Eine Geschichte des amerikanischen Volkes

After years of hearing how Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, used in academia, has negatively influenced students' perceptions of the USA, I decided to read his book and make my assessment. The introduction to A People's History was written by Anthony Arnove, an activist and Zinn devotee who has appeared with Zinn over the years and co-edited A People's History. Arnove was also on the editorial board of the International Socialist Review a "quarterly journal of politics, history, theory, and current events from a Marxist perspective", that ceased publication in 2019. In the closing statement, they stated "We hope that other publications will continue to carry the legacy of Marxist theory, analysis, and politics to future radicalizing generations."
In Zinn's "Afterwards", (which I feel should always be read first), he explains how he felt misled about how he was taught U.S. history; always with a positive slant and patriotic view of the U.S. being all good. Zinn’s motives are not aligned with a belief in democracy and capitalism, to show its shortcomings to make it better. On the contrary, A People's History appears to be fodder for future generations stimulated by radicalism and Marxist theories that taken to conclusion would result in an overthrow of the government. Zinn has been credited with writing a history that teaches students to think for themselves. Unfortunately, throughout A People's History he uses ellipses to evade a more nuanced perspective, thus leading the reader/student in a way that suggests conclusions they should reach regarding the matter being discussed, then asking for an answer or agreement with a suggestion, similar to a reporter formulating a question while at the same time suggesting the answer. Zinn doesn't use accepted citing references for his sources but instead will state the name of a book or other publication, suggesting you can read it and figure out what his point was, making it tedious (unlikely), to learn what was left out by the use of ellipses. In several cases, I followed where it lead, discovering the larger meaning and how misleading his statements were, like politicians taking their opponent's statements out of context to advance their cause. Over and over while I read I wanted to scream; No! You can’t leave it like that and just move on!
After criticizing Zinn for this unfortunate book, from a literary view it is well written considering his objective. However I would not recommend it as a definitive history of the USA especially if this is the first or only history to be read. ( )

Yes, a great bk. This bk has been very, very important to many, many people. It's like: "Yeah, Tell it like it is!". It's an enormously scholarly work. I wrote a long review of it in the magazine that Rita Rodentia & I edited called "Street Ratbag" - issue number 5. The RATicle's called "Recommended Reading". I hope to post it on GoodReads eventually. [Here it is: https://www.goodreads.com/story/show/8287-recommended-reading?chapter=2 ] ( )

wonderful, insightful, highly recommended.

Zinn sums up A People's History of the United States perfectly in his first chapter, "My viewpoint, in telling the history of the United States, is different: that we must not accept the memory of the states as our own" (p 10). He is willing to look at the whole truth of our nation, as ugly as it may be. There is a lot of dirt to be dug as Zinn is heavy on the quotes and extensive in his expansive research. But, fear not. This is a not a dry textbook account of our people's history. Zinn is just as quick to insert humor and small amusements such as, "when a[n] [Iroquois] woman wanted a divorce, she set her husband's things outside the door" (p 20). Interesting characters from all walks of life grace the pages of Zinn's extraordinary masterpiece. More than a textbook, this should be on everyone's reading list...even today. ( )

If you are a flag waving, Fox News watching, Rush Limbaugh devotee, this book is not for you. It's a decidedly different perspective and judgement regarding events in this country's history that you may be accustomed to. Basically it covers the exploitation of minorities, the poor and the middle class by the existing power elite throughout our history beginning with Columbus. I may not agree with all of Zinn's interpretations but this book should be read if you are open minded to some of this nation's warts and sins. ( )