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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionsA Power Governments Cannot Suppressby Howard Zinn
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:"Thank you, Howard Zinn. Thank you for telling us what none of our leaders are willing to: The truth. And you tell it with such brilliance, such humanity. It is a personal honor to be able to say I am a better citizen because of you."--Michael Moore, director of the film Fahrenheit 9/11, and author of the New York Times bestseller, Stupid White Men ...and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation! "Find here the voice of the well-educated and honorable and capable and human United States of America, which might have existed if only absolute power had not corrupted its third-rate leaders so absolutely."-- Kurt Vonnegut, author of A Man Without a Country A Power Governments Cannot Suppress, is a major new collection of essays on American history, class, immigration, justice, and ordinary citizens who have made a difference. Zinn addresses America's current political/ethical crisis using lessons learned from our nation’s history. Zinn brings a profoundly human, yet uniquely American perspective to each subject he writes about, whether it’s the abolition of war, terrorism, the Founding Fathers, the Holocaust, defending the rights of immigrants, or personal liberties. Written in an accessible, personal tone, Zinn approaches the telling of U.S. history from an active, engaged point of view. "America's future is linked to how we understand our past,” writes Zinn; "For this reason, writing about history, for me, is never a neutral act." Zinn frames the book with an opening essay titled "If History is to be Creative," a reflection on the role and responsibility of the historian. "To think that history-writing must aim simply to recapitulate the failures that dominate the past," writes Zinn, "is to make historians collaborators in an endless cycle of defeat." "If history is to be creative, to anticipate a possible future without denying the past, it should, I believe, emphasize new possibilities by disclosing those hidden episodes of the past when, even if in brief flashes, people showed their ability to resist, to join together, and occasionally win. I am supposing, or perhaps only hoping, that our future may be found in the past’s fugitive moments of compassion rather than in its solid centuries of warfare." Buzzing with stories and ideas, Zinn draws upon fascinating, little-known historical anecdotes spanning from the Declaration of Independence to the USA PATRIOT Act to comment on the most controversial issues facing us today: government dishonesty, how to respond to terrorism, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the loss of our liberties, immigration, and the responsibility of the citizen to confront power for the common good. Considered a "modern-day Thoreau" by Jonathon Kozol, Zinn's inspired writings address the reader as an active participant in history making. "We live in a beautiful country,” writes Zinn, in the book’s opening chapter. “But people who have no respect for human life, freedom, or justice have taken it over. It is now up to all of us to take it back." Featuring essays penned over an eight-year period, A Power Governments Cannot Suppress is Howard Zinn’s first writerly work in several years, an invaluable post-9/11-era addition to the themes that run through his bestselling classic, A People’s History Of the United States. Howard Zinn is a veteran of World War II and author of many books and plays, including the million-selling classic, A People’s History of the United States. For more information about Howard and his speaking schedule see www.citylights.com Book News Annotation:This collection of 35 essays by leftist historian and political
activist Zinn (emeritus, Boston U.) touches upon themes that will be
familiar to fans of his People's History of the United States and
other writings, particularly the enduring power of people's movements
to resist government violence and oppression, the illegitimacy of
war, and the lessons of history for the political activists of today.
Among the topics covered in the essays are the Seattle General Strike
of 1919, class conflict in early American history, the unlearned
lessons of the Hiroshima bomb, criticism of the current wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq, Henry David Thoreau and civil disobedience, the
late Catholic priest and antiwar activist Philip Berrigan, and
immigration.
Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Synopsis:Zinn's upbeat look at our political moment and inspiring flashes of democracy, resistance, and hope. Synopsis:Cultural Writing. Politics. Howard Zinn, author of the classic A People's History of the United States, demonstrates how the U.S. response to the 9/11 attacks has not only unleashed wars in Afghanistan and Iraq but has also prompted a rollback of decades of struggle for democracy, civil rights, and government accountability here at home. A champion of the disadvantaged and oppressed, Zinn offers an inspiring counter-narrative to the State's ongoing "war on terror" and celebrates the flashes of democracy and resistance that are reason for hope. Written between September 11, 2005 and the spring of 2006, this timely collection features Zinn at his critical best. Synopsis:"Zinn writes with an enthusiasm rarely encountered in the leaden prose of academic history. . ."-New York Times Book Review"A Power Governments Cannot Suppress" is Howard Zinn's major new collection of essays on American history, class, immigration, justice, and ordinary citizens who have made a difference.Like Zinn, "A Power Governments Cannot Suppress" is something of a national treasure. Having fought in World War II as a bombardier, Zinn brings a profoundly human, yet uniquely American perspective to each subject he writes about, whether it's the Founding Fathers, winning the war on terrorism, respecting the holocaust, or defending the rights of immigrants. Written in an accessible, personal tone, Howard approaches the telling of U.S. history from an active, engaged point of view. "America's future is linked to how we understand our past,"writes Zinn; "For this reason, writing about history, for me, is never a neutral act."Zinn opens the book with an essay titled "If History is to be Creative,"a reflection on the role and responsibility of the engaged historian. "To think that history-writing must aim simply to recapitulate the failures that dominate the past,"writes Zinn, "is to make historians collaborators in an endless cycle of defeat.""If history is to be creative, to anticipate a possible future without denying the past, it should, I believe, emphasize new possibilities by disclosing those hidden episodes of the past when, even if in brief flashes, people showed their ability to resist, to join together, and occasionally win. I am supposing, or perhaps only hoping, that our future may be found in the past's fugitive moments of compassion rather than in its solid centuries of warfare."Buzzing with ideas, stories, and anecdotes spanning from the Revolutionary War and the War with Mexico through to World War II, Vietnam, 9/11, and the U.S. occupation of Iraq, Zinn's view of American history is not a praise of famous leaders, but those who rebelled against them in the name of social justice. While writing extensively on current events and the consequences of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and Iraq, Zinn also dedicates entire chapters to troublemakers like Henry David Thoreau, Eugene Debs, Philip Berrigan, Italian immigrants Sacco & Vanzetti, and heralds not the soldiers who fought for George Washington, but those who deserted the Revolutionary Army because of intolerable mistreatment from elitist commanding officers. For Zinn, the voices and stories of ordinary working Americans, immigrants, working people, and soldiers comprise the real storyline of our history.Featuring essays penned over an eight-year period, "A Power Governments Cannot Suppress" is Howard Zinn's first writerly work in several years, an invaluable post-9/11-era addition to the themes that run through his bestselling classic, "A People's History Of the United States." About the AuthorHoward Zinn is a U.S. historian and political scientist, whose philosophy incorporates ideas from Marxism, anarchism, socialism, and social democracy. He is the author of A People's History of the United States and the autobiography You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train. What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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