The People Speak: American Voices, Some Famous, Some Little Known: Dramatic Readings Celebrating the Enduring Spirit of Dissent by Howard Zinn

The People Speak: American Voices, Some Famous, Some Little Known: Dramatic Readings Celebrating the Enduring Spirit of Dissent Reviews

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  Ericka Clou

  It's been a number of years since I read Zinn's A People's History, so I don't recall most of these speeches. However, even if I had recalled these speeches, I am certain that they carry more weight with me during the current administration, than they would have carried previously. I particularly enjoyed the McCarthy trial transcript. It's a very short book with 86 pages, and the audiobook is less than two hours long, so I highly recommend reading or listening to it.
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  Jaime

  More context on who the people were, and in some cases why they were persecuted, would have made this book perfect - for example, knowing that the anarchist leader sentenced to die was an Italian immigrant in a time of rife anti-Italianism would round out the picture of his conviction a little more.
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  Jeffrey

  If you've read "People's History," don't bother spending money on this. It's just excerpts from the book. If you haven't read it, it can be a good starting point as it gives an overview of Zinn's work in a brief format. Enjoy!
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  Miko Lee

  Great audio adjunct to the full book. A must listen to these important voices of resistance during these trying times. From James Earl Jones and Danny Glover to my favorite Alfre Woodard. Important to absorb this history. So many of these speeches are relevant today.
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  Kent Winward

  This dramatization of parts of Zinn's masterwork, A People's History of the United States, is a perfect introduction to the alternate historical views of voices that are noticeably silent in many history text books.
  
  I've had the privilege of participating in a dramatic reading of "The People Speak" previously, and this is meant to be heard. If you want to hear it read, Audible has a great version with the likes of James Earl Jones, Kurt Vonnegut, and Zinn himself performing this work.
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  Beth

  This was an excellent audible book read by a cast of talented actors. It was very inspiring to hear the stories and speeches of the American people through history.
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  Erin

  Great intro or revisit to Zinn’s “People’s History.”
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  Fish S

  Amazing and engaging excerpts of often overlooked or barely discussed US History. It's powerful hearing voices from history in their own words, brought to life but people today.
• 
  Bruce

  inspirational!
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  Lynne

  Nothing has changed in the USA...nothing.
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  Amy

  This one is short -- only 82 pages -- but it packs a punch. Zinn takes quotes from speeches, poems and court documents from people throughout different times in American history. Starting with Columbus' interaction with the Arawak tribe(how handsome and well-built they are; what great slaves they'd make), all the way through letters by families of September 11th victims. Each person's voice is given just a few pages, so you can whip through this book very quickly. Their voices are so profound, however, that you'll want to put the book down and think about it a bit before moving on to the next. Well-known people like Mother Jones and Langston Hughes have a voice in the book, but Zinn gives equal credence to everyday people. Lots of focus on unions and the labor movement. Great resource for a high school class. You can see how much has changed and yet, how little has changed.
• 
  10thumbs

  Howard Zinn is an American treasure.
  
  This is printed volume of works that were read dramatically by folks like James Earl Jones (Darth Vader!!!), Alice Walker, Kurt Vonnegut and Marisa Tomei at an event commemorating the sale of the 1 millionth copy of
  A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present. While there's good stuff here but most of it looses it's punch without the benefit of context.
• 
  Esme

  I'm not gonna lie, I didn't read the whole thing. The library wanted it back before I finished it. Also, I'm more of a bus than a bed time reader so the size of this book made it hard to take around with me.
  Anyway, I picked the speeches that interested me most and did some random book opening. I'm going to put this on my wish list and one day put it on my shelf so I can go back to it as needed. Howard Zinn is the man.
• 
  Dan

  We used this book for five Sunday services at Church of the Restoration, Unitarian Universalist, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Parts were parceled out to readers. I read the part of the narrator. Some of the characters who spoke were Martin Luther King, Jr., Mark Twain, Emma Goldman, Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, and Malcolm X.
  
  This piece is a great collection of progressive voices from America's past.
• 
  Sivananthi T

  A shortened version of a People's History, but moving and gets to the point. The politics of history, what stories are told, what stories are left out tells not only of our societal values, but also of the unseen hands of power. If we were to look at history from a completely different perspective, the role of peoples' movements in shaping change is critical, though remembered differently. And some aspects never change at all.
• 
  Sasha

  Neat little collection of quotes and speeches. There was hardly, if any, transition between historical snapshots, and that was a bit distracting. But given its intended purpose, I can understand why it was written that way. Overall, it was informational and inspirational; really just a tiny taste to incite a greater hunger for knowledge.
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  مؤرخ

  الكتاب عبارة عن استعراض لبعض حوادث التاريخ الأمريكي من خلال أصوات المواطنين. يختار مثلا رسالة أو خطبة تذكر أو تمثل حدثا تاريخيا معينا لتراه بتلك العين. وبينما نجح الكتاب في الخروج من نمطية التاريخ السياسي، والاعتماد على مصادر مسيسة، إلا أنه في النهاية لم يكن حياديا، فهو أيضا اعتمد على مصدر واحد لكل حادثة، بنظرة واحدة.
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  Roxy Watson

  Short but powerful bits that illustrate small examples of what the books don't tell you. I plan on giving my copy to my younger sister. I wish I had read this in 9th grade. It's interesting however, just how much the navy corpsman borrowed from MLK's speech against Vietnam and how history repeats itself.
• 
  Hans

  A book like this speaks so boldly for itself that it in no need of further embellishments from my meager abilities. If anything my words would do no justice to voices that need to be heard and refuse to be silenced.
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  Meg

  A nice collection of some well-known and some little-known speeches, interviews and writing from dissenters throughout American history. I particularly liked hearing from Plough Jogger (great name!!) about Shay's Rebellion and the HUAC interview with actor Lionel Slater.
  
• 
  Richard Becker

  An amazing introduction to the stories of real Americans, voices not often heard in conventional American history. Another great work from the eminent Howard Zinn.
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  Nate Jordon

  A short, quick, poignant read written by people from across the span of American history - though reads like something written yesterday. Are American's learning anything from our past?
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  Scott F

  Real American heroes, loved this book
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  Jay Mantle

  I enjoy listening to speeches of yesterday and what those speeches could mean in today's world.
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  Mitzi Moore

  What you were taught about American history is one-sided. Read this book to find out how major events were experienced by people who were actually there.
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  Miroku Nemeth

  A brief and powerful collection of the people's voices...RIP Howard Zinn...we carry on your work...