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A review by kimberlyjerger
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
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.