THE CLASSIC NATIONAL BESTSELLER“A wonderful, splendid book—a book that should be read by every American, student or otherwise, who wants to understand his country, its true history, and its hope for the future.” –Howard FastHistorian Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States chronicles American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official narrative taught in schools—with its … up, throwing out the official narrative taught in schools—with its emphasis on great men in high places—to focus on the street, the home, and the workplace.
Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, it 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, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. As Zinn shows, many of our country’s greatest battles—the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women’s rights, racial equality—were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance.
Covering Christopher Columbus’s arrival through President Clinton’s first term, A People’s History of the United States features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. This edition also includes an introduction by Anthony Arnove, who wrote, directed, and produced The People Speak with Zinn and who coauthored, with Zinn, Voices of a People’s History of the United States.
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When we read about the history of America, it often starts with Columbus arriving in 1492. Howard Zinn’s book starts before that and reviews several of the critical issues which have happened, but from a different perspective. Original insights, observations and interpretations. I HIGHLY recommend this book to all who want to learn more about some of the ‘major events’ (the War for Independence, slavery, wars against Native Americans, etc) in American history.
Reveals our nation’s foibles in stark terms. A must read. When a current-day snake oil salesman, an accidental President, says he will “Make America Great Again”, he should be forced to read Zinn’s take on this issue.
Sobering look at the oppressive history of the United States.
I would have given it no stars if that were an option. Mr. Zinn is an ahistorical polemicist, who see’s history though a glass darkened to opaque by his socialism. As someone who’s read a fair amount of history, world and US, there is always something to find fault with in any countries history,
the best history book around
Zinn takes a proctologist’s view of America. He dwells on, exaggerates and paints-as-typical all her faults. He dismisses, downgrades or leaves out most of her accomplishments. One gets the impression that Zinn thinks the world would be a better place had America never been. It’s a tragedy that this screed has been used far too often as a history text in America’s high schools.
Absolutely the best overview of American history. Zinn’s loss will be felt for years to come.
This is a true classic, anyone with and interest in US history should read this epic work. This work is steeped in the history that is not taught in schools, the history of the role of regular people in our past.
It is very refreshing, as well as enlightening, to understand our nation’s history without it being sanitized for consumption by schoolchildren of all ages. Once I entered college, this was the book from which we studied, and I have continued to read passages as I’ve grown older.
Garbage
Everyone interested in history should read at least once.
A truer history of America than any schoolbook.
Great reality check
One of the best
True history; a must read for every American.
This is the history book we should all have read in high school. Instead of generals and presidents and battles and conquests and manifest destinies and taking dominion over the earth and subjugating native populations, this book focuses on the brave people who placed themselves at great risk to win things we now take for granted: equality, a living wage, collective bargaining, universal suffrage, civil rights, and legal protections. (Of course, these are not equal for all of us yet, which is why it is so important to read and understand The People’s History; only those who know the story of the struggle can continue the struggle!) A politician risks nothing but reelection when fighting for rights, but a common person risks everything, including life itself. This is the story of the common persons who risked all. Conservative members of The Establishment will not be happy with this book; liberal progressives will love it.
This is an important historical book. It tells the reader a different view of history from the commonly taught American History courses.
Best U.S. history book ever written.
Must read for any student of American history. Brilliant concept and extremely well written
This is what they don’t teach in schools