What do you think?
Rate this book
You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History of Our Times
Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States, tells his personal stories about more than thirty years of fighting for social change, from teaching at Spelman College to recent protests against war.
A former bombardier in WWII, Zinn emerged in the civil rights movement as a powerful voice for justice. Although he's a fierce critic, he gives us reason to hope that by learning from history and engaging politically, we can make a difference in the world.
A former bombardier in WWII, Zinn emerged in the civil rights movement as a powerful voice for justice. Although he's a fierce critic, he gives us reason to hope that by learning from history and engaging politically, we can make a difference in the world.
214 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1994
249 people are currently reading
8754 people want to read
About the author
Howard Zinn
242 books2,774 followersHoward Zinn was an American historian, playwright, philosopher, socialist intellectual and World War II veteran. He was chair of the history and social sciences department at Spelman College, and a political science professor at Boston University. Zinn wrote more than 20 books, including his best-selling and influential A People's History of the United States in 1980. In 2007, he published a version of it for younger readers, A Young People's History of the United States.
Zinn described himself as "something of an anarchist, something of a socialist. Maybe a democratic socialist." He wrote extensively about the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement and labor history of the United States. His memoir, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (Beacon Press, 1994), was also the title of a 2004 documentary about Zinn's life and work. Zinn died of a heart attack in 2010, at the age of 87.
Zinn described himself as "something of an anarchist, something of a socialist. Maybe a democratic socialist." He wrote extensively about the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement and labor history of the United States. His memoir, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (Beacon Press, 1994), was also the title of a 2004 documentary about Zinn's life and work. Zinn died of a heart attack in 2010, at the age of 87.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
December 23, 2007
this was the book that politicized my mom when she was in her forties. i had been a rebellious, critical kid for many years, and she had been a busy, tired middle school teacher and mom. she read this book and got all excited, she made my brother, who was in high school, read it too and discuss it with her. she went on to start teaching from "a people's history," started going to anti-racist activist gatherings and workshops, organizing diversity trainings for her school, housing books-to-prisoners in her basement, and otherwise just trying to be an active participant in the world that she wants to see created. hurray for howard zinn.
January 27, 2021
Here I go again, under-rating Zinn…
Dear Future self,
So, you have come back full of regret and are now proceeding to upgrade your original rating for yet another Zinn book. How predictable.
Here were your original reasons why you chose to under-rate Zinn yet again:
1) When I first came across Zinn, I had already gone through Noam Chomsky on US foreign policy/media propaganda and was in the midst of unpacking debates between Chris Hedges and Christopher Hitchens on US wars/religion, so while A People's History of the United States was impactful in its unique ways of engaging with history, the Zinn train seemed to have passed in a sense.
2) I was also moving on to seek works that came directly from more diverse sources (geographic and social positioning), rather than having it filtered through the lens of the US academic Left (even if their objective was to be critical).
3) Lastly, I was looking for analyses to detail and unpack real-world capitalism (i.e. political economy).
The Good:
--So, why return to Zinn?
1) Accessible: I support a diversity of outreach styles, but there’s no question Zinn’s “A People’s History” style is a prominent one. No textbook remoteness/“objectivity” (which is still biased of course), resulting in the stereotypical boring history. All on-the-grounds, visceral substance, with the important idea that much of history is created not by singular events and singular great men, but by a groundswell of people power.
2) Examples of change: what better place to start than Zinn’s personal story of starting as a gullible jock who became a US bombardier in WWII to “fight fascism” and then having this myth fall apart and ending up as an anti-empire history teacher?
…Zinn’s first-hand accounts of the Civil Rights movement (esp. SNCC) is another major component. Interesting reflections change, like on how self-interest can bring openings, like the financial gain of integrating sports terms or the political gain from black votes after the Voting Rights Act. This of course needs to be combined with political economy.
The Missing:
--As suggested above, direct accounts from a diversity of social positions, and compilations filtered by those outside of Western/Global North/US academia. If we were to stay with the US, Gerald Horne is a historian I'd like to explore more: https://youtu.be/gAHHtVUIHtE
--More theory on structures, esp. political economy (favorite intro: Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: or, How Capitalism Works - and How It Fails), as well as synthesizing this with “A People’s History”. 2 books jump out here, although I still have to unpack discussions on their historical methods: Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation and A People's History of the World.
--All the above have for me culminated in a group of Indian Marxists (the English language does play a role too), especially: Vijay Prashad, Utsa Patnaik, Prabhat Patnaik, Amiya Kumar Bagchi (Perilous Passage: Mankind and the Global Ascendancy of Capital).
