A People's History of the United States

the elucidation is immediate.. zinn's first paragraph has an excerpt from christopher columbus' log: They ... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they owned... . They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features.... They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane... . They would make fine servants.... With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.

on HN, 2016

US History can be considered a function of large scale popular movements rather than decisions made by individuals (leaders).

on HN, 2019

Very "propagandistic" and politically charged, but that's something the author promptly assumes. Quite interesting (especially for an european) in the way it explains the origins of the american ethos ("land of the free") and how said ethos can be interpreted as a subversive political tactic to further the interests of a selected few.

on HN, 2015

I’d highly recommend making the investment into A People’s History - easily one of the most significant histories of America - and Howard Zinn’s other work if you end up appreciating it.

on HN, 2018

Read this in 9th grade, and it truly did grant a focus to my life that I still carry.

on HN, 2017

All students should realize that history is written by the "winners" see US history from the perspective of the oppressed - Native Americans, slaves, women, the poor.

on HN, 2016