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w_timmes's review against another edition
What I noticed about this book compared to nonfiction I’ve actually finished, is that it takes a country wide scale on why things the way they are, which makes sense.
But my nonfiction interests tend to be about what goes on with individuals or relationships, rather than the weight of the world.
But my nonfiction interests tend to be about what goes on with individuals or relationships, rather than the weight of the world.
songwind's review against another edition
5.0
This book presents history, with a focus on the people history was happening to, not the instigators more mainstream accounts describe. Native Americans, the poor, slaves, women, laborers and soldiers all take center stage at different times.
Major events that most Americans will recognize make their appearances. Others that are glossed over or skipped entirely also get their share of attention, particularly the labor movements of the 1870s & 1890s.
As a product of the education system during the time when Zinn first published the book, I can say that a great many salient points were left out of the curriculum, usually to make America look more justified or to smooth over abuses. For people educated later, it may be less revelatory.
Zinn has a clear agenda with this book, and is unapologetic about it. This book exists to expand the scope of American history to include more of the common people, and the economic and social factors that went into a lot of the objective events we all hear about. For this reason, I don't suggest it as the source of history on its own. As a companion to other histories with a more "establishment" focus, the effect is a very well rounded and complex view of history.
Major events that most Americans will recognize make their appearances. Others that are glossed over or skipped entirely also get their share of attention, particularly the labor movements of the 1870s & 1890s.
As a product of the education system during the time when Zinn first published the book, I can say that a great many salient points were left out of the curriculum, usually to make America look more justified or to smooth over abuses. For people educated later, it may be less revelatory.
Zinn has a clear agenda with this book, and is unapologetic about it. This book exists to expand the scope of American history to include more of the common people, and the economic and social factors that went into a lot of the objective events we all hear about. For this reason, I don't suggest it as the source of history on its own. As a companion to other histories with a more "establishment" focus, the effect is a very well rounded and complex view of history.
jjankunas's review
4.0
That took forever to finish.
I don't know where to begin. I think a conversation with a friend I had sums it up for me pretty well: "Jess, I think this book is depressing you".
I knew that US history wasn't all unicorns and roses, and I knew that there were/are race issues, and gender issues, and class issues. I knew that foreign policy hasn't always been the most moral. I guess it was just easy not to really acknowledge this, and even easier when you don't see it from the perspective of the group affected.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to see US history from the perspective of the people whose stories are often forgotten or untold (although not all groups are represented in this book, a fact that the author addresses in the afterword). It might not feel too good, but that's probably a result of the nationalism that's beaten into us from a very young age.
I don't know where to begin. I think a conversation with a friend I had sums it up for me pretty well: "Jess, I think this book is depressing you".
I knew that US history wasn't all unicorns and roses, and I knew that there were/are race issues, and gender issues, and class issues. I knew that foreign policy hasn't always been the most moral. I guess it was just easy not to really acknowledge this, and even easier when you don't see it from the perspective of the group affected.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to see US history from the perspective of the people whose stories are often forgotten or untold (although not all groups are represented in this book, a fact that the author addresses in the afterword). It might not feel too good, but that's probably a result of the nationalism that's beaten into us from a very young age.