Dear Future self,
So, you have come back full of regret and are now proceeding to upgrade your original rating for yet another Zinn book. How predictable.
Here were your original reasons why you chose to under-rate Zinn yet again:
1) When I first came across Zinn, I had already gone through Noam Chomsky on US foreign policy/media propaganda and was in the midst of unpacking debates between Chris Hedges and Christopher Hitchens on US wars/religion, so while A People's History of the United States was impactful in its unique ways of engaging with history, the Zinn train seemed to have passed in a sense.
2) I was also moving on to seek works that came directly from more diverse sources (geographic and social positioning), rather than having it filtered through the lens of the US academic Left (even if their objective was to be critical).
3) Lastly, I was looking for analyses to detail and unpack real-world capitalism (i.e. political economy).
The Good:
--So, why return to Zinn?
1) Accessible: I support a diversity of outreach styles, but there’s no question Zinn’s “A People’s History” style is a prominent one. No textbook remoteness/“objectivity” (which is still biased of course), resulting in the stereotypical boring history. All on-the-grounds, visceral substance, with the important idea that much of history is created not by singular events and singular great men, but by a groundswell of people power.
2) Examples of change: what better place to start than Zinn’s personal story of starting as a gullible jock who became a US bombardier in WWII to “fight fascism” and then having this myth fall apart and ending up as an anti-empire history teacher?
…Zinn’s first-hand accounts of the Civil Rights movement (esp. SNCC) is another major component. Interesting reflections change, like on how self-interest can bring openings, like the financial gain of integrating sports terms or the political gain from black votes after the Voting Rights Act. This of course needs to be combined with political economy.
The Missing:
--As suggested above, direct accounts from a diversity of social positions, and compilations filtered by those outside of Western/Global North/US academia. If we were to stay with the US, Gerald Horne is a historian I'd like to explore more: https://youtu.be/gAHHtVUIHtE
--More theory on structures, esp. political economy (favorite intro: Talking to My Daughter About the Economy: or, How Capitalism Works - and How It Fails), as well as synthesizing this with “A People’s History”. 2 books jump out here, although I still have to unpack discussions on their historical methods: Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation and A People's History of the World.
--All the above have for me culminated in a group of Indian Marxists (the English language does play a role too), especially: Vijay Prashad, Utsa Patnaik, Prabhat Patnaik, Amiya Kumar Bagchi (Perilous Passage: Mankind and the Global Ascendancy of Capital).
March 7, 2022
In You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train, Howard Zinn elaborates on the experiences that formed his political views and informed his commitment to civil disobedience, and the challenges he inevitably faced in opposing the ills of American society. Not knowing much about him outside of his being a go-to boogeyman of right-wing internet users, it was fascinating to read of his involvement in the 1954-1968 civil rights movement, which added another layer to the picture I have of it courtesy of Taylor Branch's brilliant
America in the King Years
series. I didn't always agree with or understand everything he said (how, for example, can someone who fought in WWII question whether any good can come of war?) but his forthrightness and passion is palpable throughout. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a feel for who Howard Zinn was, whether you subscribe to his politics or not.
January 5, 2024
I had never thought I'd love an autobiographical non-fiction book, but half the time I was reading this one I was crying or laughing (or both), moved by the many inspiring "little acts" of courage and civil disobedience. It is a true injection of optimism.
October 30, 2007
Before I really knew anything about Zinn other than that he wrote A People's History, he and Noam Chomsky always blurred in my ignorant mind -- anti-war, activists, teachers, white men from the Northeast. It was easy for me to forget how Zinn worked alongside the likes of Ella Baker, James Baldwin, MLK, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Stokley Carmichael and was a teacher to Alice Walker, Marian Wright Edelman, and countless others. A humble man. . . it's amazing to see how much he has done, shared, and contributed over the years.
Easily one of my favorite books.
Easily one of my favorite books.
January 24, 2023
This is an absolutely inspiring piece of writing. I am not often filled with hope. Hell, I rarely have even a millilitre or two of hope in my measuring cup, but Howard Zinn poured a little hope into my heart with his personal story. Our world is a little darker without him in it, and soon we will be without his friend, Noam Chomsky. But we will always have Zinn's actions and words to hearten us. If you are reading reviews to decide whether or not to read this book take my advice: do.
July 3, 2012
It's been years since I had read this book and it is shameful that one forgets any of it. This is the book that probably captures the essence of Howard Zinn as my intellectual hero.
