Howard Zinn on History (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In "The Uses of Scholarship," an essay in this book, the historian and activist writes, "It is time that we scholars began to earn our keep in this world." In these wide-ranging pieces, Zinn indeed earns his keep by showing the power of history when it serves the struggle for human rights. These writings will provoke and enlighten the reader with the range of possibilities in the word "history." Essays include "How Free Is Higher Education?" - an account of Zinn's experiences teaching in a Mississippi Freedom School in 1964. "What can I say that will . . . convey the love, respect, and admiration I feel for this unassuming hero who was my teacher and mentor. . . . Howard Zinn is the best teacher I ever had, and the funniest." - Alice Walker

About the Author

Historian and activist Howard Zinn's visionary telling of our history is widely considered one of the most important and influential of our era. In A People's History of the United States, A Young People's History of the United States, Voices of a People's History of the United States, and, in Spanish, La otra historia de los Estados Unidos, Zinn affirms the power of the people to influence the course of events. Zinn's other books include the newly updated The Zinn Reader, Terrorism and War with Anthony Arnove, the autobiographical You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train, and the play Marx in Soho.

Historian and activist Howard Zinn's visionary telling of our history is widely considered one of the most important and influential of our era. In A People's History of the United States, A Young People's History of the United States, Voices of a People's History of the United States, and, in Spanish, La otra historia de los Estados Unidos, Zinn affirms the power of the people to influence the course of events. Zinn's other books include the newly updated The Zinn Reader, Terrorism and War with Anthony Arnove, the autobiographical You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train, and the play Marx in Soho.

Historian and activist Howard Zinn's visionary telling of our history is widely considered one of the most important and influential of our era. In A People's History of the United States, A Young People's History of the United States, Voices of a People's History of the United States, and, in Spanish, La otra historia de los Estados Unidos, Zinn affirms the power of the people to influence the course of events. Zinn's other books include the newly updated The Zinn Reader, Terrorism and War with Anthony Arnove, the autobiographical You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train, and the play Marx in Soho.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Seven Stories Press (November 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583220488
• ISBN-13: 978-1583220481
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #613,757 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Alternative Perspective of History, September 10, 2005

By	R. DelParto "Rose2" (Virginia Beach, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Howard Zinn's approach to history comes directly from his own life experience. He saw the baby boom part of the twentieth century history evolve before his eyes with major events, such as the Civil Rights Movement and the further activism that occurred thereafter, and the effects of the war on Vietnam with archival work, to name a few. HOWARD ZINN ON HISTORY is a collection of essays and articles previously published in notable journals and magazines, such as the Midwestern Archivist and Saturday Review. Zinn examines topics that have affected him academically as well as personally, and appear somewhat out dated but timeless at the same time because of how much has progressed from the time he originally wrote the pieces.

The book may serve as a teaching tool for a political or American history classes because of its small format. It is the type of book that will raise questions for the casual history reader as well as the any history major. However, there are serious political overtones that resonate with the majority of the essays that may suggest Zinn's revisionist perspective on history, but he exposes the study of history and the sum of its parts. Zinn states: "The scholar may swear to his neutrality on the job, but whether he be physicist, historian, or archivist, his work will tend, in this theory, to maintain the existing social order by perpetuating its values, by legitimizing its priorities, by justifying its wars, perpetuating its prejudices, contributing to its xenophobia, and apologizing for its class order" (p. 167).

Zinn opens the door to history as well as an inquiry into how it is shaped and formed. He probes important topics that have often been overlooked, which raises important questions, what can be considered history, and how long does it take to be history?

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Does he even have an editor?, February 5, 2009

By	M. Moore - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have no background in history and do not pretend to know what I'm talking about in that regard. However, when it comes to grammar, I know what I'm doing - and Howard Zinn, apparently, does not. The chapter of this book that I was given (Chapter 8: On Presidential Liars) was the most horrendously written piece of work I've ever read. Please make note of the fact that I read high school essays frequently; I thought I'd seen it all. Apparently, I was mistaken. According to Mr. Zinn, the American people have been "deceived about" much more than we thought, and should all "deep anguish" over it.