A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn Summary
Overview of A People’s History of the United States
Zinn's revolutionary retelling of American history through the eyes of the marginalized has sold 2.5 million copies, reshaping education nationwide. Referenced in "Good Will Hunting" and endorsed by Noam Chomsky, it dares to ask: whose version of America have you been taught?
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Key takeaways
When Columbus Landed, Civilization Didn't Begin-It Ended
What if everything you learned about American history was a carefully curated story designed to make you comfortable with power? In 1492, when Christopher Columbus stepped onto Caribbean shores, he didn't discover anything. The Arawak people who greeted him with gifts and hospitality were part of millions living across sophisticated civilizations with advanced agriculture, architecture, and governance. Columbus immediately saw them differently: "They would make fine servants," he wrote. "With fifty men we could subjugate them all." Within two years, half of Hispaniola's native population was dead or enslaved. This pattern-invasion justified as discovery, genocide rebranded as progress-would repeat for four centuries. By 1890, Native populations had collapsed from millions to 250,000. The Wounded Knee massacre that year, where cavalry killed 300 Sioux including women and children, wasn't an aberration but a culmination. What makes this unbearable isn't just the violence but the erasure: generations learned about brave explorers and manifest destiny, never about systematic destruction of entire worlds. Controlling history has always been essential to maintaining power.
The Economic Engine Built on Stolen Lives
Women's Intimate Oppression and Unrelenting Resistance
Class Warfare: The Civil War Nobody Taught You About
American Empire: The Myth of Benevolent Power
The Unreported Resistance: Ordinary People Demanding Justice
The Revolution History Demands of Us
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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