Subversive History

[bibliogramma]

A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present, Howard Zinn

I will admit, I'm not all that knowledgeable about American history - not so shocking, considering that I'm not an American - but since the U.S. has had and continues to have such an enormous influence on its neighbours and on the world as a whole, I am occasionally drawn to reading Americna history on the grounds that it is always helpful to know as much as you can, especially about things that can be perceived as threats.

Zinn's book is just what I needed. He tells the history of the U.S., not in terms of dates and political, military or industrial leaders, but in terms of the perspectives of the people. Not the elites, but the average person: settlers, Aboriginal North Americans, farmers, trade unionists, workers, blacks, immigrants, women.

This is a book I will go back to, for insights into what was happening to the real people of America at various times when the otehr history books are talking about legislators and elections and wars.