Future of History, The

Multicultural Education, Fall 2000 by Asmussen, Chris

THE FUTURE OF HISTORY By David Barsamian and Howard Zinn Common Courage Press (1999) 166 pages, $13.95, ISBN 1-56751-156-2 -Reviewed by Chris Asmussen

The Future of History, by David Barsaimian and Howard Zinn, provides a unique perspective into Zinn's previous works,A People's History ofthe United States and The Zinn Reader. The book, a series of provocative interviews between David Bainsaimian and Howard Zinn, is a look into Zinn's view of his own life and the lives of others who were victimized. It includes his recollection of his poor immigrant father who worked as a waiter for little money and even less respect. This, along with his wartime experience, changed his outlook on how he teaches the way the United States reports and records events that shape today's history.

Well written and fast paced, the book takes the reader on an inside track through the mind of a radical professor who believes that history should be about truth. One gains`understanding that sometimes it is not important who wins or loses, but how the game is played and whether both sides try their best to resolve the issues. Since it is written in a 20 question format made famous by magazines on the newsstand, the rate of interest remains high, because it is the first time Zinn formally answers questions about his views and his past works.

Inside the pages a great value is held for those wanting to study history. Its multicultural view is sometimes a slap in the face, due to Zinn's explanations. His experience of living in the slums gives him validity in his view of social changes that happened in the past and. those that will come in the future.

Not only does Zinn explain events and perspectives of the past century, he gives insight on events dealing with the political implications of cyberspace, the death penalty, the United States' role in Russia's current crisis and future issues, the possible rise of a different labor movement, and much more. These sneak previews of the future are derived not only from his own personal experiences, but from friends that have taken a different view and suffered for their beliefs. Zinn, however, gives us hope for the future, by stating that we are becoming aware of the truth so that we do not repeat our past mistakes.

To place this book into perspective, Henry Kissinger once stated that "history is the memory of the states." Zinn's look is written not only in this book, but also in A Peoples History of the United States, which has the intent of looking "at history from the standpoint ofthose people who were the victims of the state, those ordinary people who are not the people in power."

-Chris Asmussen is a student majoring in Secondary Education/ Social Studies Comprehensive at Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas,