Customer Reviews

The Future of History: Interviews with David Barsamian

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As the other reviewer mentioned, this is a good, quick book for those slightly interested in Zinn but without the time or energy to devote to reading one of his books.... not that it is near an adequate substitute....

These interviews are interesting not so much for what they contain regarding Zinn's ideas as for an insight into how he came to them. This is another book that I would read in a bookstore (if that option is available) rather than buy because, really, it doesn't contain that much information that you'd need to have it at home on a shelf to quote. If such is your desire, get 'A People's History' or 'Declarations of Independence'.

Howard Zinn Died Jan 27,2010 at the age of 87.

We will miss you dearly Professor Zinn.

Your contributions to the anti-war movement and civil rights will be our guiding light to a better future.

"The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilantes"

Book Review:

"The Future of History" is an enlightening read if you agree that Marxism is the direction this country should be heading in. And even though Zinn's historical zeitgeist struggles to pedagogically be the proverbial elenchus to capitalism. Zinn's objurgation of capitalism is flawed simply because capitalism and communism both possess diphasic properties, which make them quasi-economic paradoxes.

So, in putting this argument to rest it becomes elementary; there are no absolutes when discussing forms of government and economics.

For example:

Capitalism/Oligarchy: is when the corporation controls the government, which in layman's terms means fascism/dictatorship.

Communism/Socialism: is when the government controls the corporation, which means dictatorship.

I know many socialists will disagree with me on this subject simply because they believe that the citizens will have the final say insofar as controlling the socialist government in question.

Unfortunately the way the governmental mechanism works is when people are appointed to run the institution/country.

Suffice it to say, these governmental leaders will be the ones running things on the surface.

Of course, we all have to realize that the money-trust will always run things from behind the scenes no matter if it's a communist dictatorship like China, or a capitalist dictatorship like the United States. Which means that the so-called world leaders will always capitulate to the billionaire banksters if we don't wake up and exert some leverage.

Either way you slice it capitalism in its extreme form is just communism under a different guise, and there isn't anyway around that argument.

Anyway, in the book (radio talk-show host) David Barsamian interviews Zinn on a number of issues such as the satiety of the U.S. government and how this derision has hurt us as a society over the years. Zinn even addresses the issue that I raised at the beginning of this review, and if you feel the need to agree with him...fine... that's your prerogative, it's still a free country even though its misguided.

Moreover, Zinn responds to a comment that was made by Clinton's former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich when he said, "the jury is still out on whether the traditional union is still necessary for the new workplace."

Howard Zinn responds by saying, "I'm disappointed in what Robert Reich had to say about not being sure about the function of unions. He should have known better." It just goes to show you where the Clintons stand on that particular issue.

Personally, I like most of what Zinn has to say it's just his Marxist views I have a problem with.

I also like how he inculcates poetry and art into his work/thesis by quoting individuals such as Langston Hughes. Zinn is also not ashamed of demonstrating the importance of U.S. history from the Black perspective as well as women, and other minority groups that tend to be left out of the discourse. In that respect it makes his historical outlook vital to the argument.

A case in point: Henry Kissinger once made an omnipotent statement, "history is the memory of States." This thought was totally egregious in nature, but Howard Zinn counteracts Kissinger's obliquity by articulating that history isn't some anachronism that shouldn't be discussed. But it's apart of us; it is who we are and what we will become. Historians chronicle these events so we the people can learn, achieve new ground, and become a better society for the future of all. This is why historians like Howard Zinn are pertinent. This is a 4 star read if you can get past the Marxism.

The interview style presented here occasionally makes one cringe. E.g., David Barsamian's admission that he does NY Times crossword puzzles, and his hope that Zinn doesn't hold it against him come as treacly. Another example is Zinn's comparisons of himself with Chomsky. Although perhaps in the original radio interviews these sounded funny, they really make Zinn come across as an alienated armchair Marxist from time to time. And that's too bad, because there's a lot of good stuff in this book.

It's a good, quick read, with some nice historical tidbits thrown in. It's interesting in presenting facets of Zinn's personal life, but of course, the main attraction of Zinn is his take on history.

I DO think though he's underestimated the internet- I personally think that here, the rats have taken over the laboratory, and that's the way it'll be.

Having read much of Howard Zinn's material in the past, I set a pretty high standard

for this work. I was not disappointed. Zinn continued to cause this reader to think

and question the assumptions about many different topics. What a shame Zinn passed away.

I wonder who will take his place in causing us to reflect and question.