A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES 1492 to Present

The late Howard Zinn attempts to correct the "historian's distortion" of the past with a detailed account of the struggles of African-Americans, Native Americans, women, labor, and others. Jeff Zinn, the author’s son, reads with a passionate anger that occasionally overshadows the stories he tells. The historical accounts will prove interesting and important even to listeners who believe George Washington and our Founding Fathers intended more than "the most ingenious system of control in history." The author's socialist leanings will likely irritate rank-and-file Democrats as much as Republicans; he considers both parties gatekeepers of "the system." This is a tough listen—the sheer weight of Zinn’s critique could well leave listeners feeling disheartened and powerless. J.A.S. 2011 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2010]