A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn (2005), 729 pages, presents a radically different view of American history — one from the point of view of working class, disenfranchised, and oppressed people. From the opening chapter’s depiction of Christopher Columbus as a genocidal megalomaniac, supported by research, you realize this is not the history we were taught in public school. The first edition was published in 1980, selling its one millionth copy 23 years later. Whether you characterize Zinn as a radical historian, a pacifist ignorant of the terrorist-fed dangers all around us, a socialist, unpatriotic, or a voice of truth emerging from a jingoistic capitalist wilderness, one thing is clear: if you have a critical mind you will never view the story of history the same way. Highly recommended.