Book #59 of 2017:
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
A People’s History of the United States is really two books, and one of them is significantly better than the other. Author Howard Zinn’s thesis is that any telling of history is inherently political, and his stated goal is to present perspectives on American history that have often been left out of our popular narratives. And in pursuing that goal, this book is both educational and necessary, focusing on the Native Americans, African Americans, women, and others who were abused in the name of American progress as well as the popular movements that have striven to make our country live more fully by its ideals.
Unfortunately, Zinn’s dedication to that mission falters around the time his retelling reaches World War I, and the last century or so of his history is concerned less with presenting forgotten people and events and more with arguing for a leftist, socialist agenda. Even for a reader who largely agrees with Zinn’s politics, this section of the book was tiresome and unconvincing. I respect the author’s goal in crafting a people’s history, but I wish he had followed through on that goal for the entire volume instead of branching off into a Bernie Sanders campaign speech at the end.
★★★☆☆
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