Original Zinn

April 10, 2006
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.

October 1, 2006
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"

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