A People's History of American Empire
by Howard Zinn, Mike Konopacki, Paul Buhle
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Book Summary Information
Author: Howard Zinn, Mike Konopacki, Paul BuhleEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-04-01
ISBN: 0805087443
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Metropolitan Books
Book Reviews of A People's History of American Empire
Book Review: Just another opinion . . . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
Love or hate it, this book is historically accurate and presents a viewpoint and perspective which is missing even from advanced college level American History courses. For that reason alone, Mr. Zinn must be given credit. Ultimately, politics is simply a matter of opinion -there is no right or wrong and this book (like all history books) is purely political.
Mr. Zinn's politics just happen to be skewed to the left, but there is plenty to learn from him nonetheless. Most importantly is that a citizen or resident of this country should understand that our tremendous standard of living and civil liberties (relative to other societies) we enjoy came about as a result of mixed laizez faire/central economic planning and empirialistic/oppressive actions of a global scale. There could not have been a U.S. absent the systemic annilihatiion of "native" americans (who themselves were imigrants) or various imperial battles and wars which ultimately left the U.S. as the world's only superpower (which status is currently being challenged by the economic emergence of China).
All empires end and history shows us that the formation of these empires tends to be much more benign and bloodless than when they fall apart. I for one do not wish me or my children to be alive when American empire disintigrates (as it most certainly will if action is not taken and which to a certain extent is happening presently).
This is a brilliant book for simply setting out the facts of American empirialism in an easy to read format (which necessarily leaves out alot of stuff). For those who are interested in a much more in depth view I highly recommend his full length novels (ironically one reviewer criticized this effort for lack of criticism of the Clinton administration - well butthead, he has a whole chapter on Clinton in his book and he's no less critical of Clinton than he is of Bush.)
Hopefully the conclusion you will come to (and a conclusion which probably requires a reading of his full length book) is that depending on your socio-economic status (and there are only two true classes in American society - the super wealthy (which includes most politicians as they must pander to this crowd in order to finance their campaigns) and everyone else) American empire either REALLY works for you or it simply works for you (i.e., you're in the top 1% of wage and income earners or you're not and since the standard of living of people at the lowest rung of American empire still have a standard far above similarly situated people anywhere else on the planet, generally speaking you're better off).
Ruling minority elites (both Democrats and Republicans) share power (and keep you under control) by creating class conflicts within the majority sub-class (i.e. anyone without true wealth) and pit those people against one another (i.e., the upper middle class against the lower middle or lower class) e.g. families making $50k/yr against those making $200k/yr in order to distract YOU from the fact that 1% of the population controls (and will continue to control) 40% of the resources. Historically when that didn't work, that societal energy is chanelled into policital "reforms" (by allowing minor changes in class structure and wealth distribution such as that brought about by the labor movement of the 30's or the civil rights movement of the 60's) or even better, into foreign wars where a common "enemy" is identified for everyone to be more concerned about (whether it be Indians, Mexicans, Germans, Communists or "Terrorists") while at the same time expanding U.S. empire and influence.
Democrat elites maintain power by pandering to their constituency as to how the need to raise taxes on their "wealthy" neighbors. Republican elites do it by pandering in the reverse: your middle class "wealth" will be further reduced if you let the Democrats in - i.e, Republican's are the only people who can keep the flood to a trickle and vice versa, Democrats are the only way the lower class can get resources and assistance - which is complete b.s. Of course, neither party addresses or wants to advocate serious corporate and true wealth taxation and redistribution or comprehensive immigration reform, because that would be inconsistent with the agendas of those who keep them in power and donate to their campaigns and ultimately Zinn's teachings show us is that American emperialism has basically benefitted this minority class of society (anybody can join this class btw - you just have to be either really lucky, really smart, really talented or have parents that were - usually it's a combination of the four).
Once you come to this understanding (and you probably cannot without the benefit of Zinn's teachings which also requires the reading of his full length book) you realize Zinn's ultimate conclusion (which, for whatever reason he keeps veiled - I think it's because he wants you to reach it yourself) which is that current American "Democracy" $%&$&$ sucks and is only truly benefitting a privileged few. He's basically advocating for the Democratic restructing of our society to wrest power and resources away from 1% of the population and distribute it more equally (which btw you have the power to do under our current system).
I think he's correct, because under the current state of affairs if the forced polarization of America (i.e., the falsely created class conflict of interest between middle and lower class) continues (which only benefits the corporate and political elites) it will end in a fairly messy way (as all societys and empire's that collapse do.) Let's begin the discussion and end it in an orderly fashion - getting an accurate understanding of the world you live in is the first step - Buy this book!
Summary of A People's History of American Empire
Adapted from the bestselling grassroots history of the United States, the story of America in the world, told in comics form
Since its landmark publication in 1980, A People?s History of the United States has had six new editions, sold more than 1.7 million copies, become required classroom reading throughout the country, and been turned into an acclaimed play. More than a successful book, A People?s History triggered a revolution in the way history is told, displacing the official versions with their emphasis on great men in high places to chronicle events as they were lived, from the bottom up.
Now Howard Zinn, historian Paul Buhle, and cartoonist Mike Konopacki have collaborated to retell, in vibrant comics form, a most immediate and relevant chapter of A People?s History: the centuries-long story of America?s actions in the world. Narrated by Zinn, this version opens with the events of 9/11 and then jumps back to explore the cycles of U.S. expansionism from Wounded Knee to Iraq, stopping along the way at World War I, Central America, Vietnam, and the Iranian revolution. The book also follows the story of Zinn, the son of poor Jewish immigrants, from his childhood in the Brooklyn slums to his role as one of America?s leading historians.
Shifting from world-shattering events to one family?s small revolutions, A People?s History of American Empire presents the classic ground-level history of America in a dazzling new form.
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