for AP U.S. History (thank you, Ms. Im!). As part of this assignment, we were required to read a few chapters and answer accompanying questions. I remember my shock, reading the first chapter of A People’s History, where Columbus, a man I had been taught to revere and celebrate, was kicked off his golden pedestal. It was truly eye-opening, and altered the way I thought about history—namely, I started questioning what I had been taught. At its heart, this is what Zinn’s masterpiece is about—recognizing that history is not monolithic, with one narrative, and to question history as we think we know it.
I admire Zinn’s desire to tell history from a perspective not only forgotten, but one purposefully illigitimized, disregarded, and diminished by those who write the history (i.e. the winners). At the same time, this book was perhaps unnecessarily long and dense, likely isolating its target audience, and those who might benefit the most from its content.
Zinn’s critical analysis of American history, from its colonial origins to the war on terrorism, centers upon the coalition between those in power (politically, economically, culturally), suppressing class conflict through small, strategic concessions and rousing nationalistic sentiments. Through anecdotes and stories, some classics, others little-known, Zinn expresses the necessity for people to organize to enact any meaningful change in the United States.
Definitely a book to read at least once in a lifetime, but the density and length made it a bit difficult to get through.
emmarj's review against another edition
A People's History of the United States presupposes that you have also been educated under the common American system, that you have been raised up in American culture, and thus you won't be needing to hear our history from the side of military leaders, billionaires, or politicians. You've been hearing that your whole life.
This text is instead a telling of American history from the side of the working and middle classes. It goes out of its way to point out hypocrisies and outright lies because someone has to. AND IT IS HEAVY. This was not an easy read. In fact, this might be the most emotionally taxing thing I've ever read. I consider myself a fairly well-read person. I read the news, I keep up on politics, I follow world affairs. There were many things in my education that never made sense to me, things I never fully understood (because I was only presented the barest glimmer of facts), and, come to find out, many things I had never learned of at all.
I certainly never learned about the multiple rebellions and uprisings of the people in the United States. One day, unions existed. Suddenly, women could vote. MLK said he had a dream and then Black people had rights. Americans didn't like the war in Vietnam so it ended. That's what my history books said. My jaw hit the floor when I read about polls taken in the 70s, 80s, 90s that showed the American people supported taxing the rich, universal health care, guaranteed employment, etc. Y'all. I thought this was new. The American people have wanted this for 40 years and we're sitting here talking about pornstar payouts. For real?
I think these days most of us are pretty angry and this book will reaffirm your right to be angry. That's all I think I'm willing to put into this review for the good of myself and my family. If you think you've been fed a load of lies and half-truths, you should read this too. It will give you a lot of things to think about.
Five stars for required reading.
This text is instead a telling of American history from the side of the working and middle classes. It goes out of its way to point out hypocrisies and outright lies because someone has to. AND IT IS HEAVY. This was not an easy read. In fact, this might be the most emotionally taxing thing I've ever read. I consider myself a fairly well-read person. I read the news, I keep up on politics, I follow world affairs. There were many things in my education that never made sense to me, things I never fully understood (because I was only presented the barest glimmer of facts), and, come to find out, many things I had never learned of at all.
I certainly never learned about the multiple rebellions and uprisings of the people in the United States. One day, unions existed. Suddenly, women could vote. MLK said he had a dream and then Black people had rights. Americans didn't like the war in Vietnam so it ended. That's what my history books said. My jaw hit the floor when I read about polls taken in the 70s, 80s, 90s that showed the American people supported taxing the rich, universal health care, guaranteed employment, etc. Y'all. I thought this was new. The American people have wanted this for 40 years and we're sitting here talking about pornstar payouts. For real?
I think these days most of us are pretty angry and this book will reaffirm your right to be angry. That's all I think I'm willing to put into this review for the good of myself and my family. If you think you've been fed a load of lies and half-truths, you should read this too. It will give you a lot of things to think about.
Five stars for required reading.
ben_salad's review against another edition
4.0
A staggering and ambitious undertaking. Surprisingly comprehensive given its scope, still it functions best as a (700 page!) primer or index for further reading.
It has some glaring omissions - (one paragraph on stonewall and LGBT struggle I mean come on dude... ), Zinn acknowledges these and other omissions in the afterword of my 2003 edition.
The book does well to concede its bias right away. It situates itself in opposition to the "ordinary" and elite-focused bias of historical writing and offers a strong rejection of the "common knowledge" narratives of US history.
Give it a read if you've got a while. The book can comfortably be read in sections if you don't want to power through.
It has some glaring omissions - (one paragraph on stonewall and LGBT struggle I mean come on dude... ), Zinn acknowledges these and other omissions in the afterword of my 2003 edition.
The book does well to concede its bias right away. It situates itself in opposition to the "ordinary" and elite-focused bias of historical writing and offers a strong rejection of the "common knowledge" narratives of US history.
Give it a read if you've got a while. The book can comfortably be read in sections if you don't want to power through.
transitionaljoint's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
saraishelafs's review against another edition
4.0
I have heard a lot about this book and the author is clear that he is viewing history from the perspective of the affected people. That means that we are shown history from the eyes of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, the revolutionary and civil wars from the eyes of slaves, the industrial revolution from the view of workers. The book is both frustrating and enlightening.