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faithd's review against another edition
5.0
Read this with my son (2nd grade) over the course of about 6 months as we are studying U.S. History this year.
This is a very comprehensive overview of U.S. history starting from the 1400s up to 9/11. It focuses on the stories of Native Americans, blacks, immigrants, people of color, and women. There is also some mention of the LGBTQ community, but it's not a focus.
This book definitely doesn't sugar coat the atrocities that happened throughout the history of the U.S., and there were a number of times (especially in the beginning part of the book which focuses on the treatment of Native Americans) that I wondered if this would be too horrific and depressing for my son to hear. I pushed on anyway, and I'm glad I did.
It does get a bit more hopeful as it goes on and talks about what people can accomplish when they work together for a cause, such as when americans banded together to protest the Vietnam war, or during the civil rights movement.
It was helpful for me to read about things that I vaguely remember from my childhood (Desert Storm, etc.) and get more context about what was going on. I really appreciated how the different wars were explained from all sides.
I also really appreciated how the authors get the reader to question things. They will state what it was the american public was told (for example, "we need to fight in Iraq because they have weapons of mass destruction") and then give evidence for other possible explanations of why our government has made certain decisions. I think it's a really good lesson to teach our children...to question things that they are told.
This book was maybe a little beyond the comprehension of my second grader, but I think he was still able to get a lot out of it as I read it to him. It would probably be best for like 10-13 year olds? However, my son was engaged with it and would get very upset to hear about how black and indigenous people were treated throughout history, which I think (and hope) sparked his compassionate side.
This is a very comprehensive overview of U.S. history starting from the 1400s up to 9/11. It focuses on the stories of Native Americans, blacks, immigrants, people of color, and women. There is also some mention of the LGBTQ community, but it's not a focus.
This book definitely doesn't sugar coat the atrocities that happened throughout the history of the U.S., and there were a number of times (especially in the beginning part of the book which focuses on the treatment of Native Americans) that I wondered if this would be too horrific and depressing for my son to hear. I pushed on anyway, and I'm glad I did.
It does get a bit more hopeful as it goes on and talks about what people can accomplish when they work together for a cause, such as when americans banded together to protest the Vietnam war, or during the civil rights movement.
It was helpful for me to read about things that I vaguely remember from my childhood (Desert Storm, etc.) and get more context about what was going on. I really appreciated how the different wars were explained from all sides.
I also really appreciated how the authors get the reader to question things. They will state what it was the american public was told (for example, "we need to fight in Iraq because they have weapons of mass destruction") and then give evidence for other possible explanations of why our government has made certain decisions. I think it's a really good lesson to teach our children...to question things that they are told.
This book was maybe a little beyond the comprehension of my second grader, but I think he was still able to get a lot out of it as I read it to him. It would probably be best for like 10-13 year olds? However, my son was engaged with it and would get very upset to hear about how black and indigenous people were treated throughout history, which I think (and hope) sparked his compassionate side.
lilawillow's review against another edition
4.0
Nice overview of social movements in the US and government actions that have oppressed poor, non-White folks, women, etc. Not a standalone history book as it paints a picture with broad strokes and doesn't give a lot of details, but a nice complement to more "traditional" history textbooks. One day I will read the regular version of this book, but this was a nice, basic intro for me, coming out of grad school with an overwhelmed brain.
kamckim's review against another edition
3.0
Well. I don't know what the big deal is. Granted, I've read the "Young Readers" edition, but there doesn't seem to be anything in this edition that should be censored, especially by a school system. I'll admit to choosing the side of the Native American, even in my choice to dress up as an "Indian" for my school Thanksgiving in 1977. While I was growing up, the American child's view of history changed because of Zinn and others like him who have written books about the untold histories of Americans. I've watched too many movies that show the horror of the war machine, the profits and the losses. I've watched all my Michael Moore movies. This reading was not a big deal to me, but it may enlighten others who still cling to positive ideas of nationalism and capitalism. If nothing more, this book just made me a bit cynical about history repeats itself. I am interested in reading the original version of the book, as I felt there were some parts of American history that were glossed over fairly quickly in the version I've read. One thing that puzzles me is his ending. He values the fundamental values in the Declaration of Independence are a human right--the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness--for the people, but he totally trashed the "Founding Fathers" who wrote it. I do think his emphasis is that any change should be brought about by people working at a grassroots level, not at the hands of an elite few. Overall, the reader will have some new takeaway after having read it. What that is would be up to the reader.
carlylottsofbookz's review against another edition
5.0
You know me. Anything that is "Damn the Man!", or perhaps more accurately, "The Man Damned Us!"...I heart. This was no exception.
Going to use it in class....somehow.
Gosh, me gusta!
Going to use it in class....somehow.
Gosh, me gusta!
carlylottsofbookz's review against another edition
5.0
Such a good book.
This book made me wish I taught US history, because it would be required outside reading.
He doesn't just blame everything on Republicans, either, he takes time to point out how much Democrats have messed stuff up to.
LOVE.
This book made me wish I taught US history, because it would be required outside reading.
He doesn't just blame everything on Republicans, either, he takes time to point out how much Democrats have messed stuff up to.
LOVE.
hellasmella's review against another edition
4.0
The writing isn't terribly rich or inspiring but that's not the point. A great resource accessible to 4th grade & up.
livrad's review against another edition
5.0
Howard Zinn's history for young people adds to (and corrects) mainstream history by also using the lenses of those not in power. It shows U.S. history from the view of those who are poor, female, Black, immigrants, Latinx, Indigenous, children, victims of wars, and the workers. It also highlights movements of resistance and fundamental social change.
Excerpts about how this varies from other histories:
"[Most histories] place the emphasis on the acts of leaders, not the actions of ordinary citizens."
"Most history books suggest that in times of crisis we must look to someone to save us. In the Revolutionary crisis, the Founding Fathers saved us. In the Civil War, Lincoln saved us. In the Depression, FDR saved us. Our role is just to go to the voting booths every four years. But from time to time, Americans reject the idea of a savior. They feel their own strength, and they rebel."
Excerpts about how this varies from other histories:
"[Most histories] place the emphasis on the acts of leaders, not the actions of ordinary citizens."
"Most history books suggest that in times of crisis we must look to someone to save us. In the Revolutionary crisis, the Founding Fathers saved us. In the Civil War, Lincoln saved us. In the Depression, FDR saved us. Our role is just to go to the voting booths every four years. But from time to time, Americans reject the idea of a savior. They feel their own strength, and they rebel."