Good read man, I am majoring in History, specifically the history of California but this book was one book I had to read in one of my college courses and let me tell you, i love this book. I have read it 3 times in the past 2 years.
Congratulations, you have successfully been brainwashed by a confirmed piece of propaganda that paints all the west as uniquely evil and all others as saints. If you want to know real history and not something that just confirms what you would like history to be, then throw out this fictional book and read primary sources and other secondary that are objective in their research
This book was require for my American History I course at community college. I was always self aware of the politicizing of history, so this book was easy to call out for what it is. It has a LOT of truth to it but it does fall flat in terms of the narrative it was trying to go for imo. I think it deserves a 7/10
Why do people say things are the "politicization" of history when history is inherently political? I mean... It's literally just a detailed account of politics over time. I'll have to read it, though, before I can properly disagree with this specific use of the phrase. I just hear people throw around "you're politicizing this!" about things that are already political.... I would also say it's probably good to have a history book that doesn't hold up too many individual figures. I'm not saying we should never celebrate individuals, but exclusively or excessively doing so kind of masks the fact that it actually takes LOTS of people working together to make anything significant happen.
It’s not history, it’s a political propaganda piece. History books are not supposed to be biased but objective and give you only facts, no ideologically driven opinions and interpretations. Read primary sources and verified historians who give references and are objective
I read it years ago and I credit this book for being a big part of my political understanding. So often, It's US rah rah rah, Freedom!!! As if freedom doesn't exist anywhere else. I get a little queasy when July 4th comes around. The hyper nationalism that takes place...especially when you consider our bloody history. The genocide of American Indians an the enslavement of African Americans. Not to mention all of the other violent episodes of American history. It's just mind blowing when you truly understand the real history of our country. Excellent book.
The only part of your summary that bothered me was that you don't seem to have a clear understanding of the difference between communism and socialism. The main difference is that under communism, most property and economic resources are owned and controlled by the state (rather than individual citizens); under socialism, all citizens share equally in economic resources as allocated by a democratically-elected government. Mr. Zinn was, as are Bernie Sanders, AOC, and myself for that matter, Democratic Socialists. Such is a perfect example of the nature of US history education that Howard Zinn addresses.
The people collectively control the means of production through the organization of democratic bodies that oversee everything or as people like to say a state. The ownership over things by the state is not mutually exclusive with the ownership over things by the people unless the state is not controlled by the people and instead other entities like corporations or a few extremely wealthy people, cough cough america. Democratic socialism is indeed different and is just a half measure that is basically capitalism with some bread crumbs. exploitation of the third world and imperialism still thrives (look at Ikea). Democratic socialism is not socialism and until capitalism is ended the people can not truly have democratic control of the state as there will always be consolidation of wealth and power into the hands of the few who's interests directly conflict with the many. Not saying trying to move towards capitalism with breadcrumbs is bad as it's still a step in the right direction but it shouldn't be an end goal if the goal is to have true equality, democracy and freedom
Admittedly I have a limited understanding of the economics of socialism and communism - though my experiences reading about the devastating effects of socialist revolutions in Russia, China, and Cambodia have made me a little more than queasy - but at the same time the impacts of capitalism unbounded by humanitarian ethics are distressing. Thank you for your comment.
Good read man, I am majoring in History, specifically the history of California but this book was one book I had to read in one of my college courses and let me tell you, i love this book. I have read it 3 times in the past 2 years.
Congratulations, you have successfully been brainwashed by a confirmed piece of propaganda that paints all the west as uniquely evil and all others as saints.
If you want to know real history and not something that just confirms what you would like history to be, then throw out this fictional book and read primary sources and other secondary that are objective in their research
Thanks for your comment!
This book was require for my American History I course at community college. I was always self aware of the politicizing of history, so this book was easy to call out for what it is. It has a LOT of truth to it but it does fall flat in terms of the narrative it was trying to go for imo. I think it deserves a 7/10
Thanks for your thoughts! Looking back, 5 is probably a bit too critical.
There’s a great vid called “we might owe Christopher Columbus an apology”. I also like Mary Grabar’s “Debunking Howard Zin”.
Thank you!
Great review, I think you were very fair. I'm a substitute teacher and I've seen this text in classrooms.
Thank you! It’s a classic and deserves to be read, but with skepticism.
Why do people say things are the "politicization" of history when history is inherently political? I mean... It's literally just a detailed account of politics over time. I'll have to read it, though, before I can properly disagree with this specific use of the phrase. I just hear people throw around "you're politicizing this!" about things that are already political....
I would also say it's probably good to have a history book that doesn't hold up too many individual figures. I'm not saying we should never celebrate individuals, but exclusively or excessively doing so kind of masks the fact that it actually takes LOTS of people working together to make anything significant happen.
Yes, I’d recommend reading the book.
I like the book from the view point from oppressed people and something other than American exceptionalism
It’s not history, it’s a political propaganda piece.
History books are not supposed to be biased but objective and give you only facts, no ideologically driven opinions and interpretations.
Read primary sources and verified historians who give references and are objective
Thanks for your comment!
Yes this book should definitely be a read for all junior high kids Not that water down version
Agreed. Students should be exposed to as many perspectives as possible, even if, and especially when, you as a teacher disagree.
I read it years ago and I credit this book for being a big part of my political understanding. So often, It's US rah rah rah, Freedom!!! As if freedom doesn't exist anywhere else. I get a little queasy when July 4th comes around. The hyper nationalism that takes place...especially when you consider our bloody history. The genocide of American Indians an the enslavement of African Americans. Not to mention all of the other violent episodes of American history. It's just mind blowing when you truly understand the real history of our country. Excellent book.
Zinn's perspective is certainly necessary to capture the totality of America. Thanks for your comment.
The only part of your summary that bothered me was that you don't seem to have a clear understanding of the difference between communism and socialism. The main difference is that under communism, most property and economic resources are owned and controlled by the state (rather than individual citizens); under socialism, all citizens share equally in economic resources as allocated by a democratically-elected government. Mr. Zinn was, as are Bernie Sanders, AOC, and myself for that matter, Democratic Socialists.
Such is a perfect example of the nature of US history education that Howard Zinn addresses.
The people collectively control the means of production through the organization of democratic bodies that oversee everything or as people like to say a state. The ownership over things by the state is not mutually exclusive with the ownership over things by the people unless the state is not controlled by the people and instead other entities like corporations or a few extremely wealthy people, cough cough america. Democratic socialism is indeed different and is just a half measure that is basically capitalism with some bread crumbs. exploitation of the third world and imperialism still thrives (look at Ikea). Democratic socialism is not socialism and until capitalism is ended the people can not truly have democratic control of the state as there will always be consolidation of wealth and power into the hands of the few who's interests directly conflict with the many. Not saying trying to move towards capitalism with breadcrumbs is bad as it's still a step in the right direction but it shouldn't be an end goal if the goal is to have true equality, democracy and freedom
Admittedly I have a limited understanding of the economics of socialism and communism - though my experiences reading about the devastating effects of socialist revolutions in Russia, China, and Cambodia have made me a little more than queasy - but at the same time the impacts of capitalism unbounded by humanitarian ethics are distressing.
Thank you for your comment.
youre wrong about communism. the state doesnt exist under communism