Howard Zinn

[Wolnosc-Solidarnosc]

In high school my american history teacher made us buy Zinn's book on American History in addition to the standard american textbook. The contrast between the two was quite striking. I was wondering if anyone else has read Zinn's stuff? thoughts? comments?

[coda]

Alternative History? You'll have to read some Harry Turtledove WorldWar or American Empire Series.

I'm currently reading Zinn's "A People's History of the United States." I think most leftist from the US are knowledgeable of most of the events detailed in the book. It's good on statistics though and is most definetely the only History book that covers the inception of the IWW and the Haymarket massacre!!! Delightful to see!
I have to applaud your h.s. teacher for being so progressive. Zinn should be part of the social science curriculums as there are two sides to every event in history and Zinn certainly covers the area that has heretofore been ignored.

So, what did YOU think about it so far, Wolnosc? Did it open your eyes, any? Are you a leftist? If so, why are you restricted?

[Wolnosc-Solidarnosc]

The Zinn you're reading right now is exaclty what I read. I thought it was excellent. Not necessarily because of any political conviction but because when studying history it's best to get multiple perspectives from varying ideologies including stuff from marxist historians.

Did it "open my eyes"? No more than something by a neocon or neolib historian would. I guess you could say it did in terms of presenting facts that you wouldn't normally read about from standard textbooks.

Am I a leftist? Not on all issues and certainly not as extreme as most of the people here. The political compass says i'm a moderate liberal economically, and a centrist socially. I've always considered myself a moderate conservative. So I really have no idea where to put myself, but somehwere in the middle I guess works best. I certainly wouldn't call myself a communist and for this I am restricted.

[Sabocat]

If you want to read a nice companion piece to "A Peoples History of the United States", I suggest you pick up "Voices of a Peoples History of the United States" also by Zinn and Anthony Arnove.

It has speeches by workers, and leftists throughout different stages of history and is quite enjoyable.

[bushdog]

I have the book and have read it, it is most excelent. When i took my history class and had to write essays i used it rather than the assigned whitewashed textbook.