• A People's History of the United States

  • By: Howard Zinn
  • Narrated by: Jeff Zinn
  • Length: 34 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (8,908 ratings)

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A People's History of the United States  By  cover art

A People's History of the United States

By: Howard Zinn
Narrated by: Jeff Zinn
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Publisher's summary

"A wonderful, splendid book - a book that should be ready by every American, student or otherwise, who wants to understand his country, its true history, and its hope for the future." (Howard Fast)

For much of his life, historian Howard Zinn chronicled American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official version 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 of the United States 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, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. As Zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles - the fights 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' arrival through President Clinton's first term, A People's History of the United States features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history.

©2009 Howard Zinn (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"Zinn's work is a vital corrective to triumphalist accounts." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about A People's History of the United States

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Ant-american garbage

Just a bunch of anti-american propaganda. Even starts quoting karl marx. Pure garbage. I do not recommend.

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A sorry retelling of US history.

This is an angry, anti-American telling of history. It's no wonder that we have mobs in the streets bent on destruction. This is what they were taught in our schools.

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Marxist’s take on American history, the left agenda

This book, stated from Zinn, is suppose to inspire a social revolution. This book represents a bias of his left-wing reinterpretation. It’s left propaganda and the example of the new norm in our education system. This thought process of left bias, not looking at history at both sides, is why we are in this summer of 2020.

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For Everyone

This is an incredibly important book. Admittedly biased, but an effective counter-agent to generations' worth of information biased in the other direction.

I have an innate passion for history, so the stories of centuries passed were more excitedly digested as opposed to material which I lived through, although it shed new light on aspects of history which I viewed more fondly before information this book possesses came to light.

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Awesome!

so great!!! will always recommend the truth in this book. plan to listen again and again.

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Zinn's history definitley has a point of view.

What made the experience of listening to A People's History of the United States the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed hearing history expressed from another point of view. Of course, one must keep Zinn's bias in mind while listening. I think the truth (if we can ever find truth in history) lies somewhere between the history taught in grade school, and Zinn's left leaning version.

Would you be willing to try another book from Howard Zinn? Why or why not?

Yes

What aspect of Jeff Zinn’s performance would you have changed?

He did a fine job of reading, perhaps the post production could be cleaned up a bit.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me think, and want to read more about history.

Any additional comments?

At the end of the day, these stories need to be told. The genocide of the native peoples of the Americas must never be forgotten.

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Poorly Organized

What disappointed you about A People's History of the United States?

I have listened to many history books and biographies on audible and I was excited when I purchased this book because I was looking forward to getting another perspective. While this book did present a different perspective, the narrative is completely lacking and I found it very difficult to keep my attention as an audiobook. Instead of a narrative, the author lists a series of events and recountings of horrible things that the American Elite has done - more or less in chronological order. I could only make it a third the way through the book until I just got too bored with it.

What was most disappointing about Howard Zinn’s story?

The author has done some really good research, but he does a poor job putting the historical events in context. This could have been a really good book if the author would have taken the time to form a good narrative.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Boredom. OK - I already got the point that the American Elite is awful after 10 minutes - not sure if I want to spend another 20 hours having the same theme repeated back to me over and over again.

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Important read

Any additional comments?

I read some negative comments about the narration and editing but other than a few strange pronunciations and one or two bad slices, I thought the audio version was fine.

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Let's hate America people

What would have made A People's History of the United States better?

Nothing can make this book better. I got it not knowing it was so anti american anti white man anti christian. I have studied history all my life and this book is off the charts when it comes to vile socialist propaganda.

What was most disappointing about Howard Zinn’s story?

He makes a mountains out of a mole hill when he can then does the opposite when he shouldn't.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No

Any additional comments?

I would like my credit back please...

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Definitely an Eye Opener

Talk about a real education!! It's a lot to take in but I can't see how the author could have done it with less content. He backs everything up with references. Court cases, newspaper articles, Senate reports, official government documentation, historical accounts, and much more. This is FAR from the patriotic lessons we learned in school. The knowledge you get from this book is life changing. I may even buy the book to go back through it and highlight the heck out of it.

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