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A People's History of the United States

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'A People's History of the United States' by Howard Zinn presents American history through the eyes of the marginalized and oppressed, such as indigenous peoples, slaves, women, workers, and the poor. Zinn challenges the traditional narrative of American history by highlighting the struggles and perspectives of those often overlooked in mainstream historical accounts. The book provides a comprehensive and alternative view of historical events, offering a critical analysis of the foundations of the United States and shedding light on lesser-known rebellions and movements that have shaped the nation.

Zinn's writing style in 'A People's History of the United States' is described as engaging, readable, and well-sourced. Readers find the book to be informative, eye-opening, and thought-provoking, as it delves into the darker aspects of American history that are often omitted or sugar-coated in traditional textbooks. Through detailed accounts and historical facts, Zinn offers readers a different perspective on key events and figures in American history, encouraging critical thinking and a reevaluation of commonly held beliefs about the nation's past.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by clarity and accessibility, with a focus on emotional engagement and personal experiences to highlight historical injustices.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative spans five centuries and centers on the perspectives of the oppressed, highlighting their struggles and actions against systemic injustices.

Setting:

The setting covers a broad time frame from the late 15th century to modern times, reflecting on the evolving socio-political landscape of the United States.

Pacing:

The pacing is swift, presenting a multitude of events and figures, which may lack depth on individual stories or complex contexts.
Arawak men and women, naked, tawny, and full of wonder, emerged from their villages onto the island’s beaches and swam out to get a closer look at the strange big boat. When Columbus and his sailors c...

Notes:

Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States is written from a specific ideological perspective, namely anarcho-socialist, and does not claim to be objective.
The book covers over five hundred years of American history in just over six hundred pages, offering a broad view of events.
Zinn focuses on the stories of everyday people and social movements, rather than emphasizing the narratives of politicians or wealthy elites.
The narrative depicts America's history as one of exploitation and oppression, particularly through the experiences of marginalized groups.
Among the many events discussed are the anti-rent movement in the Hudson Valley and various labor strikes in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Zinn's work contrasts traditional history, which often celebrates national achievement, with an account that highlights resistance and dissent.
The book argues that American heroes often come from the ranks of those who protest against injustice rather than from government or military leadership.
Zinn provides an analysis of U.S. involvement in foreign wars, emphasizing casualties among the poor and marginalized rather than national glory.
While the book serves as a powerful counter-narrative to mainstream history, it has been criticized for having a strong ideological bias.
The text was very influential and has contributed to discussions about how history is taught in schools, particularly regarding the portrayal of indigenous peoples and labor rights.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

High content warnings due to depictions of violence, oppression, and systemic injustices throughout American history.

From The Publisher:

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 Fast

Historian 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 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.

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