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| A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present (Modern Classics) (Modern Classics) | 
 enlarge | Author: Howard Zinn
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Category: Book
List Price: £18.95
Buy Used: £11.92
You Save: £7.03 (37%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 32759
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 768
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5 x 1.3
ISBN: 0060838655
Dewey Decimal Number: 973
EAN: 9780060838652
ASIN: 0060838655
Publication Date: August 1, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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| Customer Reviews:
The new world - from a new perspective September 29, 2008
The opening chapter of Zinn's book is an essay on the political content of history. With Christopher Columbus as the case in point, Zinn shows that by choosing to emphasise certain facts, and downplay others, mainstream historians - in fact, all historians - stake out a political position. Even, or perhaps especially, when they would say they are being 'neutral' or 'objective'. In history and, by implication, the present; perspective matters.
That is why Zinn tells the story of the United States, not through the eyes of its statesman, great financiers, generals or industrialists, but through the eyes of ordinary people. That is to say: the displaced Native Americans, the enslaved Black people, the women struggling for the vote, the exploited working class, the civil rights movements, and the victims of US foreign policy during the Cold War.
This is remarkable. The popular narrative of the United States as land of liberty and opportunity is stripped bare, and torn down. In its place: a nation of contradictions and tensions, built on class war, ethnic cleansing, and manifold other repressions.
Now, in fact, a similar story could be told about a great many countries in the world. One reason it is particularly worth listening to Zinn's story about the US, is that the myth of the US, and its emancipatory principles, is so strong. As the premier world power of the present day, it does us well to understand where that power comes from.
Most important of all, this is neither a bleak book, nor a preachy one. It is a great work of narrative history, and as such lays as much emphasis on the courage and achievements of ordinary people, as it does upon their suffering. A great piece of writing. A book for our times, courageous and humane.
Excellent overview of 1492 - 1992 from the bottom, up September 6, 2006
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Howard Zinn has performed an impressive feat in this single volume history book, covering as it does almost 500 years worth of U.S. history, written, not from the Great Man's point of view (i.e. history only being concerned with leaders like George Washington or John Kennedy) but from the "people's", that is, what history was like to actually live through for the vast majority of the population concerned, for example, how the Indians were treated after Columbus, how the slaves faired for 400 years.
Inevitably, a single volume cannot do much more than provide a general sweep through 500 tumultuous years, so this book should be treated as a springboard to more specific works, using its bibliography. For example, want to know more about the Indians? Read Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. How about the Cold War era? Try Noam Chomsky's Deterring Democracy.
Some might try and argue that a book such as A People's History presents, not a Great Man view of history but rather a Great Theory (or Grand Narrative) of history; some people might prefer to view history as being nothing more than a random series of events with no structure whatsoever - if you are one of these, then this book is not for you (or might change your concept of history). As a starting point for a student with a general interest, though, Howard Zinn cannot be praised highly enough for this bold and defiant work.
Jaw-dropping stuff May 20, 2002
36 out of 37 found this review helpful
I found this book a fascinating and accessible read; it makes you want to read excerpts to anyone who happens to be in the same room as you. Zinn does not claim to be unbiased; in fact, he freely admits that he has written the book from the viewpoint of ordinary American people.Zinn clearly expounds his theory on American government and its control over American society and how this control dates right back to the founding fathers. Zinn explores how many different groups have been manipulated and exploited: native American indians, negros, the working class, draftees, women, farmers, unionists, the middle class, etc., etc. Further, he argues that the purpose of American foreign policy is, and has been, to protect and expand America’s commercial interests behind a mask of protecting democracy and freedom. Zinn explores America’s military interference in Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and others. This is one history book which is not in the least turgid and I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in history, politics or people.
 Great book, highlights all the overlooked controversies. January 10, 2002
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
Zinn does very well in exposing the details of America's historical roots, highlighting controversial issues, explaining opposing theories and giving a balanced view of the conflicts that have ravaged its' history. However, the first few chapters, in which we learn of the blood-thirsty nature of the Spanish 'Discovery', seem more intent on telling the reader how 'un-biased' this book is. All in all though, a recommended read for any history buffs.
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