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Passionate Declarations: Essays on War and Justice
by
Howard Zinn
From the bestselling author of A People's History of the United States comes this selection of passionate, honest, and piercing essays looking at American political ideology.
Howard Zinn brings to Passionate Declarations the same astringent style and provocative point of view that led more than a million people to buy his book A People's History of the United States. He dir...more
Howard Zinn brings to Passionate Declarations the same astringent style and provocative point of view that led more than a million people to buy his book A People's History of the United States. He dir...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
June 17th 2003
by Harper Perennial
(first published June 1st 2003)
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Good book, don't agree with all of it, but I think raconteur is an undervalued position and it's one that Zinn fit's perfectly.
I don't agree with, for example the claim he makes that Japan had no real plan for defense for an island invasion, when they in fact had a pretty humungous, one. Wikipedia "The Honorable Death Of The Million". If he had focused his argument on what happened in Nagasaki it would have been a stronger argument.
Zinn's whole argument basically focuses on him having a much be...more
I don't agree with, for example the claim he makes that Japan had no real plan for defense for an island invasion, when they in fact had a pretty humungous, one. Wikipedia "The Honorable Death Of The Million". If he had focused his argument on what happened in Nagasaki it would have been a stronger argument.
Zinn's whole argument basically focuses on him having a much be...more
Howard Zinn has deservingly established an excellent reputation as one of the left's finest figures. What makes Zinn, for me, such great man is his down-to-earth nature, coupled with a humane spirit which best embodies the left-wing movement. In this book, Zinn has collected a number of essays, naturally taking as their starting-point a historical perspective. Covering such topics as civil disobedience (and why civil obedience is the real crime), the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (d...more
Jun 23, 2011
Gretch Engelson
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who wants an education of the U.S. government.
Zinn has quickly become a favorite author of mine. He gives an honest, factual, critique of our country. This book talks about the unseen and often stubbornly ignored injustices of our country. As a person who is strongly passionate about social justice this book really opened my eyes and showed me areas that need improving in our country. I absolutely love the way he writes and the fact that he has strong facts to back up each statement he makes. He uses quotes from government documents, presid...more
Mar 14, 2007
Mary Jarchow
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Brock-if he hasn't already, and people who want to know more about the American "democracy"
This book is very intense. Sometimes can get overbearing and repetitive. Some people may consider his views too extreme. He educates the reader on the government (almost as a government as a coorporation) and the administrative officials that apparently hold the American citizens interests as their main objective. But as you read on, you learn that from his opinion, the government is run for the interests of the extremely rich who own large businesses ect. He also educates the reader about war,...more
This book was amazing because he is not afraid to say unpopular things and be extra critical of the way our country is run. What i liked most, besides this being an amazing anti war propaganda book, is that Zinn never fell into the trap of "capitalism is bad so communism is good". He was able to be critical of the problems of both systems and urged readers to be critical as well.
Feb 28, 2011
Jordan
is currently reading it
howard zinn continues to be my intellectual hero. motivated to read this now because zinn taught at spelman college, which is right in my neighborhood this year!
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I have a serious soft spot for Zinn. I'm not sure if it's simply the fact that in lieu of making you research foot note he simple inserts the entirety of the relevant text or if it's the fact that he has written the only history text books I actually read (sorry Mr. Ryan)
The book walks through a methodical analysis of the War Machine and tears it to pieces from the Machiavellian justifications for war to the failures of the representative government.
It's a good read for a lefty, near communist...more
The book walks through a methodical analysis of the War Machine and tears it to pieces from the Machiavellian justifications for war to the failures of the representative government.
It's a good read for a lefty, near communist...more
Maybe Zinn's best. A stinging critique of how the world works along with advice, courage, and hope on how to change it.
not as thorough as a People's History but much more accessible. I read it in about a quarter of the time. I need to re-read the chapter about just-war because it's the hardest to grasp morally, but overall Zinn makes an astoundingly compelling case against all war, all the time.
This was my favorite Zinn to date. "Reader" and "Peaople's History" were amazing but but could be a bit draining as well, not that "passionate Declarations" was a laugh a minute or something, but it was kinda a page turner if your into the liberal's view of war and ethics.
Almost Zinn persuades me to be a liberal/Marxist historian! I found myself agreeing with quite a bit of his writings in this collection of essays. And I enjoyed reading even what I disagreed with because it was so interesting. I took my time with this one!
Zinn brilliantly dissects the core tenets of the Myth of American power and virtue exposing it for what it is. His arguments are persuasive, rational, and well documented. An important book for all US Americans.
I prefer this to People's History, but both are fabulous.
Jul 29, 2007
Anu Gandhi
is currently reading it
I've only read the first two chapters but so far so good.
Jan 16, 2008
Jillian
marked it as to-read
Kyle Anderson said it was good...hmm
God bless America...
Brilliant, as always.
May 02, 2013
catherine
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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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“Any humane and reasonable person must conclude that if the ends, however desireable, are uncertain and the means are horrible and certain, these means must not be employed.”
—
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