Electric Monk
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Fri Jan-29-10 12:55 AM
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Poll question: Have you read "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn? |
Zomby Woof
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Fri Jan-29-10 12:58 AM
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When I taught U.S. History back in the 90's, I kept a couple of copies in my classroom library for student research. I made sure I bought the 20th anniversary edition too.
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Smarmie Doofus
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Fri Jan-29-10 01:02 AM
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2. I actually *bought * it. ( As in "new". As in "from a bookstore". |
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As in "full price.")
About a year an a half ago. Not wild about it. ( Though I *am* about Zinn.) Not for the most part a great read. A bit choppy. "Disjointed" may be the word. Not particularly cohesive.
I've read PARTS.
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proteus_lives
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Fri Jan-29-10 01:10 AM
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3. Yeah and was disappointed. |
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The person who gave it to me was all, "It will change how you look at everything!" I spent a weekend reading it and was disappointed. I found out virtually nothing I didn't already know and I found his agenda to be even more narrow and close-minded then a lot of other history books I've read.
It's true to the claim that it covers a ton of info not included in standard textbooks but I've been devouring history books since I was 12, so it wasn't groundbreaking for me.
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Mind_your_head
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Fri Jan-29-10 01:11 AM
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4. Check it out here..... |
librechik
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Fri Jan-29-10 01:15 AM
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5. gave it to all my grandkids for Christmas last year (the comic book version) |
SlingBlade
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Fri Jan-29-10 01:20 AM
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6. Yep, Many years ago in school and many times since |
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Everyone I know has gotten a copy from me at one time or the other. It's one of the most important gifts you could ever give A book for starry eyed dreamers and political realist alike.
RIP Howard, We will miss you dearly :(
K & R
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Onceuponalife
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Fri Jan-29-10 01:44 AM
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7. Read it years ago before it was updated |
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through the Carter years. One of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.
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Spider Jerusalem
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Fri Jan-29-10 01:46 AM
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8. Good political document, but a very bad history. |
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Extremely light on context and analysis, with a consistent, pronounced, and deliberate bias; these are not things that make for a great, or even a good, work of history. It is the job of an historian to tell us what happened, and why it happened; Zinn's 'history' is painfully skimpy on whys (especially in a broader geopolitical sense) and is not so much a history as a polemic.
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leftstreet
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Fri Jan-29-10 02:22 AM
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10. Well, it was meant to be a 'people's history' - not a Ruling Class history |
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Which is what we're accustomed to - the Ruling Class answering all our 'whys' in whatever fashion suits its needs.
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barbtries
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Fri Jan-29-10 02:19 AM
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just got it a year or two ago. better late than never.
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Greyhound
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Fri Jan-29-10 03:12 AM
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11. Simply re-viewing events from the perspective of the people... |
shadowknows69
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Fri Jan-29-10 03:15 AM
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12. No, I'm ashamed to say I haven't. I will make it a point to now. |
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I've seen some documentaries on Howard and know what a champion of the progressive movement he was, the likes of which will probably never be seen again. I will get to know Mr. Zinn better now that we've lost him. You can take that as a vow.
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RedCappedBandit
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Fri Jan-29-10 04:02 AM
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It was recommended to me the day before Howard Zinn's death.. I went and bought it today and have been reading it.
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Electric Monk
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Fri Jan-29-10 12:53 PM
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14. bump for the daytime crowd |
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