“To 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.”

I remember the exact moment I was introduced to Zinn. It was at a party in the Plateau where I knew next to no one. After a long conversation about the economics of corruption with an economics grad student, I had to leave. So I asked him if he one book to suggest, what would it be. A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn was his answer. Easily Zinn’s best known work, it covers the history of the United States from a perspective long-ignored: the common man. He was a passionate champion of democracy, fervently anti-war and convinced of the power of the people:

“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.“

Zinn likely inspired millions of small acts. His words and ideals inspired over 2 million people to buy his book which subsequently inspired a 90 minute documentary called The People Speak which included more famous names than I can list here but included Matt Damon, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Morgan Freeman, etc. Here’s an interview he did with Bill Moyers just before the release of The People Speak:

Here are a couple of extra resources about Howard Zinn:

• An interview on the State of the Empire
• A short video about his boyhood
• An article on The Palestine Chronicle
• Turns out one of my favourite medical bloggers knew and was friends with Zinn. Here’s his tribute.
• Obituary in the Boston Globe
• Obituary in the New York Times

(Hat tip to 3 quarks daily)