A People's History Chapter Summaries

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Analytic Book Review of A People’s History

As we grow up, we are taught various lessons and told different stories that stick with us for life. Over the years, we hear the same tales and and acts of heroism retold and retold, and we eventually come to regard and idolize these individuals simply because it's what has been ingrained in our minds. While some of these individuals certainly deserve such recognition, others may not deserve the degree of notoriety that we give them. It’s extremely troubling to think that these “heroes” that we’ve been taught to blindly idolize may not actually possess the true qualities and characteristics of a hero. In A People’s History, Howard Zinn sheds light on the untold stories of History, bringing a …show more content…
“By the year 1770, the top one percent of property owners owned around 44% of the wealth”, writes Zenn. Our nation’s government was controlled by those with power, and that power came from wealth. This is how it’s been since Columbus. Even before that! Since the beginning of civilization, success and empowerment has been synonymous with money, wealth, and the rich. Zenn also emphasizes the concept of unfulfillment. No amount of money seems to be enough for these so called “leaders” that we put into power. They’re always going to want more. This desire and need for more is what’s partially to blame for their blindness to boundaries. They cross lines that they don’t even realize exist because they have one goal, like Columbus, and are willing to go to great extents to achieve that goal. Since that goal is unacheivable, or not enough to appease them though, they are forever stepping on those below them to get ahead. The worst part about this? That it’s acceptable, and is sugar-coated, so to speak, when taught in today’s history books. Take slavery for example. For many years, the huge profits that were brought in for slave traders outweighed the inhuman treatment of African Americans. It was deemed okay and went on for so long because their suffering was worth the profit that those in power were making. It’s really the lower class and the oppressed that are to thank for the Rich’s wealth, for the only reason they got ahead was through harsh treatment and use of the
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