Book Summary and Reviews of A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

Book Summary

Historian Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, a landmark work of social history, chronicles American history from the bottom up, throwing out the official narrative 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, it 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 driven by powerful social movements carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance.

Covering Christopher Columbus's 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. This edition also includes an introduction by Anthony Arnove, who wrote, directed, and produced The People Speak with Zinn and who coauthored, with Zinn, Voices of a People's History of the United States.

But what does American history look like when told not by the victors, but by the people on the streets, in the factories, and on the frontiers?

History from Below: Instead of focusing on presidents and generals, Zinn tells America's story from the viewpoint of the street, the home, and the workplace.
Challenging Official Narratives: Discover the hidden history of the United States, from Columbus's arrival to the Clinton administration, through a narrative that questions traditional textbook accounts.
Marginalized Voices: Experience the country's greatest battles in the words of America's women, factory workers, African Americans, Native Americans, and immigrant laborers.
A Critical Look at U.S. History: Zinn provides an insightful analysis of the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, and racial equality, showing how they were waged against bloody resistance.