Adapted from the bestselling grassroots history of the United States; the story of America in the world; told in comics formSince its landmark publication in 1980; A People's History of the United States has had six new editions; sold more than 1.7 million copies; become required classroom reading throughout the country; and been turned into an acclaimed play. More than a successful book; A People's History triggered a revolution in the way history is told; displacing the official versions with their emphasis on great men in high places to chronicle events as they were lived; from the bottom up.Now Howard Zinn; historian Paul Buhle; and cartoonist Mike Konopacki have collaborated to retell; in vibrant comics form; a most immediate and relevant chapter of A People's History: the centuries-long story of America's actions in the world. Narrated by Zinn; this version opens with the events of 9/11 and then jumps back to explore the cycles of U.S. expansionism from Wounded Knee to Iraq; stopping along the way at World War I; Central America; Vietnam; and the Iranian revolution. The book also follows the story of Zinn; the son of poor Jewish immigrants; from his childhood in the Brooklyn slums to his role as one of America's leading historians.Shifting from world-shattering events to one family's small revolutions; A People's History of American Empire presents the classic ground-level history of America in a dazzling new form.
#2600838 in Books Metropolitan Books 2000-05-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.58 x 1.20 x 6.34l; 1.10 #File Name: 0805043810368 pages
Review
13 of 17 people found the following review helpful. Thought provokingBy A CustomerAs a Christian; I have always been curious as to why Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism provoke such passion and interest in those people around me. Instead of seeing this book as an incomplete history of that country; or as Hollywood gossip; I saw the book as a discussion on spirituality. Why do people yearn for the Other; the pure and; often; unattainable that will make our lives meaningful? What are the spiritual dangers of using what we perceive as the exotic to attain spiritual peace and fulfillment? I think that Schell writes movingly on the West's attempts to "use" Tibet as a spiritual shortcut instead of looking into itself and practicing Buddhism or Christianity with awarness and personal insight. P.S. The sections on Hollywood; especially regarding certain action movie actors are also very funny.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Om money padme humBy Bob NewmanThe love of the exotic lurks in many hearts and has for centuries. Some people; when told a place is closed; off limits; verboten; must go there at any cost. So it was with Tibet. But not only was Tibet far away; a blank spot on world maps; it had an aura of magic; mysticism; and mystery. Tibet---mysticism---the occult---spiritual life: these connections spread through the West and Russia like measles in a kindergarten. What a challenge; then; for the adventurers of this world. From the 1600s on; a certain kind of Westerners (missionaries; soldiers; explorers; mystics) yearned to reach Lhasa; the ultimate Forbidden City. Their efforts are well recorded by Orville Schell. Most of them failed; but returned with tall tales nonetheless. In 1904; the infamous Younghusband expedition ("Bayonets to Lhasa") battered its way to the Tibetan capital over the bodies of hundreds of Tibetans who had nothing to match machine guns. This was supposedly in aid of keeping the Russians out; but Younghusband was dead keen on getting there long before. Travel to Tibet; well into my own lifetime; was like a pilgrimage to "Otherness". Tibet; a real society; with deep socio-economic problems; a feudal system; was turned into "Virtual Tibet"; a figment of Western imagination.Meanwhile; back in Hollywood----the Dalai Lama became a cult figure for many of the figures of Filmistan. The cultural destruction of Tibet under Chinese rule came to the attention of many who previously could not have found Tibet on a map. In the 1990s; not one; but two movies were produced about Tibet----the film version of Heinrich Harrer's "Seven Years in Tibet" and "Kundun"; more the story of the Dalai Lama. Since filming on site was out of the question due to politics; the former was filmed in Argentina starring Brad Pitt. Schell weaves an interesting tale; alternating between the story of Tibetan travellers and the production of the film. In the end; it seems that the film and real Tibet merged because the film brought the extinct version of Tibet back to life for Tibetan actors and film audiences everywhere. "...in the popular imagination of the West; the plight of the Tibetans....occupied against their will....has been added to the lure of Tibet as a mystical place of physical beauty and spiritual refinement." But haven't Westerners created "virtual Tibet" in order to improve the quality of our lives; to give hope that somewhere out there Shangri La really exists? Wasn't Heinrich Harrer an unreconstructed Nazi? Do we know much about real Tibet? These are very interesting questions because Tibet is not the only place; nor Tibetans the only people; to suffer "virtualization". I recommend this book if any of this interests you.12 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Tibet 101By C. DursoThis is a quick read highlighting Tibet's relationship to the outside world; especially through fallicious film accounts. It gives a good background of the country without getting too pedantic. A very good source for those seeking a good overview without th political and religious details.
