Howard Zinn: A Radical American Vision
by Davis D. Joyce, Noam Chomsky
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Book Summary Information
Author: Davis D. Joyce, Noam ChomskyEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-10
ISBN: 1591021316
Number of pages: 275
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Book Reviews of Howard Zinn: A Radical American Vision
Book Review: A Historical perspective of a Historian From a Historian
Summary: 5 Stars
Upon first encounter, this work seems to be just another unassuming biography. However, upon reading merely the first lines of the foreward (by the esteemed Noam Chomsky) that notion is shot to hell. This is a biography of a new breed, a breed that is in-you-face, so to speak, about its biases and preconceived notions upon the subject thereof. In these 254 pages of text, the author, Dr. Davis Joyce, accomplishes what has never been accomplished before with this humble reviewer, an interesting biography.
To say that I was, and still am to a certain extent, unfamiliar with Howard Zinn would be an understatement of the grandest degree. In fact, the only previous experience I've had with Dr. Zinn was his brief footnote within the 1997 film "Good Will Hunting," and the term footnote is used liberally. This book serves as a wonderful introduction to the work and life of Howard Zinn, who, over the course of the last nearly fifty years, has emerged as a founder of the school of "radical History."
As aforementioned, this is quite possibly the only "interesting" biography that I've ever read. This is mainly because this book is not plagued by the overt near-idolatry of the subject that hinders the effectiveness of other biographies. The author is up front with his biases,
and he makes no apologies for them. Another aspect of this tome that is different than others is that the typical methodical agreement with everything involved with the subject is non-existent. The author feels free enough with the subject to openly disagree with him (as with his policy regarding Dr. Zinn's "system" of grading), and even has occasion to present ideas of his own within the structure of Zinn. Yet another point of contention between this and other "similar" works is the inclusion of humor, which, in my opinion, is best exemplified by a passage taken from page 43, "So, ina August 1956, the Zinn family- Howard, Roslyn, Myla (age nine), and Jeff (age six)- packed themselves and their belongings into a Chevrolet (age ten)...," I'm not exactly sure why, but the inclusion of the age of the vehicle struck me as extremely funny.
The main strength of this book lies in the chronicle of the life of Howard Zinn, about his ascension from the lower class of New York to the middle class of Boston. Encapsulating Zinn's many conflicts with the prevailing social orders, administration (particularly John Sibler of Boston University), and the authority figures of the times, this presents a compelling profile of rebellion and radicalism.
Unfortunately, this book does have one glaring weakness: that of the summation of Howard Zinn's published works. These summations are, in my honest opinion, far too long, and quite dull. The author seems to me to rely far too heavily on quotations from the author, putting forth the impression that one would not have to read his work, for most of it is quoted within these pages. Do not get me wrong, I know that Howard Zinn's writings are as important, and possibly more so, than his background and personal history, but the author could be a bit more concise in his narrative thereof.
On a final note, this book is a very rare thing in its field, a biography of a still-living individual. This fact alone, in my opinion, lends this book much more credibility, as well as interest, than the typical biography, which, as aforementioned, this is NOT. All in all, this is a great effort put forth by a man who has a deep love and respect for his subject, and does Zinn a great justice with his chronicle of his life and ideas.
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