A People's History of the United States (Abridged): Highlights from the 20th Century Audiobook

" One of the better versions of American history that I have read. Less propaganda then what you typically find. "

" Professor Zinn and I have vastly different political beliefs but I'm going to discuss his book and not his politics right up until the end. This is an abridgement of Zinn's A People's History of the United States that only covers the 20th Century. Apparently, according to Zinn, the 20th Century didn't begin until the 1960s and then everyone protested a lot of things. Zinn makes the point of describing the "people" from the title by saying 1% of Americans control 45% of the wealth, the "people" are the other 99%. Zinn then goes on the talk about civil rights protestors, anti-war protestors, prison protestors, Indian protestors, and on and on, so in reality, the "people" are the 1% of the population who protest. The other 98% are forgotten about, I assume because they have jobs and don't have time to protest. [return][return]Zinn also misuses data to make his points, for example, comparing incomes between two groups but only converting one into 2004 dollars. He also assumes meanings to events that are not really there. For instance, in discussing the 1992 election, he states that 19% of voters were unhappy with the choices given by the two major parties and protested against the choices they were given by voting for Ross Perot. As unlikely as it seems, I would be willing to bet the a fair number of people who voted for Perot did so because they wanted to vote for him and not as a protest against the other candidates. These are just a few examples of issues I had with this book. I say book, but it was actually an audio book, so I should probably say CDs. The reason I mention that is I said at the start that I was not going to discuss Zinn's politics until the end, which would be now. [return][return]While I agree with some of what Zinn said I still had a hard time finishing the book (CD) and actually I didn't finish it. I made it to the last CD when Zinn started talking about poor oppressed Mumia Abu-Jamal and how he was sentenced to death because the government wanted to shut him up, no mention of the crime he committed or of the cop he killed. At that point I hit the eject button and if the CDs hadn't belonged to the library, I would have chucked them out the window onto 95. Damn Communist Bastard. "

" Yes, I read this book because of the reference to it in Good Will Hunting. And yes, it knocked me on my ass. How do you like dem apples? "

" Just ... read it. Fantastic. A must read for ... well, for anyone. "

" It's a great book that reveals the history that you were never taught in school. Really opens your eyes and makes you question their motives at this very moment. "

" Again, this was another book that changed my views of the world. Its the history of our bad deeds of the US and its people. But understanding that going in, it'll show you the silent side of our history without making you hate our country. Very dense, but still a must read. "

" If you do not have time to read the entire People's History, read this. "

" This is another book that totally blew my mind in high school. Now that I know a little bit more about the ways of the world, I still think it's required reading for any American. "

" Listened to abridged book on CD...interesting perspective on history. Learned a lot, also liked how it was Massachusetts-centric. "

" Did get a little tired of all of the tales of beatings and killings "

" Easy read for a history book, very informative, history from the bottom up. Full thoughts here. "

" I haven't taken time to read the entire People's History of the United States, but this is very good excerpt from it... "

" This is an abreviated version of his longer book (going back to Columbus). It is very interesting and eye opening but since I was listening to it on iPod I probably didn't absorb as much as I could have by reading. "

" Okay, Zinn is a commie, but that doesn't mean he's wrong about the facts. "

" This is like the liberal answer to reader's digest, not a history book. "

" It was time to revisit a People's History. Every bit as captivating as in high school. "

" Awesome! A must read for everyone. "

" I read bits and pieces of this in HS. I remember it being a great source for the "other" side of history- the loser's side. "

" Wonderfully informative, this book can make an activist out of anyone! "

" This book is always out at home. I don't think I have the heart to add it to my "read" shelf as I am constantly picking it up and reading excerpts. "

" Probably the tenth time I've read this, it's a book that restores my faith in America, especially durring campaign season. "

" A good introduction to "revisionist" history; that is to say, this is a history of "the other" in American society, those who were long ignored, such as women, African Americans, native peoples, and non-Christians. "

" Whoa, this audiobook is read by Matt Damon. More later. "

" i had this book assigned to me to read for my AP history class. by the time i was done, i was shocked and sickened by what i had read. i can say that no other book has shaped my political beliefs so much. "

" Everything you've ever been taught about American history is wrong. "

" When did I first open this huge "alternate history" book? Probably the early 1980s. Finally bought it and read every word -- of the most recent edition -- in 2010. It makes a lot more sense the older you get. (Unless you're one of the Koch Brothers, I suppose.) "

" I have lost count on how many times I have loaned out my copy; sometimes to people I hardly ever knew and it has always returned.<br/><br/>Much better then that whitewashed version of American history we learned in school. "

" Used in conjunction with an IB History of the Americas course for 11th and 12th graders. <br/>Excellent source for divergent perspectives. "

" A supremely fascinating book--tells about the reactions of ordinary citizens during the entire history of the US from Columbus to 9/11, rather than just the repetition of wars and presidents we learned in our fact-filled history classes. "

" possibly the greatest history book ever written. I started this in 1996 whilst at university and probably finsihed it around 2009, after reading a couple of chapters every year. "

" This will be mandatory reading for my sons. :) "

" Well researched. Has been used as a high school textbook in some places. It is a revelation to all who have only read their high school history books. A must read for all Americans. I purchased this at Hastings in Paris. "

" Excellent summary of US History from a hardcore non-revisionist. Eminently readable, despite its heft. I find myself dipping into specific chapters and re-reading them from time to time as a refresher. "