This is an interview with Larry Schweikart, a history prof at the University of Dayton, about his new book, A Patriot’s History of the United States. I haven’t read into yet, but I’m betting that it’s better than most surveys, and if it’s any better than Paul Johnson’s A History of the American People, I’ll buy dozens! It almost goes without saying that it has to be better than Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, but I admit that is a low standard by which to judge.
Did you know that intellectual giant Ben Affleck has optioned "A People’s History" for film?!?
He cannot seriously want to film an agitprop survey text; he couldn’t if he tried. So was there one particular chapter he liked? I am inclined to think that, as a movie star gazillionaire, optioning Zinn did not cost him much and demonstrated his lefty erudition. Actual erudition would be easier on his pocketbook, but far costlier for his self-image.
If he wants to spend conspicuously and actually learn something, I’ll sell him any one of my books by Jacques Barzun for $600 bucks a pop! Jeffery Burton Russell will cost more; my
pre-underlining key passages does not come cheap.
I’ll be waiting for response & rebuttal histories (reactions to Zinn’s tome) from Schramm & that other intellectual giant, "wm".