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A review by sassysara
A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
4.0
I am very impressed with Zinn’s ability to present practically all of Euro-American US History (starting at 1492) in less than 800 pages. The text was easy to read (listen to) and had a lot of information that they are just now beginning to touch on at universities. Part of me thinks Zinn’s book, originally published in 1980 with numerous updates over the years, likely influenced the university curriculum taught today.
My main critique is that there is no mention of the US’s role in the founding of Israel or its close relations with Zionists and how that has negatively impacted the Palestinian people.
I looked up an interview he did for Moment magazine (which covers Jewish politics) before his passing in 2010 and he did state that he believed the Jewish state was a mistake. He is quoted saying, “if it’s never again, it’s not just never again for Jews, it’s never again for anybody.” So I am glad to see that he publicly commented on Israel, but it would have been nice if he included it in this book.
He also barely touched on Latino or LGBTQIA+ issues, but he did acknowledge that fact in his afterward and recommended texts for future reading.
My main critique is that there is no mention of the US’s role in the founding of Israel or its close relations with Zionists and how that has negatively impacted the Palestinian people.
I looked up an interview he did for Moment magazine (which covers Jewish politics) before his passing in 2010 and he did state that he believed the Jewish state was a mistake. He is quoted saying, “if it’s never again, it’s not just never again for Jews, it’s never again for anybody.” So I am glad to see that he publicly commented on Israel, but it would have been nice if he included it in this book.
He also barely touched on Latino or LGBTQIA+ issues, but he did acknowledge that fact in his afterward and recommended texts for future reading.