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50th out of 568 books
—
750 voters
You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History of Our Times
by
Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States, tells his personal stories about more than thirty years of fighting for social change, from teaching at Spelman College to recent protests against war.
A former bombardier in WWII, Zinn emerged in the civil rights movement as a powerful voice for justice. Although he's a fierce critic, he gives us reason to hop...more
A former bombardier in WWII, Zinn emerged in the civil rights movement as a powerful voice for justice. Although he's a fierce critic, he gives us reason to hop...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
September 5th 2002
by Beacon Press
(first published 1994)
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this was the book that politicized my mom when she was in her forties. i had been a rebellious, critical kid for many years, and she had been a busy, tired middle school teacher and mom. she read this book and got all excited, she made my brother, who was in high school, read it too and discuss it with her. she went on to start teaching from "a people's history," started going to anti-racist activist gatherings and workshops, organizing diversity trainings for her school, housing books-to-prison...more
Before I really knew anything about Zinn other than that he wrote A People's History, he and Noam Chomsky always blurred in my ignorant mind -- anti-war, activists, teachers, white men from the Northeast. It was easy for me to forget how Zinn worked alongside the likes of Ella Baker, James Baldwin, MLK, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Stokley Carmichael and was a teacher to Alice Walker, Marian Wright Edelman, and countless others. A humble man. . . it's amazing to see how much he has done, shared, and co...more
It's been years since I had read this book and it is shameful that one forgets any of it. This is the book that probably captures the essence of Howard Zinn as my intellectual hero.
More than an academic, Howard Zinn was the type of person that never forgot the struggle of growing up poor. He never forgot the challenges, the strife, and never lost the compassion for others even as his fortunes improved. A former bombardier, Zinn arrived at the notion that war was just a way to brutalize all thos...more
More than an academic, Howard Zinn was the type of person that never forgot the struggle of growing up poor. He never forgot the challenges, the strife, and never lost the compassion for others even as his fortunes improved. A former bombardier, Zinn arrived at the notion that war was just a way to brutalize all thos...more
Howard Zinn’s inspirational memoir is one of a kind. It traces a few anecdotes from his life’s events, but its principal thrust comes from telling the stories of extraordinary people doing extraordinary things, Howard Zinn among them. The people are extraordinary in the sense that they are ordinary people challenging the status quo, challenging oppression, putting themselves up for sacrifice for our common good.
Howard Zinn has been called many things: from being a radical to be a troublemaker, b...more
Howard Zinn has been called many things: from being a radical to be a troublemaker, b...more
This is an engrossing autobiography by Howard Zinn. Through his life of activism he has shown episodes and incidents which give him hope when faced with the oppressive tyranny of government. The reasons for this hope have two main aspects, that there are people who will preserve despite the odds and that a movement for change is made up of such individuals. Change is rarely about one event, one rally, one person, it is about many small changes, it involves many failures, and at first may appear...more
Undoubtedly one of the most powerful books I've read.
My first introduction to Zinn came at the great expense, and weight, of A People's History. While I didn't have the tenacity to make my way all the way through, the idea of an alternative history book really peaked my interest in its author.
Upon my brother's return from a semester at Morehouse College, where he spent most of his time in classes at Spelman College, he eagerly dropped Zinn's memoir into my lap, insisting I take it with me to sch...more
My first introduction to Zinn came at the great expense, and weight, of A People's History. While I didn't have the tenacity to make my way all the way through, the idea of an alternative history book really peaked my interest in its author.
Upon my brother's return from a semester at Morehouse College, where he spent most of his time in classes at Spelman College, he eagerly dropped Zinn's memoir into my lap, insisting I take it with me to sch...more
An entertaining, easy read. Zinn was a great writer and thinker and I personally think that anybody who lives in the US should have to read his "People's History Of The United States." In this, his memoir, the reader is offered a glimpse of the forces that shaped his thinking. It's nothing too earth-shaking, certainly lacking much of the insight for which he's better known, and can occasionally seem self-congratulatory. But it's worth reading either as an introduction to the man himself or as a...more
This is very much a "preaching to the choir" kind of book so I don't expect my right wing family to read or enjoy this book. However, Howard Zinn's amazing life and support of civil disobedience gives me hope for America at large. Not everyone agrees with the mainstream and some choose to stand up for what they think is right, even when it puts them in danger. God bless you, Dr. Zinn. The world missed you terribly.
Howard Zinn was one of the greatest minds of the 20st and 21st century. "You can't be neutral on a moving train" is one of the most fascinating biographies ever written.
"The be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness."
"The be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness."
Howard Zinn is one of my heroes and this book just confirms that he led a life that is truly worth emulating. I'd read the last paragraph of this book years ago and quote the last line in every talk I give about why I run a socially conscious design firm. Read this short memoir and have your belief that our world can improve reaffirmed.
