Product Description

Historian, activist, and bestselling author Howard Zinn has been interviewed by David Barsamian for public radio numerous times over the past decade. Original Zinn is a collection of their conversations, showcasing the acclaimed author of A People's History of the United States at his most engaging and provocative.

Touching on such diverse topics as the American war machine, civil disobedience, the importance of memory and remembering history, and the role of artists—from Langston Hughes to Dalton Trumbo to Bob Dylan—in relation to social change, Original Zinn is Zinn at his irrepressible best, the acute perception of a scholar whose impressive knowledge and probing intellect make history immediate and relevant for us all.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #366405 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-01
• Released on: 2006-06-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780060844257
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
Zinn's newest book (of more than 20 published) collects eight radio interviews conducted with the Boston University history professor emeritus between August 2002 and February 2005 by Barsamian, founder of Alternative Radio, in Boulder, Colo. Barsamian, who is clearly sympathetic to Zinn's radical views on such subjects as the war in Iraq, art and civil disobedience as political tools, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Kennedy brothers, largely poses softball questions. The octogenarian Zinn thrives on them, explaining cogently and forcefully why world peace must predominate, rather than American military might, or how artists challenge established social boundaries. In discussing domestic politics, Zinn continues his decades-long advocacy of pulling up the poor through social engineering rather than failed programs already in place. The book closes with the text of a speech by Zinn, "Against Discouragement," which he presented at Spelman College in 2005, where he had been fired in 1963 because of his crusading for civil rights. Enthusiasts who hang on Zinn's every word will enjoy this slim paperback original; newcomers may be better off starting with his more substantial work. (July)
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From School Library Journal
Adult/High School–A collection of eight of Zinn's interviews with Barsamian for public radio during the last decade, plus Zinn's 2005 commencement address at Spelman College. These conversations cover a range of topics, but especially late-20th-century American imperialism and the resistance and dissent that it has engendered. From an informed and steadfast leftist point of view, Zinn lashes out against the American war machine, with a particularly strong criticism of the Bush administration's invasion of Iraq. His theme is clear and persistent: we need to know the truth of what is happening and has happened in the arenas of national and international politics, and we must preserve this truth as part of our collective memory if there is to be any hope of avoiding the social injustices of the past. This is not only Zinn's theme, but also his mission in life. Whether or not one agrees with his political stance, it is hard to deny his keen intellect, vast knowledge, and passion for the rigors of scholarship. The less-formal nature of these conversations, as opposed to traditional historical writing, will be welcomed by those wanting to dip into the political history of the recent past without devoting too much time and energy to doing so. Zinn has a gift for making complex historical subjects immediate, comprehensible, and even tantalizing for average readers. There is a large measure of insight and passion in these conversations, and enough to make history and politics subjects of direct relevance to many teens.–Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Howard Zinn, professor emeritus at Boston University, is a historian, playwright, and social activist. The author of numerous books, he has received the Lannan Foundation Literary Award for Nonfiction, and the Eugene V. Debs Award for his writing and political activism. In 2003 he was awarded the Prix des Amis du Monde Diplomatique.

Customer Reviews

Conversing with Zinn
Howard Zinn not only makes history worth reading - he makes history. Historian, political activist, octogenarian and bestselling author of A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, he has been interviewed by Alternative Radio's David Barsamian (alternativeradio.org) a number of times over the past decade; and this latest publication is a collection of eight radio interviews between 2002 and 2005, showcasing Zinn's current thought on such issues as the bombing of Afghanistan, the occupation of Iraq, the so-called War on Terror, civil liberties, militarism, modern warfare, imperialism, economic inequality, privatization and, of course, the role of civil disobedience in an undemocratic society. Although, in the words of some critics, Barsamian merely asks `softball questions,' this book is clearly not aiming to persuade or cajole the reader. Rather, the format is more like one of F.D.R.'s fireside chats, or a friendly dialogue between Socrates and Crito. However, these are not mere theoretical musing. After his experience as a W.W.II bombardier, Zinn has led an active career striving to bring about real, concrete social change as a teacher, veteran of the Civil Rights Movement and peace advocate. Zinn enthusiasts will find much originality in this book, up to and including the speech he gave at Spelman College in 2005, forty-two years after being fired for "insubordination." Zinn newcomers, on the other hand, might want to Start with A PEOPLE'S HISTORY in order to lay groundwork for much of the historical material discussed in this volume. Whatever you start with, though, you should definitely start. Nothing this man has touched should go unread.

Excellent read
This was an interesting read from a man who knows his history and politics. I especially love his opinions on war and he seems to always back his arguments up with solid reasoning. If you really want to be blown away, read The People's History of the United States.