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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
An expansive yet detailed look into the real history of the United States. This book should be, but would never be allowed to be, required reading for every student in America. From Columbus to 9/11, Zinn explores the way the ruling class has controlled what we now know as the United States and used the middle and lower classes to their advantage. Though a sobering reminder of the horrors of this country’s history, the book offers concrete examples of the moments throughout the last hundreds of years where “the people” have taken part in rebellious movements that have shaped what progress the country has made at a social level. Glimmers of hope can be taken from these examples. From strikes to riots, people in America have had to fight to gain dignity and rights, and that fight continues to this day.
Reading this book lends valuable insight into why things are the way they are today. Our particular moment in history, in 2025, may seem like uncharted territory for many people, but nothing is particularly ahistorical about the Trump administration’s warmongering, deportations, silencing of free speech, expansionism, etc. A People’s History also highlights the bipartisan consensus of our countries major political parties in protecting the interests of the ruling class, and how neither party has never represented the interests of “the people”. Again, only through the agitation can true progress be made, and this book provides models for the type of resistance necessary in our current time.
Reading this book lends valuable insight into why things are the way they are today. Our particular moment in history, in 2025, may seem like uncharted territory for many people, but nothing is particularly ahistorical about the Trump administration’s warmongering, deportations, silencing of free speech, expansionism, etc. A People’s History also highlights the bipartisan consensus of our countries major political parties in protecting the interests of the ruling class, and how neither party has never represented the interests of “the people”. Again, only through the agitation can true progress be made, and this book provides models for the type of resistance necessary in our current time.
It’s great but it’s 34 hours on audiobook and my library loan is not long enough to finish
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Everyone should read this book at least once in life. I've started it twice before and it was so heavy I put it down by the time I hit the 50s. I finished it this time, and it's more relevant than ever.
Just a bit too heavy right now with everything going on in the world. Could definitely see myself returning to it though.
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
informative
medium-paced
I have started and quick this book three times. It's good information but it is being told so dryly that it's putting me to sleep.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
It has taken me awhile to get to the end of this book. There is so much valuable information and it is pretty dense. I don’t say this to scare you off from reading it, but more to prepare you for allowing yourself to give it time and energy. This book has given me more information about our history, and it opened my eyes to the part our government (on both sides of the aisle) had in creating crisis both in the US and abroad. Pattern recognition is important, and this book shows you that what is happening today has happened many times before. It’s critical to know the patterns so we as individuals can stand up to it.
“The democratic principle, enunciated in the words of the Declaration of Independence, declared that government was secondary, that the people who established it were primary.”- Howard Zinn
“The democratic principle, enunciated in the words of the Declaration of Independence, declared that government was secondary, that the people who established it were primary.”- Howard Zinn