Howard Zinn on War [Paperback]

Howard Zinn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 5, 2000

Howard Zinn on War is Zinn’s choice of the writing that represents his thinking on a subject that concerned and fascinated him throughout his career. He reflects on the wars against Iraq, the war in Kosovo, the Vietnam War, World War II, and on the meaning of war generally in a world of nations that can't seem to stop destroying each other. These readings appeared first in magazines and newspapers including the Progressive and the Boston Globe, as well as in Zinn's books, Failure to Quit, Vietnam: The Logic of Withdrawal, The Politics of History, and Declarations of Independence.
Here we see Zinn’s perspective as a World War II veteran and peace activist who lived through the most devastating wars of the twentieth century and questioned every one of them with his combination of integrity and historical acumen. In his essay, "Just and Unjust War," Zinn challenges us to fight for justice "with struggle, but without war." He writes in "After the War" (2006) that while governments bring us into war, "their power is dependent on the obedience of the citizenry. When that is withdrawn, governments are helpless." In Howard Zinn on War, his message is clear: "The abolition of war has become not only desirable but absolutely necessary if the planet is to be saved. It is an idea whose time has come."

Editorial Reviews

Review

• "He's changed the conscience of America in a highly constructive way. I really can't think of anyone I can compare him to in this respect." --Noam Chomsky
• "Howard had a genius for the shape of public morality and for articulating the great alternative vision of peace as more than a dream." --James Carroll, columnist for the Boston Globe --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

The visionary historical work of professor and activist HOWARD ZINN (1922–2010) is widely considered one of the most important and influential of our era. In his work, including A People’s History of the United States, its companion volume Voices of a People’s History of the United States, and countless other titles, Zinn affirms the power of the people to influence the course of events.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Seven Stories Press; First Edition edition (December 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583220496
• ISBN-13: 978-1583220498
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #288,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Howard Zinn (1922-2010) was a historian, playwright, and activist. He wrote the classic A People's History of the United States, "a brilliant and moving history of the American people from the point of view of those ... whose plight has been largely omitted from most histories" (Library Journal). The book, which has sold more than two million copies, has been featured on The Sopranos and Simpsons, and in the film Good Will Hunting. In 2009, History aired The People Speak, an acclaimed documentary co-directed by Zinn, based on A People's History and a companion volume, Voices of a People's History of the United States.

Zinn grew up in Brooklyn in a working-class, immigrant household. At 18 he became a shipyard worker and then flew bomber missions during World War II. These experiences helped shape his opposition to war and passion for history. After attending college under the GI Bill and earning a Ph.D. in history from Columbia, he taught at Spelman, where he became active in the civil rights movement. After being fired by Spelman for his support for student protesters, Zinn became a professor of Political Science at Boston University, were he taught until his retirement in 1988.

Zinn was the author of many books, including an autobiography, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train, the play Marx in Soho, and Passionate Declarations. He received the Lannan Foundation Literary Award for Nonfiction and the Eugene V. Debs award for his writing and political activism.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cases Against the Pitiful Ways of War, September 27, 2004

By 

Aco - See all my reviews

This review is from: Howard Zinn on War (Paperback)

This is a collection of essays and op-ed pieces previously published in books, magazines, newspapers, etc.

America is primarily the country of interest here, though other Western powers are related as well.

That said, this is an excellent collection. Energetically all of Zinn's writings stem against the massive tides of bureaucracy, imperialism, racism, big business, atrocities, irony, patriotism and militarism. He adeptly argues against the hypocricy of the past and the present in what I felt to be anticipation of a truly just future. His ultimate point being the need "to achieve justice, with struggle, but without war."

Most the writings are concerned with World War II and Vietnam, be it policies, battles or each wars place in history. WWI, Korea, Gulf War I, Kosovo and Yugolsalvia are also written about. As well, modern politics is engaged throughout and then illuminated in the final chapter, titled Beyond Machiavellianism which includes two expansive and frightening essays on U.S. Foreign Policy and the notion of a "just war" versus and "unjust war."

This is a call to common sense, pacifism and equality. Zinn presents all of his arguments against a morality that speaks to accountability, responsibility, hope, truths and the imperative of the citizenry to inform themselves and not senselessly accept our leadership's habits or predelictions.

A good introduction to Zinn.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Essay By A Scholar An Activist, February 4, 2003

By 

Matthew P. Arsenault (SW Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Howard Zinn on War (Paperback)

In this collection, Howard Zinn, a reputable historian and political activist, has compiled numerous essays and articles regarding the hypocrisy of global foreign policy and the lunacy/horror of war.
Zinn's analysis digs through the surface rhetoric and explanations given by governments in regards to the wars and imperialist tendencies that fuel the power of these nations. He exposes the deeper truths that guide nations' foreign policy agendas. His article, Aggressive Liberalism, illustrates the two-sidedness of American foreign policy, citing the numerous acts of unchecked aggression that the U.S. has unleashed on smaller, weaker nations. One of the most interesting thoughts expounded by Zinn is the belief held by many Americans that the U.S. is seeking to improve the interests of these occupied nations through the use of American imperialism.
However, Zinn doesn't overtly slam the "American way of life," or the institutions of America. Rather Zinn makes his statements through careful study and cites irrefutable evidence supplied by history in supporting his claims.
Although Zinn is a dissident that sticks in the craw of more conservative America, his essays and article provide much food for thought, regardless of ones position on the political spectrum. This collection will certainly fuel discussion on a variety of topics.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Pacifist Pamphlet., February 26, 2001

By 

The Orange Duke "orangeduke" (Cupertino, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Howard Zinn on War (Paperback)

I am a great admirer of Zinn's brand of radical politics as well as his revisionist history. Here he collects a series of his anti-War essays into one slim but excellent volume. Never have I seen the case for pacifism made so well, recommended to readers of all political stripes, even if you disagree with Zinn's notions you'll find the book insightful and easy to read. I especially enjoyed the WW 2 parts, since this is typically viewed as a 'good war'.

Zinn is despised by traditional historians, especially conservative ones, mostly for daring to hold unorthodox views, as a rule such talk seems ill founded. However he is also criticized for the sloppiness of his scholarship, and I was disturbed to find an example of that here, Zinn says:

"Bombing Ethiopia in 1935, Mussolini's son-in-law Count Ciano described the explosions as an aesthetic thrill, having the beauty of a flower unfolding."

The quote that Zinn refers to is from Vittorio Mussolini, Mussolini's SON (who wrote a book called Flying Over Ethiopian Mountain Ranges) and not Ciano, here is the actual quote:

"one group of horsemen gave me the impression of a budding rose unfolding as the bomb fell in their midst and blew up. It was exceptionally good fun"

In a sense, this does not detract from Zinn analysis, since he was commenting on something that was actually said, and making a point about how fascist regimes glorify war. The point is still valid, even if Zinn has attributed the quote to the wrong Mussolini relative. It is disturbing in that it displays certain sloppiness with the facts and a relative unfamiliarity with prominent figures of the period.