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The Indispensable Zinn: The Essential Writings of the "People's Historian"
A “well-chosen anthology of the radical historian’s prodigious output,” from A People’s History of the United States and lesser known sources ( Kirkus Reviews ).
When Howard Zinn died in early 2010, millions of Americans mourned the loss of one of the nation’s foremost intellectual and political guides; a historian, activist, and truth-teller who, in the words of the New York Times ’s Bob Herbert, “peel[ed] back the rosy veneer of much of American history to reveal sordid realities that had remained hidden for too long.”
A collection designed to highlight Zinn’s essential writings, The Indispensable Zinn includes excerpts from Zinn’s bestselling A 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 movement, and the full text of his celebrated play, Marx in Soho . Noted historian and activist Timothy Patrick McCarthy provides essential historical and biographical context for each selection.
With a foreword by Noam Chomsky and an afterword from Zinn’s former Spellman College student and longtime friend, Alice Walker, The Indispensable Zinn is both a fitting tribute to the legacy of a man whose “work changed the way millions of people saw the past,” and a powerful and accessible introduction for anyone coming to Zinn’s essential body of work for the first time (Noam Chomsky).
When Howard Zinn died in early 2010, millions of Americans mourned the loss of one of the nation’s foremost intellectual and political guides; a historian, activist, and truth-teller who, in the words of the New York Times ’s Bob Herbert, “peel[ed] back the rosy veneer of much of American history to reveal sordid realities that had remained hidden for too long.”
A collection designed to highlight Zinn’s essential writings, The Indispensable Zinn includes excerpts from Zinn’s bestselling A 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 movement, and the full text of his celebrated play, Marx in Soho . Noted historian and activist Timothy Patrick McCarthy provides essential historical and biographical context for each selection.
With a foreword by Noam Chomsky and an afterword from Zinn’s former Spellman College student and longtime friend, Alice Walker, The Indispensable Zinn is both a fitting tribute to the legacy of a man whose “work changed the way millions of people saw the past,” and a powerful and accessible introduction for anyone coming to Zinn’s essential body of work for the first time (Noam Chomsky).
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2011
86 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Howard Zinn
243 books2,832 followersHoward 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 3, 2017
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.
January 27, 2020
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.
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.
December 9, 2017
4.5 stars.
"A lesson. If you are going to break the law, do it with two thousand people ... and Mozart."
Review to come.
"A lesson. If you are going to break the law, do it with two thousand people ... and Mozart."
Review to come.
April 29, 2020
Reading him made me fall in love. Reading others talk about his death made me grieve. I learned so much
February 17, 2017
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!
September 2, 2016
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.
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.
November 23, 2019
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.
March 26, 2014
Man I love Howard Zinn.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews