A People's History of the United States
Howard Zinn published this book in 1980 with a simple aim, to tell the story of the United States from the bottom up. Instead of centering founders, presidents, and military leaders, he focuses on Native Americans, enslaved people, factory workers, women, immigrants, and protesters. He argues that progress has usually come from organized struggle rather than from generous leaders, and he is openly critical of the powerful. The book became a standard text in many classrooms and sold millions of copies, while also drawing sharp criticism from historians who said it oversimplifies and selects evidence to fit its argument. Whether read as a corrective or as a debated polemic, it changed how a generation thought about who gets left out of national history. It remains one of the most widely assigned history books in the country.
What you might want to know about A People's History of the United States
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
A historian retells American history from the viewpoint of working people, women, Native Americans, and the enslaved rather than presidents and generals.
Zinn tells the story from the viewpoint of ordinary and marginalized people, including workers, women, Native Americans, and the enslaved, rather than centering leaders.
Yes. It is widely assigned and admired, but some historians criticize it for selective evidence and a one-sided argument. It is best read as a deliberate corrective.
A People's History of the United States was written by Howard Zinn, published in 1980 by Harper Perennial Modern Classics.
A People's History of the United States is 768 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, A People's History of the United States takes most readers 12 to 17 hours to finish.
A People's History of the United States is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.