A People's History of the United States | 
Whether you peacefully march, call & write letters to Congress, boycott, educate, donate to civil rights groups &/or provide childcare, thank you for however you resist, American bookworms! #handsofflibraries #handsoffschools #resist
pickThis was quite the slog, but it offers a view of history mostly through class struggle, that‘s not a lens I use as much I should.
It is kind of depressing, as it appears that the only time things get better for the non-rich is when there‘s enough violence and death to cause change, and even then the change is tiny.
3/5, it‘s a classic and I think everyone should read it, but maybe better to read when younger, & when more optimism is available
I mean I started this book 8 years ago. I think I should finish it soon.
pickThis one took me longer than I expected but it was really good. At nearly 700 pages and several thousand years of history it was immense. I really enjoyed it and learned so much about our countries history from another angle not often taught. It changed the way I think and is causing me to think more.
Made it to page 443 tonight which brings me through the more recent events of the 1950‘s. Been amazing to read all of history but especially more recent things I had no clue about. I feel like this book is giving me more depth and understanding about a lot of things happening nowadays. I
254 of 688–getting bogged down but it is good. Have worked from Columbus through the Civil war. So interesting to see things different than what I was ever taught in school. I prob didn‘t pay attention then either!
I am aiming to read at least a chapter a day in this book which would take me through almost all of February. It is one of the foundational books needed for better understanding the history and practices in the history of the US, especially as they relate to the white rich male getting even more rich. So far the chapters have helped me begin constructing an understanding of how many historical decisions were made to benefit the rich.
pickThis was a good history lesson highlighting the oppressed and how historical events in the US has effected them. It‘s basically a big history book of the US highlighting all of the county‘s (and presidents) faults. I found parts to be interesting but it was really long.
Well that‘s a bust! I had about an hour left of my ginormous history lesson and the loan expired. No worries though, I put it back on hold and I was just starting the George W. Bush administration so I should be able to pick up where I left off easy enough, in ~6 weeks 😂
Well, I jumped into this 34 hour audiobook today! I‘m super grateful for my tedious book inventory project I have going on at work that let me listen for 4 hours today and hopefully continue for another week or so to get me through this gargantuan chunkster! So far, I‘m really enjoying it!
The TRUTH is NOT an elective.
pickI was not taught most of this in school or it was sugar coated. SMH 💔😭
The chapter on Carter-Reagan-Bush: the Bipartisan Consensus makes me realize my country‘s politicians have never been there for me my whole political life. (My first election was yuck and yuck in 1980) 😞
pickA informative book I enjoy reading. Some portions were heavy but it expands our knowledge of the history of the US!!! That is exactly why I love reading nonfiction.
“The present system has enabled capitalists to make laws in their own interests to the injury and oppression of the workers.”
The military conflict itself, by dominating everything in its time, diminished other issues, made people choose sides in the one contests that was publicly important, forced people onto the side of the Revolution whose interest in Independence was not at all obvious. Ruling elites seem to have learned through the generations -- consciously or not -- that war makes them more secure against internal trouble.
There is no country in world history in which racism has been more important, for so long a time, as the United States.
If there are necessary sacrifices to be made for human progress, is it not a central to hold to the principle that those to be sacrificed must make the decision themselves? We can all decide to give up something of ours, but do we have the right to throw into the pyre the children of others, or even our own children, for a progress which is not nearly as cleaner or present as sickness or health, life or death?
The treatment of heroes (Columbus) and their victims (the Arawaks) -- the quiet acceptance of conquest and murder in the name of progress -- is only one aspect of a certain approach to history in which the past is told from the point of view of governments, conquerors, diplomats, leaders.
My viewpoint, in telling the history of the United States, is different: that we must not accept the memory of states as our own. Nations are not communities and never have been.
Saw this on sale and as its one of the books I lost due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to get it (this is also why I buy mostly kindle books, so I don't loose them in unforeseen events).
#kindledeal #kindledeals #ebooksale
so-soThe book is a tedious read but with an over load of info, worth reading from all you gain. Covers from the arrival of Columbus to America to the end of the 20th century. It's got a lot of references if the reader wants to dig deeper into a certain part of it's history. I believe we should consider using this book in middle school history class. The book is not judgemental, it present as much truth possible from all sides.
“... it could create the richest ruling class in history and still have enough for the middle classes to act as a buffer between the rich and the dispossessed.”
