Artists In Times of War and Other Essays (Open Media) (Paperback)

by Howard Zinn (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Throughout his lifetime, radical historian Howard Zinn has emphasized the crucial role that protest and civil disobedience play in energizing and directing social change. In Zinn’s worldview, the rebel who challenges government and authority is usually the one who leads the most progressive advances in peace, welfare, and social justice. "To criticize the government is the highest act of patriotism," writes Zinn. In this new collection of four essays—three of which are previously unpublished—the author of A People’s History of the United States writes about the unique role of artists, activists, and publishers in working toward change.

Howard Zinn is a world-renowned historian, author, and public speaker. In February, 2003, he celebrated the publication of the millionth copy of his masterpiece, A People’s History of the United States.

About the Author
Howard Zinn is the author of numerous books, including his epic masterpiece, A People's History of the United States, as well as many recent books published by Seven Stories Press: Voices of a People's History of the United States and Terrorism and War, and The Zinn Reader. He is a professor emeritus of political science at Boston University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Seven Stories Press (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583226028
• ISBN-13: 978-1583226025
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #263,706 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating read in the wake of Fahrenheit 9/11., July 2, 2004

By	waitingtoderail "waitingtoderail" (Jamaica Plain, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This slim volume (I read it in an hour) by famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) revisionist historian Zinn is direct and to the point: "It is the job of the artist...to think outside the boundaries of permissible thought and dare to say things that no one else will say." Of course, what Zinn thinks that artists should be saying is to speak out against war in ways that traditional journalists do not, CAN not. He cites Catch-22 by Joseph Heller as a case in point: "If, right after World War II, someone had written a nonfiction book on the ambiguities of war and the atrocities committed by the supposed good guys...such a book would have been difficult to publish. But...artists can be sly. They can point to things that take you outside traditional thinking because you can get away with it in fiction."

This makes me think of the movie Fahrenheit 9/11 and how remarkable it is that Michael Moore has broken through that wall to bring forth a nonfiction artistic statement about the current administration and war. I think Zinn would be pleased. Now if only someone would make some of the movies he suggests in this book (the story of Emma Goldman, the Ludlow Massacre, the Phillipine-American war to name a few).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars manifesto for a generation, March 22, 2004

By	Andre M. "brnn64" (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Dr. Zinn does a great job in this collection of essays letting a new generation understand that an untold section of American history involves, as Dr. King put it in his last speech, "our right to protest for right." This manifesto which urges people to speak out on what's going on no also includes historial precedents of this in his discussion of stories Hollywood doesn't tell (It$ not hard to gue$$ why). But in either case, read this book and then FIGHT THE POWER!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zinn Calls Us to Wake Up!, January 4, 2004

By A Customer

Where is our public debate about excesses of government? If the radical perspective in national affairs continues to be hidden, what then? Zinn deserves prizes and accolades for bringing the radical perspective to the fore in this book at this urgent time. Like sheep, our nation wanders, but nonetheless follows the well-oiled public relations machine of our American president who spins and grins his way into the projection of power that is his prime directive.

Zinn provides a very different, critically important lens through which we might view life in these United States and our impact beyond our shores. He calls for the artist in each of us to be voice of those who are "collateral damage," left behind or otherwise choose peace, while the genius-not at the helm chooses war.

He speaks to the impact of the US rushing pell-mell into the maelstrom of a consumerism that transforms our nation-state into a market-state with increasingly more losers and fewer winners, and a state of public affairs and policy determined by a smaller and smaller group of corporate and business imperatives in a global Realpolitik.

Zinn gives us a strong reminder of that separate, but critically important reality of everywoman and -man that is more arresting than the cable that brought W's plane to an abrupt stop on the carrier.

Had enough? Read this book and get active! Or, at the very least, let Howard remind you in his ever-passionate way that governments always lie.