A close up look at the early civi lrights movement. Zinn taught at Spelman in the early sixties. He takes you on an intimate journey into World War II and Vietnam. I am touched by his gentle yet powerful activisim, his praise for the authentic experience, the stories, the courage. I couldn't help but to feel inspired to take more risks.
At a talk he was giving, Howard Zinn was asked why he had so much hope, given all of the inequity in the world which he understood so well. Realizing that he couldn't respond in just a few sentences, he decided to write an autobiography of his personal involvement in social justice movement. The result is inspiring and gives me more hope.
Memoirs from the author of “A People’s History of the U.S.” I never knew that he taught at Spelman at the beginning of the civil rights movement, and how involved he was in the antiwar cause. His exploration of civil disobedience is sharp and inspiring — almost makes me wish I were still a lefty.
Moving memoir by a wise, courageous man of principle. Inspiring reminder that what we do matters, that each of us is part of the long arc of history in which this country and our world may evolve toward a greater approximation of our ideals, a greater affirmation of what it means to be human.
Not going into a full-blown review, but if you're looking for an in-depth book about social change and the fight for equality in America, this memoir is very good. I had to read it for my Historical Foundation of American Education class, and it add an interesting perspective to the course.
The documentary movie of the same title, by Deb Ellis and Denis Mueller, wowed me -- especially with a long quote at the end, about living as we think humans should. Turns out the quote is also the closing of the book. That made me want to read the whole thing.
This book is a memoir of Zinn's life as an activist. It traces his work in the civil rights era, his opposition to the Vietnam war, and battles fought during his professorship at Boston University. This was a very interesting account and insightful.
Found this to be a really interesting read and rather timely. I also watched the documentary of the same name. That was good too, but I enjoyed spending more time with Zinn's thoughts and reflections and the book provided that.
This book covers facets of which I was unaware of the Civil Rights Movement. Hearing personal accounts from people who watched as their friends and family suffered, often dying for their cause, moved me to tears.
Nov 06, 2007
Laura
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in civil rights mvt, looking for inspiration in dark political times
Shelves:
biographies
Howard Zinn has been a hero of mine since I read People's History when I was an undergrad.
Lest we forget, it was not long ago that people were being beaten, shot and hauled off to prision for-- wanting to vote-- for-- wanting equal rights. Zinn tells his personal account of the Civil Rights era, what he saw, how small acts built momentum, and why we should not give up in the face of apparent 'impossibility.' He documents personal and larger social history, drawing a picture of inspiring people,...more
Lest we forget, it was not long ago that people were being beaten, shot and hauled off to prision for-- wanting to vote-- for-- wanting equal rights. Zinn tells his personal account of the Civil Rights era, what he saw, how small acts built momentum, and why we should not give up in the face of apparent 'impossibility.' He documents personal and larger social history, drawing a picture of inspiring people,...more
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it's my 3rd of 4th book by Zinn. it's different - being autobiograpgical - and by far the most inspiring. Especially the chapters about racism in US - Deep South - were real eye openers for me.
If my mind were malleable and uncritical, I would have come away with a dangerous set of situational ethics and relative morals. But it's not, so I learned the author is a fool.
I have profound respect and admiration for this wonderful man. This book is a deeply moving account of how one life can truly change the world in which we live.
An inspirational autobiography of Howard Zinn. A man who truly does what he says and takes actions according to his beliefs regardless of how it may ruin his career
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10263096
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10263096
Good book but prefer some of his more cutting books tackling ideas directly rather than an autobiographical view of the development of his ideas.
Not as crucial as A People's History, but an enjoyable look into the legendary historian's personal participation in history none the less.
Loved it! I had to read it for a history class. It was very interesting and a pretty easy read for a history "book"
One of the greatest men in American history. An unflinching advocate for his truth and fairness and an amazing life.
A book a read for class. Howard Zinn was an amazing advocate and protester for what he believed in.
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Howard Zinn was a historian, playwright, and social activist. He was a shipyard worker and Air Force bombardier before he went to college under the GI Bill and received his Ph.D. from Columbia University. He taught at Spelman College and Boston University, and was a visiting professor at the University of Paris and the University of Bologna. He received the Thomas Merton Award, the Eugene V. Debs...more
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“I am convinced that imprisonment is a way of pretending to solve the problem of crime. It does nothing for the victims of crime, but perpetuates the idea of retribution, thus maintaining the endless cycle of violence in our culture. It is a cruel and useless substitute for the elimination of those conditions--poverty, unemployment, homelessness, desperation, racism, greed--which are at the root of most punished crime. The crimes of the rich and powerful go mostly unpunished.
It must surely be a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit that even a small number of those men and women in the hell of the prison system survive it and hold on to their humanity.”
—
25 people liked it
It must surely be a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit that even a small number of those men and women in the hell of the prison system survive it and hold on to their humanity.”
“But human beings are not machines, and however powerful the pressure to conform, they sometimes are so moved by what they see as injustice that they dare to declare their independence. In that historical possibility lies hope.”
—
25 people liked it
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