Colorful yet Scholarly, Howard Zinn's classic chronicles the American epic story from the bottom up, throwing out the official version of history taught in schools -- with its emphasis on "great" men in high places -- to focus on the street, the home, and the workplace. Many of our country's greatest battles -- the fight for a fair wage, an eight-hour work day, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, woman's rights, racial equality -- were carried on at the grass-roots level. Covering through President Clinton's first term, A People's History of the United States tells the stories of the men and women involved with power and passion.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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"Professor Zinn writes with an enthusiasm rarely encountered in the leaden prose of academic history, and his text is studded with telling quotations from labor leaders, war resisters and fugitive slaves. There are vivid descriptions of events that are usually ignored, such as the great railroad strike of 1877 and the brutal suppression of the Philippine independence movement at the turn of this century. Professor Zinn's chapter on Vietnam--bringing to life once again the free-fire zones, secret bombings, massacres and cover-ups--should be required reading for a new generation of students now facing conscription."-- Eric Foner, "New York Times Book Review""Zinn has written a brilliant and moving history of the American people from the point of view of those who have been exploited politically and economically and whose plight has been largely omitted from most histories. Extending its coverage...the book is an excellent antidote to establishment history. Seldom have quotations been so effectively used; the stories of blacks, women, Indians, and poor laborers of all nationalities are told in their own words. While the book is precise enough to please specialists, it should satisfy any adult reader." -- "Library Journal""One of the most important books I have ever read in a long life of reading...It's 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 Fast
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Back Cover
This powerful survey was written as a response to a widespread demand for a serious general history of the United States from the time of Columbus to the present, written from a radical, non-establishment point of view. It was intended as a counterweight to the many conventional American histories which chronicle the country’s story through the activities of political leaders, heroes and saviours of the nation. Here instead is history ‘from the bottom up’. Powerful, fluent and argumentative, its vigorous reinterpretation of the American achievement, and its cost, has provoked debate amongst historians and laymen alike since it first appeared in 1980.
At that point its coverage ended, necessarily, with the 1970s. Now Howard Zinn has returned to his text, and in this eagerly awaited Second Edition has fully updated it with substantial coverage of the Carter, Reagan and Bush years, and with an Afterword on the Clinton presidency.
"Zinn has written a brilliant and moving history of the American people from the point of view of those who have been exploited politically and economically and whose plight has been largely omitted from most histories. …the book is an excellent antidote to establishment history. Seldom have quotations been so effectively used; the stories of blacks, women, Indians, and poor laborers of all nationalities are told in their own words. While the book is precise enough to please specialists, it should satisfy any adult reader."
LIBRARY JOURNAL (US)
"…he tells an important and neglected part of the truth"
Marcus Cunliffe, THE GUARDIAN
"…he succeeds admirably in his second objective of ‘disclosing those hidden episodes of the past when, even if in brief flashes, people showed their ability to resist, to join together, occasionally to win’. He may not be able to tell the story of America from dozens of conflicting perspectives…but he does reveal much about the people who are usually missing from American history textbooks: the Arawaks, Cherokees, the English settlers who fled starvation and oppression in the early colonies to live with the Indians, the landless Hudson River farmers, the Negro soldiers of several wars, the Wobblies, women workers, sharecroppers, Big Bill Haywood, Mother Jones, Cubans, Filipinos and Vietnamese."
Charles Glass, NEW STATESMAN
"Professor Zinn writes with an enthusiasm rarely encountered in the leaden prose of academic history, and his text is studded with telling quotations from labor leaders, war resisters and fugitive slaves."
Eric Foner, NEW YORK BOOK REVIEW
Until his retirement, Howard Zinn was Professor of Political Science at Boston University, and his book – passionate, critical, even disrespectful as it can be – remains the work of a scholar as well as a radical.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
How do you simplify such a great book in such a short space? I am not a great reader, something has to grab me and say read me and keep reading me. I am about 60 pages from finishing this and its an amazing tale. It's not just history but pure story telling. An amazing account. It tells the the story from the other side of town. The effect decisions made by richer more powerful people had on the less fortunate. I can't begin to précis this work as its its truly outstanding. It will make your mind draw parallels with your own country and change your mind about how you have been told things really happened. Incredible!
Buy and enjoy now!
Buy and enjoy now!
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although I have read a few histories of the United States this one had the scales falling from my eyes and smashing to smithereens on almost every page.
Never have I read an historical account that exposes the self-serving, elitist and hypocritical actions of government in such a brutal and frank way. That it happens to be about the USA is almost irrelevant given that most countries are guilty of the same hypocrisies and double standards that the US has been - certainly the UK has over its long history.
A book that leaves you shocked and angry about past and present deeds and embarrassed about the status quo.
It is a 'must read' book - even for non-Americans.
Never have I read an historical account that exposes the self-serving, elitist and hypocritical actions of government in such a brutal and frank way. That it happens to be about the USA is almost irrelevant given that most countries are guilty of the same hypocrisies and double standards that the US has been - certainly the UK has over its long history.
A book that leaves you shocked and angry about past and present deeds and embarrassed about the status quo.
It is a 'must read' book - even for non-Americans.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
a brilliant read from start to finish. written with authority and care to engage the reader. superb.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
It was a gift.
I haven't read it.
But my wife said that is ok. Not exactly what she expected.
Just check another review
But my wife said that is ok. Not exactly what she expected.
Just check another review
Published 28 days ago by Pen
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book to be read in all schools
The book was recommended. I did not really want to read it, thought it was one of those boring books tha talk of ''great nations and heroic deeds, etc'' but OI was wrong. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Miso Andjus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding
A must have book for every thinking individual who wishes to expand views and knowledge on American and International History
A rare value for money regarding its quality and... Read more
A rare value for money regarding its quality and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Markos Thomadakis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice one
The book was what I expected. Of course of post service is not very good because of sending it as a simple package but since I got my book I feel good.
Published 2 months ago by Eri
5.0 out of 5 stars
First class book
Excellent account of the history of the U.S. The author has put laid bare many of the myths expoused by previous historians regarding the U. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Frank Bluesman
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best books ever written.
So dense, and yet so readable. A view of history from the side of the oppressed. Well worth your time.
Published 3 months ago by Henry C. Archibald
5.0 out of 5 stars
great
great for uni work - used to get primary sources, and very interesting and easy to read. would recommend to read
Published 3 months ago by Kate Thornbury
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good survey of US history
...and a salutary reminder of how consistently the US has been on the wrong side of arguments and wars. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jezza
4.0 out of 5 stars
We, the people
From a European perspective this is an insightful history of the United States. It starts from the first appearance of Europeans and has an emphasis on the people, how the people... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mac McAleer
4.0 out of 5 stars
An bottom up view of American historical power
I bought this book on a whim, although I was aware of its legacy and support from the American "left". Read more
Published 10 months ago by Richard W. Girdwood
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