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A People's History of the United States:

1492 to Present
Front Cover
2889 Reviews
HarperCollins, Jan 26, 2010 - History - 768 pages

Since its original landmark publication in 1980, A People's History of the United States has been chronicling American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official version of history taught in schools–with its emphasis on great men in high places–to focus on the street, the home, and the workplace.

Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of–and in the words of–America's women, factory workers, African Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers. As historian Howard Zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles–for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality–were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance. Covering Christopher Columbus's arrival through the 2000 Election and the "war on terrorism," A People's History of the United States, which was nominated for the American Book Award in 1981 and has sold more than one million copies, features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history.

This new edition contains two new chapters covering the Clinton presidency, the 2000 Election, and the "war on terrorism," continuing Zinn's important contribution to a complete and balanced understanding of American history.

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User ratings

5 stars
1369
4 stars
640
3 stars
312
2 stars
94
1 star
95

I really enjoyed his well-researched style of writing. - Goodreads
Horrible portrayal of America. - Goodreads
Indispensable. Brilliant scholarship. - Goodreads
They become the villians in the story. - Goodreads
I read this b/c of the Good Will Hunting reference. - Goodreads
The writing is exceptionally disorganized. - Goodreads

Review: A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present

User Review  - Keely - Goodreads

Howard Zinn saw a problem in the world, a great bias in our understanding of history, a history written by the winners--by tyrants and industrial magnates and warmongers--and so he did something about ... Read full review

Review: A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present

User Review  - Vernon - Goodreads

Oh,the injustice! While I understand that a lot of people got screwed on the deal, one can flail an equine carcass only so long...... Read full review

All 2889 reviews »

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About the author (2010)

Howard Zinn (1922-2010) was a historian, playwright, and social activist. His many books include A People's History of the United States, which has sold more than two million copies.

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