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A People's History of the United States: 1492-Presentby Howard Zinn
Synopses & Reviews
Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History of the United States is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of — and in the words of — America's women, factory workers, African Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers.
Covering Christopher Columbus's arrival through President Clinton's first term, A People's History of the United States features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. Revised, updated, and featuring a new afterword by the author, this is "a brilliant and moving history of the American people" (Library Journal).
"Those accustomed to the texts of an earlier generation, in which the rise of American democracy and the growth of national power were the embodiment of Progress, may be startled by Professor Zinn's narrative. From the opening pages, an account of 'the European invasion of the Indian settlements in the Americas,' there is a reversal of perspective, a reshuffling of heroes and villains." Eric Foner, The New York Times Book Review
"One of the most important books I have ever read in a long life of reading....It's a wonderful, splendid book a book that should be read by every American, student or otherwise, who wants to understand his country, its true history, and its hope for the future." Howard Fast
About the Author
Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922 – January 27, 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."
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. Howard Zinn was a co-executive producer, co-director , and co-author of The People Speak.
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.
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