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Line 1: − + − − ''A People's History of the United States'' does not incorporate the newer theories of history, but provides an energetic heavy-handed attack on conservatives, business, and white men. His book is stuck in 1950, methodologically, and does not appreciate the scholarship of the last 4 decades in the "new" intellectual, political, economic, diplomatic, military, cultural or social history. His "newest" ideas are that the white male "working class" -- as well as blacks, Indians, and women -- are victims of capitalism, a stock notion of 1930s [[Socialism|socialist]] philosophy regarding workers. Line 16:
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New Zinn quote
[[Howard Zinn]] (August 24, 1922 – January 27, 2010) was an [[American]] historian, most famous for his book, ''[[A People's History of the United States]]''. The book has sold over a million copies and gives a far-left interpretation of political history. Zinn's work manifests an inability or unwillingness to engage in objective analysis, and lacks contextual considerations, and instead his presentation of history is a polemic for change.
[[Howard Zinn]] (August 24, 1922 – January 27, 2010) was an [[American]] historian, most famous for his book, ''[[A People's History of the United States]]''. The book has sold over a million copies and gives a far-left interpretation of political history. Zinn's work manifests an inability or unwillingness to engage in objective analysis, and lacks contextual considerations, and instead his presentation of history is a polemic for change.
Historian and author John Fea of Messiah College states that,
Historian and author John Fea of Messiah College states that,
{{cquote|Zinn writes well and is quite inspiring, but his book is bad history. In fact, I would not even call it history. A People's History of the United States is a political tract that uses the past to promote a presentist agenda...Zinn's book violates virtually every rule of good historical thinking.<ref>[http://www.philipvickersfithian.com/search/label/Howard%20Zinn Howard Zinn vs. David Barton]</ref>}}
{{cquote|Zinn writes well and is quite inspiring, but his book is bad history. In fact, I would not even call it history. A People's History of the United States is a political tract that uses the past to promote a presentist agenda...Zinn's book violates virtually every rule of good historical thinking.<ref>[http://www.philipvickersfithian.com/search/label/Howard%20Zinn Howard Zinn vs. David Barton]</ref>}}
Michael Kazin, Professor in the Department of History at Georgetown University states that
Michael Kazin, Professor in the Department of History at Georgetown University states that
<ref>[http://www.worldmag.com/articles/16402 ''The wilderness of Zinn''] World Magazine, February 27, 2010</ref></blockquote>
<ref>[http://www.worldmag.com/articles/16402 ''The wilderness of Zinn''] World Magazine, February 27, 2010</ref></blockquote>
Zinn's motivation for his presentation of history began with an event at an early age. When he the age of 17 he attended a Times Square political rally where was knocked senseless by police. As a result,, Zinn stated that, "I was no longer a liberal, a believer in the self-correcting character of democracy. I was a radical, believing something was fundamentally wrong with this country."
According to Zinn,
<blockquote>Objectivity is impossible and it is also undesirable. That is, if it were possible it would be undesirable, because if you have any kind of a social aim, if you think history should serve society in some way; should serve the progress of the human race; should serve justice in some way, then it requires that you make your selection on the basis of what you think will advance causes of humanity.” <ref>Zinn, ''A People's History of the United States'', p. 646</ref></blockquote>
''A People's History of the United States'' does not incorporate the newer theories of history, but provides an energetic heavy-handed attack on conservatives, business, and white men. His book is stuck in 1950, methodologically, and does not appreciate the scholarship of the last 4 decades in the "new" intellectual, political, economic, diplomatic, military, cultural or social history. His "newest" ideas are that the white male "working class" -- as well as blacks, Indians, and women -- are victims of capitalism, a stock notion of 1930s [[Socialism|socialist]] philosophy regarding workers.
Zinn's motivation for his radical point-of-view presentation of history appears to have formally begun with an event at an early age. When he the age of 17 he attended a Times Square political rally where was knocked senseless by police. As a result,, Zinn stated that, "I was no longer a liberal, a believer in the self-correcting character of democracy. I was a radical, believing something was fundamentally wrong with this country."
It has been pointed out that, consistent with the no-contextual analysis Zinn often engages in, Zinn could be considered to be a villainous, arbitrary murderer of women and children, as he served in the United States Air Corps during World War II on a bomber crew.
It has been pointed out that, consistent with the no-contextual analysis Zinn often engages in, Zinn could be considered to be a villainous, arbitrary murderer of women and children, as he served in the United States Air Corps during World War II on a bomber crew.