Customer Reviews

A People's History of the United States: A Lecture at Reed College

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's a good lecture, but the reviewers are talking about a book by the same name and author. It's an amazing book, but this ain't it.

I would like to praise Zinn for an outstanding book. I am a 38 year old, self educated history student. Mr. Zinn writes with a easy cadence and is able to keep interesting stories (history) that have previously bored me to tears! I learned not only new perspective and details but used the list of references to continue my lessons. I focus on labor history and this volume is the place to start. (no matter your interest) Mr. Zinn shines a new light on History because he writes from the working class perspective. I appreciate that Mr. Zinn is so detailed while not being overwhelming. In other books the tendency to abbriviate important happenings only serves to discount the struggles of the poor while highlighting the efforts of the wealthy. I strongly encourage people to read this book. It is as enjoyable to read as any good novel and very informitive. It proves again and again that truth is more facinating than ficton.

The book is not for blind nationalists [like the 1st reviewer], who in Orwells's terms, have a remarkable ability of not seeing the atrocities committed by their own country. It is time that the silent holocaust, which has taken an enormous human toll, be revealed to humanity. People should realize that mass murderers like Kissinger are not the writers to be read when one is aiming for the truth. Zinn shows simply and beautifully how history should be written....a record of truth, no more no less.

Howard Zinn has written a masterpiece. This book explodes many received untruths about the history of the US. The idea that governments act in the best interests of coorporations has a long history, Zinn goes to its foundations during the Revolution. This book needs to be on school curricula all over the world. After reading the book it is easy to see why America is war-mongering again, this time after the 'axis of evil'.

This audio CD edition has 2 CDs about his lectures at Reed College. I was expecting a chapter by chapter history facts like when we read a history book or at least some interesting history stories.

It turned out to be a long, boring, irrelevant casual chats like you would hear in some of the college lectures. I am very disappointed.