histories i have known and loved
The Alberton Papers, Vol. V, #XII
By Dick Darne 1-14-08
This week I will reflect on some history books that have impressed me. It surely is not the drivel that passes for textbooks in history class, but ones that stimulated thinking and made me want more. Most were found by a serendipitous moment in the used bookstore rather than on the shelf in the big retailers or even the library.
One of the first was a well worn, dog eared copy of "The Story of Mankind" by Van Loon. That dog eared tome had me search out Van Loon’s other books, " Van Loon’s Geography", "The Story of The Bible", "The Story of America" and others.
Van Loon was a Dutchman, who was on Hitler’s hit list and fled to America just ahead of the gestapo. His books were written for his grandchildren, including his hand drawn maps and charts that he used when he was a teacher.
The next was H.G. Wells (yes the same man who wrote and is best remembered for "The War of The Worlds") who produced a two volume "Outline of History". Very complete and best of all, easy reading. I read volume two while on an eight hour delay in the Minneapolis airport. Made me hungry for more.
While the above was from the 20's and 30's, a more recent one becomes my all time favorite, Howard Zinn’s "A People’s History of The United states". It begins when Columbus landed on an island in the Carribean and literally slaughtered it’s inhabitants. Old Cris had a priest on board who documented what happened as an eye witness. Zinn tries to tell the stories from the point of view of the subjugated peoples. Zinn also wrote other books speaking for the powerless. Another book that begins at the same time and speaks for the subjugated is Chomsky"s "Year 501, the Conquest Continues". For plain old folks just speaking their minds, that old master of the tape recorder and just let them tell it like it is, Studs Terkel has several collections of stories from these plain old folks.
Out there hidden among the clutter on the hard to reach shelves in dimly lit semi organized used book stores are volumes of labor and local histories, most long out of print. "Labor’s Untold Story" is by far the best. Always take a flashlight and don’t wear a white shirt. There are tons of treasures waiting to be found. Keep searching for the truth, speak truth to power and think for yourself. dd
P.s., if you can’t find any of the aforementioned books, I will be happy to loan one out from my private collection.
By Dick Darne 1-14-08
This week I will reflect on some history books that have impressed me. It surely is not the drivel that passes for textbooks in history class, but ones that stimulated thinking and made me want more. Most were found by a serendipitous moment in the used bookstore rather than on the shelf in the big retailers or even the library.
One of the first was a well worn, dog eared copy of "The Story of Mankind" by Van Loon. That dog eared tome had me search out Van Loon’s other books, " Van Loon’s Geography", "The Story of The Bible", "The Story of America" and others.
Van Loon was a Dutchman, who was on Hitler’s hit list and fled to America just ahead of the gestapo. His books were written for his grandchildren, including his hand drawn maps and charts that he used when he was a teacher.
The next was H.G. Wells (yes the same man who wrote and is best remembered for "The War of The Worlds") who produced a two volume "Outline of History". Very complete and best of all, easy reading. I read volume two while on an eight hour delay in the Minneapolis airport. Made me hungry for more.
While the above was from the 20's and 30's, a more recent one becomes my all time favorite, Howard Zinn’s "A People’s History of The United states". It begins when Columbus landed on an island in the Carribean and literally slaughtered it’s inhabitants. Old Cris had a priest on board who documented what happened as an eye witness. Zinn tries to tell the stories from the point of view of the subjugated peoples. Zinn also wrote other books speaking for the powerless. Another book that begins at the same time and speaks for the subjugated is Chomsky"s "Year 501, the Conquest Continues". For plain old folks just speaking their minds, that old master of the tape recorder and just let them tell it like it is, Studs Terkel has several collections of stories from these plain old folks.
Out there hidden among the clutter on the hard to reach shelves in dimly lit semi organized used book stores are volumes of labor and local histories, most long out of print. "Labor’s Untold Story" is by far the best. Always take a flashlight and don’t wear a white shirt. There are tons of treasures waiting to be found. Keep searching for the truth, speak truth to power and think for yourself. dd
P.s., if you can’t find any of the aforementioned books, I will be happy to loan one out from my private collection.
posted by aldermandarne | 12:00 AM
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