THE INDISPENSIBLE ZINN

by Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky (Foreword), Patrick McCarthy (Introduction)

Designed to highlight Zinn's moist incisive writing, THE INDISPENSIBLE ZINN includes excerpts from Zinn's bestselling PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, his memoir, YOU CAN'T BE NEUTRAL ON A MOVING TRAIN, his inspiring writings on the civil rights and anti-war movement, and the full text of his celebrated play, MARX IN SOHO. Noted historian and activist Patrick McCarthy provides essential historical and biographical context for each selection. Powerful pieces by Naom Chomsky and Alice Walker bookend this collection.

Genres: History, Politics, Essays, Economics, Philosophy, Nonfiction

540 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2011

About the author

Howard Zinn was an American historian, playwright, philosopher, socialist intellectual and World War II veteran. He was chair of the history and social sciences department at Spelman College, and a political science professor at Boston University. Zinn wrote more than 20 books, including his best-selling and influential A People's History of the United States in 1980. In 2007, he published a version of it for younger readers, A Young People's History of the United States.

Zinn described himself as "something of an anarchist, something of a socialist. Maybe a democratic socialist." He wrote extensively about the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement and labor history of the United States. His memoir, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (Beacon Press, 1994), was also the title of a 2004 documentary about Zinn's life and work. Zinn died of a heart attack in 2010, at the age of 87.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite historian. He still makes me reassess my views on historical events, and also makes me proud of historians who stood up for civil rights and against abuses of power. Quite prescient in light of our current national nightmare. I enjoyed the articles and the interviews. I'm not sure thee are indispensable, but they are enlightening.

[Mark Gowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who are not familiar with Howard Zinn, he is truly indispensable to those who would like a truly historical approach to American history. The famous (or infamous) author of A People’s History of the United States is presented here through excerpts, essays and interviews and a section of his play; the three different approaches are stylistically different in important ways.

The excerpts are excellent but as such lose the context in which they were written. This makes them a bit dated as to the material itself, but the substance of Zinn's writing still comes through. The essays are incomparably Zinn and hit the point. Clear and fluid writing make it necessary to get the pen out in order to underline stabbing points and insights. His interviews with David Barsamian don't capture the clarity that Zinn's writings do. Finally his play, Marx in Soho, is just not my taste.

The sections of the book come primarily from the Politics of History and the Peoples History as well as a few other essays and writings from lesser known writings, all good and on point in varying degrees of quality. Howard Zinn is an honest writer in a dishonest time and for that reason alone is worth the read regardless of you happen to agree with his politics or not.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

"A lesson. If you are going to break the law, do it with two thousand people ... and Mozart."

Review to come.

[shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading him made me fall in love. Reading others talk about his death made me grieve. I learned so much

[Jason von Meding · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to Zinn's work. Marx in Soho is a wonderful play that I had never come across. Previously I had only read A People's History in detail, but my Zinn reading list has now expanded!

[dusty.rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope to get back to a longer review, but let's just type for now that I'll be reading more Zinn.

He writes well, thinks critically, and is unabashed in his belief that not only can we do better but that we must strive to do so.

Next Zinn on deck: A People's History of the United States.

[Bobby House · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reader provided an excellent overview of some of Zinn's most important works and provides a fair amount of insight into his life and the origin of scholastic direction and indefatigable activism, along with the warmth, supportiveness and humor with which he conducted his relationships.

[Alycia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man I love Howard Zinn.