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A People's History of American Empire by Paul M. Buhle, Mike Konopacki, Dave Wagner, Howard Zinn
mad_about_books's review against another edition
5.0
I fully expected to breeze through A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF AMERICAN EMPIRE in one sitting. I was so wrong! For the record, I am 74 years old. I've lived through at least half of the situations covered in the book. I am also 50 years past reading comic books. The 'graphic novel' format turned out to be distracting, forcing me to re-read some of the captions several times to separate the words from the images. It is a 'graphic' history book. One of the time-consuming aspects of reading this book was googling some of the facts, all of which were verifiable from legitimate sources. It is not a 'novel.' It is left leaning and will certainly find its way onto a banned book list somewhere in deep red America.
When I started reading A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF AMERICAN EMPIRE, the United States, once again, seems on the brink of war… the war Americans and the world cannot afford… war with Russia. As Russian troops hover on the border of Ukraine, and Putin rattles the Russian saber, things look bleak indeed. Will this result in annihilation or another instance of American empire building with Ukraine falling under the heel of Washington?
From the time American children enter school, they are taught about American exceptionalism, my country always right, my country never wrong. The United States has been building empire since its inception. The Monroe Doctrine, manifest destiny, the Mexican-American War, the Indian wars are clear examples of empire building. Throughout its history, the US was exceptionally good at indiscriminately killing Native American women and children, exceptionally good at promoting the superiority of the white race, exceptionally good at kowtowing to rich businessmen no matter how they made their money or how badly they treated their employees, and exceptionally good at using war to exemplify patriotism. American exceptionalism can be boiled down to two words… violence and money.
A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF AMERICAN EMPIRE does a good job of illustrating the hypocrisy of 'separation of church and state.' Empire building in the name of Christ was and is de rigueur. While preaching, the true religion of empire building was and is war profiteering.
There is no doubt that in this era of extreme political division in the United States, the left will read this book one way and the right exactly the opposite. This simplified history stands on its merits and will appeal to young people with its graphic presentation. It is a fitting history for a world where brevity rules.
When I started reading A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF AMERICAN EMPIRE, the United States, once again, seems on the brink of war… the war Americans and the world cannot afford… war with Russia. As Russian troops hover on the border of Ukraine, and Putin rattles the Russian saber, things look bleak indeed. Will this result in annihilation or another instance of American empire building with Ukraine falling under the heel of Washington?
From the time American children enter school, they are taught about American exceptionalism, my country always right, my country never wrong. The United States has been building empire since its inception. The Monroe Doctrine, manifest destiny, the Mexican-American War, the Indian wars are clear examples of empire building. Throughout its history, the US was exceptionally good at indiscriminately killing Native American women and children, exceptionally good at promoting the superiority of the white race, exceptionally good at kowtowing to rich businessmen no matter how they made their money or how badly they treated their employees, and exceptionally good at using war to exemplify patriotism. American exceptionalism can be boiled down to two words… violence and money.
A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF AMERICAN EMPIRE does a good job of illustrating the hypocrisy of 'separation of church and state.' Empire building in the name of Christ was and is de rigueur. While preaching, the true religion of empire building was and is war profiteering.
There is no doubt that in this era of extreme political division in the United States, the left will read this book one way and the right exactly the opposite. This simplified history stands on its merits and will appeal to young people with its graphic presentation. It is a fitting history for a world where brevity rules.
misterfix's review against another edition
4.0
Sobering, engaging and essential graphic novel that opens access to this history to a wider audience.
sar_p's review against another edition
5.0
Obviously, considering my own biases, I loved this book. It makes me really sad about our imperialist history and even though it ended on a note of hope I don't feel. However, I also know that it's not just the U.S. at fault. It's human greed and capitalism in general. So yeah ... I guess read this if you're anti-war.
leeroyuk's review against another edition
3.0
A better title would be "A history of American Bastardry". It doesn't just cover imperial foreign policy, but oppression at home, and how successive leaders have murdered and trampled on the rights of their own people. And of course, it covers imperial policy: overthrowing democratically elected leaders, financing paramilitary groups that don't stop at murdering children, encouraging chemical weapon use, causing millions of deaths indirectly through sanctions (and saying "We think it was worth it"), and cultivating terrorist groups, which then, of course, turned on their master and attacked the World Trade Centre.
We all know how ruthless the USA can be, but you will be astonished at some of the details. Eye opening.
But it did feel very one-sided. It is history through the lens of moral judgement, which inevitably gives greater weight to the subject's darker actions and overlooks the subtleties of how power changes, develops, and even reforms. Zinn recounts all of the horrible things America's leaders have done at home and abroad without any focus on reforms, development of political institutions, and says the only hope lies in political agitation.
As a technical point, do not read this on the Ipad kindle app, the lettering was distorted, with unfinished sentences and tiny font, which made it difficult to read. Like they had rushed to get it finished and not proof read it. Disappointing.
We all know how ruthless the USA can be, but you will be astonished at some of the details. Eye opening.
But it did feel very one-sided. It is history through the lens of moral judgement, which inevitably gives greater weight to the subject's darker actions and overlooks the subtleties of how power changes, develops, and even reforms. Zinn recounts all of the horrible things America's leaders have done at home and abroad without any focus on reforms, development of political institutions, and says the only hope lies in political agitation.
As a technical point, do not read this on the Ipad kindle app, the lettering was distorted, with unfinished sentences and tiny font, which made it difficult to read. Like they had rushed to get it finished and not proof read it. Disappointing.
psykobilliethekid's review against another edition
4.0
This book tells the history of America from a different point of view-a view from those who suffered, those who died, those who were used, and those to benefited from wars, racketeering, and big business politics.
It's the same history that is taught today, and some that is never mentioned, making it dust in the breeze, fading away to time.
It's not a book meant to frighten or anger, but a book meant to reveal all sides of the story.
It's the same history that is taught today, and some that is never mentioned, making it dust in the breeze, fading away to time.
It's not a book meant to frighten or anger, but a book meant to reveal all sides of the story.
loisagrimm's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one as it gave a different perspective on historical events. I would recommend this book to anyone willing to acknowledge that our school history books were not the final say on history.
aborham's review against another edition
4.0
A graphic history of the more than two centuries of atrocities committed by the US empire!
spiderfelt's review against another edition
4.0
The history of American foreign policy has been duplicity in the service of corporate profits. On the surface, it's all diplomacy and international brotherhood, while in reality it is regime change. It is difficult not to feel depressed reading this book. The final page, gives a glimmer of hope. "If we remember those times and places, and there are so many where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act. Hope is the energy for change."
This book was one of several suggested titles required for continued learning at a mandatory diversity training. The graphic format was an interesting way to represent this historical perspective.
This book was one of several suggested titles required for continued learning at a mandatory diversity training. The graphic format was an interesting way to represent this historical perspective.