“Outright lying or quiet omission takes the risk of discovery which, when made, might arouse the reader to rebel against the writer. To state the facts, however, and then to bury them in a mass of other information, is to say to the reader with a certain infectious calm: yes, mass murder took place, but it‘s not what‘s important—it should weigh very little in our final judgments; it should affect very little what we do in the world.” Damn.
I had the fortune to see Howard Zinn speak at Politics and Prose in DC less than a year before he died. I also managed to grab the very last signed copy of A People's History (he wasn't doing a formal signing) from the bookstore. I have always felt a bit guilty about the guy in line after me...
so-soFirst book for @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 's #nonfiction2019 challenge is complete!
Very mixed feelings TBH. Important simply because it describes U.S History without the typical "All Hail Old Glory!" that you find in other U.S. histories; but it obviously lacked the sort of journalistic precision with facts and consequences that I feel are necessary in history books...and the revising & editing were just plain awful, sloppy, and careless.
First crack at the #nonfiction2019 challenge with @Riveted_Reader_Melissa is going to be Howard Zinn's "People's History of the United States." Tells the history of the US, from the beginning, from a Laborer's perspective, instead of a capitalist/governmental perspective. I hear it's a real mind-bender...can't wait!
pickThis is the best history book that I have read this year. It is a nice narrative that dispels the rosy image that is typically taught in the U.S. about our history. Despite being filled with an unapologetic look at my country‘s dark history it also presents the facts that those events never happened without resistance.
So this book is also a history of the people who fought against slavery, genocide, and oppression and stood up for other people.
pickAbove and beyond the best historical writer. This book is extremely accurate about the birth of our country, all the way to present day.
Audio-stitching bibs for an upcoming baby shower
pickI was raised on a very rosy image of the United States, and Zinn helps snap your focus away from that gilded history to see the consequences of the dark chapters in the United States. Good post-Fourth of July read.
pickWrites the ignored heroes and heroines of our great country back into history. Dense but worth the read. #5stars #realAmerica #history
Re-reading this chapter of this amazing book for #juneteenth
Chose this fabulous book to represent many on World Book Day. And, this is now my favorite Snapchat filter. Ever. 😃
Already learning what a _____ Columbus was.
#literalbookends #24in48 hour 36 of the #readathon Love this prompt!
pickA refreshing counterpoint to the sanitized, winner‘s history that most of us got in high school and/or college. Zinn focuses on the stories that are ignored or glossed over in most textbooks. His left-leaning bias shows, but he also cites lots of primary sources for further reading.
After reading People‘s History, book club needs to make a fiction pick! What to choose?? 🤔🤔🤔
A necessary, eye-opening, read for all humans living in the USA. 📚
#BooksWithBohemianYogini
Darker than I was expecting... Also an awful picture.
This quote is from Christopher Columbus‘ log upon reaching the Bahamas and regarding the Arawak nation of people - “...They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword...and they cut themselves out of ignorance....They would make fine servants...with fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.”
From “History of the Indies” by Bartoleme Las Casas... ( continued in comments)
New boyfriend and I have been reading A People's History to each other. Also, read some of this book about New Orleans before we met my childhood friend there/MS for a little vacation. I'm 4 books behind on my goodreads challenge!
#redwhiteblue #redswhitesandblues
One of the most patriotic thing I've ever done is shut up and listen.
I'm white and cis. I've benefited from systemic racism in my country. For too long I thought it was enough that I was not intentionally racist, that I was not intentionally prejudiced toward gender and sexual minorities.
I still have a lot to learn, but I'm listening now and I'm speaking out. Happy Independence Day.
#redwhiteandblue
Here are some Macy's 4th of July fireworks direct from NYC- and a bit of the 59th Street Bridge blocking the view. I was almost trampled in a stampede when hundreds of tourists realized too late that they could not see fireworks from the spots they had saved all day. 🎆🗽🎆🇺🇸
#sizzlinsummerbooks #redwhiteandblue
My father was career Coast Guard. I grew up on CG bases where the biggest events of every summer were the July 4th Independence and Aug 4th Coast Guard day celebrations. I'm not into Americana. The few things I have are mainly CG related. The glasses belonged to my father. My copy of the Declaration of Independence was bought at Fraunces Tavern Museum in 5th grade.
Happy 4th to all the American Littens!
