The value of Zinn

I remember you discussing Howard Zinn before, so I thought of you when I read this post. Do you still think Zinn is dismissable, or does People's History have value as an introduction to social history?

The blogger has it more or less right. Kazin's review nails it. I'm guessing the wingnuts flooded the nominations with Zinn, though. He definitely doesn't belong on the same list with rank pseudohistory like 1421 -- that's closing in on Erich von Daniken territory.

I think Zinn has some of the same qualities of "history through women's eyes", and if there is such a book "history through children's eyes" or "black eyes" does. It's an attempt to refocus history away from (or rather, beyond) the simple dates and fact that are accomplishments of the few and powerful - and looks at how the lives of day to day live and effect their world. I admit, remembering I went to school when Zinn was still hip, I didn't know he was so damn passé.