I have been reading A People’s History of the United States off and on for years. I have also begun expanding my reading of Zinn, especially his writings on civil rights. I find his approach to the teaching of history -and how we think about what history is- very refreshing and it brings me hope and optimism.
I found this tribute to him from three years ago when he passed away in January of 2010. Enjoy:
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/28/howard_zinn_1922_2010_a_tribute
I am Jeremy Nathan Marks, the author and editor of "The Sand County." I am an environmentalist and a doctoral candidate in history at Western University in London, Ontario. This blog is designed to be an exploration of the natural world, our relationship with it and the necessities that govern life on Earth. Here you will find a little bit of everything that brings us to that interface of human dreams, desire, repose and the wisdom, austerity and sublime power that the natural world offers. I hope you will consider posting your thoughts and opinions while you are here. Your suggestions and your insights are welcome. Thank you for visiting!
Jeremy Nathan Marks
Sighing and weeping . . . . Rest in peace, Zinn! SoundEagle really hopes that there are and can be many more of your kind in the past, present and future.
Here are a few more (each one is quite long):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrhSuEhJ4OY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAAJ3CdqV0A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysqYqWdlrNY
I will definitely take a look at these. Thank you for the links.
You are very welcome, Jeremy. SoundEagle hopes that you’d find them informative and edifying, though it would take quite a while (as long as several hours) to go through all of them.
In some ways, one could make the connection that Howard Zinn is to history what Carl Sagan is to cosmology.
Sagan has been on my list of must reads for a long time. I would be curious to explore your analogy.
For a start, Zinn and Sagan have staunch admirers and detractors; both were educators and public figures; both had criticized, debunked, popularized, protested and been arrested in their respective activities and fields (history and science respectively).
If you are interested in Sagan’s biography, then Keay Davidson’ book “Carl Sagan: A Life” is essential.
Zinn and Sagan are both Jewish, as are you.