Tag Archives: critical history

Joan of Arc: the Legend and the Reality

Posted on March 16, 2010 by smellincoffee

Joan of Arc: the Legend and the Reality© 1959 Frances Gies306 pages Few historical characters, and no women, are more famous than Joan of Arc. Her name and story are known throughout the world. In the Middle Ages there were … Continue reading →

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A Power Governments Cannot Suppress

Posted on February 11, 2010 by smellincoffee

A Power Governments Cannot Suppress © 2007 Howard Zinn 293 pages This year I have become convincted that democracy is not something that happens at the ballot-box but on the streets. It consists in mass movements forcing the institutions that … Continue reading →

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A People’s History of the American Revolution

Posted on June 30, 2009 by smellincoffee

A People’s History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence © 2001 Ray Ralphael 386 pages I look for some books, and some books happen to find me. This is one of the latter, as … Continue reading →

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The Age of American Unreason

Posted on June 25, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Age of American Unreason © 2008 Susan Jacoby 356 pages Oddly enough, I first heard of this book about a year ago when author Susan Jacoby was invited on Point of Inquiry to talk about it. I remember being … Continue reading →

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A People’s History of the United States

Posted on May 2, 2009 by smellincoffee

A People’s History of the United States, 1492-Present© 2003 Howard Zinn729 pages I attracted a fair number of dirty looks and endured numerous assaults on my non-existent patriotism for reading this book, making it especially fun to read in public. … Continue reading →

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A People’s History of American Empire

Posted on April 23, 2009 by smellincoffee

A People’s History of American Empire: A Graphic Adaption© 2008 Howard Zinn273 pages Earlier in the week, I read A People’s History of American Empire, composed by Howard Zinn, Mike Konopacki, and Paul Buhle. The book is a graphic novel, … Continue reading →

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Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel

Posted on November 16, 2008 by smellincoffee

Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel: Technology and Invention in the Middle Ages© 1994 Frances and Joseph Gies291 pages, plus notes, an extended bibliography, and an index The Gies’ various books on life in the middle ages have continued to delight and … Continue reading →

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