More than an academic, Howard Zinn was the type of person that never forgot the struggle of growing up poor. He never forgot the challenges, the strife, and never lost the compassion for others even as his fortunes improved. A former bombardier, Zinn arrived at the notion that war was just a way to brutalize all those involved to justify the atrocities commuted by both sides. It ultimately solved little despite moral justifications. And without maligning the soldiers that fought in it, Zinn simply kept asking the question of how it could eliminated. Rather than any bitterness, Zinn is the most hopeful of any of the historians and social-issues writers. He sees hope in the most minute human demonstrations of compassion. He seems small improvements even as change has to break through endless resistance and often leave those seeking it bloodied and beaten. Mostly, I admire Zinn because he cared about people, their right to happiness, education, health, fulfillment. He cared about the people without lobbyists, profit sheets, exploitable natural resources. In today's world that's somewhat radical notion; a socialist notion, I suppose. Howard Zinn reminds us to turn the tables and think of it as a human notion and responsibility.
"Revolutionary change does not come as one cataclysmic moment (beware of such moments!) but as an endless succession of surprises, moving zig-zag towards a more decent society.
We don't have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world" (p. 208).
More than an academic, Howard Zinn was the type of person that never forgot the struggle of growing up poor. He never forgot the challenges, the strife, and never lost the compassion for others even as his fortunes improved. A former bombardier, Zinn arrived at the notion that war was just a way to brutalize all those involved to justify the atrocities commuted by both sides. It ultimately solved little despite moral justifications. And without maligning the soldiers that fought in it, Zinn simply kept asking the question of how it could eliminated. Rather than any bitterness, Zinn is the most hopeful of any of the historians and social-issues writers. He sees hope in the most minute human demonstrations of compassion. He seems small improvements even as change has to break through endless resistance and often leave those seeking it bloodied and beaten. Mostly, I admire Zinn because he cared about people, their right to happiness, education, health, fulfillment. He cared about the people without lobbyists, profit sheets, exploitable natural resources. In today's world that's somewhat radical notion; a socialist notion, I suppose. Howard Zinn reminds us to turn the tables and think of it as a human notion and responsibility.
"Revolutionary change does not come as one cataclysmic moment (beware of such moments!) but as an endless succession of surprises, moving zig-zag towards a more decent society.
We don't have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world" (p. 208).
Read
February 15, 2021"Sivil İtaatsizlik" konusunda uzman olan Zinn, kitabında kendi hayatından bazı kesitler vererek; aynı zamanda dönemin politik, askeri ve sosyal gelişmelerine ışık tutuyor.
Bu kitap Zinn'in okuduğum ilk kitabı. Kendisini daha önce tanımamış olduğum için hayıflandım. Üstelik kitabında bahsettiği Amerika tarihi üzerine yazdığı kitap olan Amerika Birleşik Halkları Tarihi isimli kitabı son derece merak ettim.
Bu kitapta ABD'de kurucu atalar olarak bilinen kişilerin gerçek yüzünü anlatmış:
"Askeri kahramanlarımız Andrew Jackson ve Theodore Roosevelt, ırkçı Kızılderili katilleriydi, savaşsever emperyalistlerdi. En liberal başkanlarımız olan Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt ve Kennedy beyaz olmaan insanların haklarından çok politik güç ve ulusal büyümeyle ilgilenmişlerdi" (s.3)
Bunun gibi pek çok bölüm var kitapta. Bu kitapta Vietnam Savaşı'nın, ABD'deki sosyal hareketliliklerin, ABD Yargı sisteminin, üniversite yönetiminin altında yatan; hissedilir veya gizlenmiş ırkçılığı, yayılmacılığı ve diğer siyasi amaçları da ortaya çıkarmış.
Dönemindeki mücadelelere kayıtsız kalamayan Zinn'in, aslında eski bir bombardıman pilotu olduğu gerçeği bana şunu düşündürdü; vicdan azabı, insanı tam bir barış gönüllüsü yapabilir.
Hareket halindeki bir trende ise tarafsız olamazsınız."
Bu kitap Zinn'in okuduğum ilk kitabı. Kendisini daha önce tanımamış olduğum için hayıflandım. Üstelik kitabında bahsettiği Amerika tarihi üzerine yazdığı kitap olan Amerika Birleşik Halkları Tarihi isimli kitabı son derece merak ettim.
Bu kitapta ABD'de kurucu atalar olarak bilinen kişilerin gerçek yüzünü anlatmış:
"Askeri kahramanlarımız Andrew Jackson ve Theodore Roosevelt, ırkçı Kızılderili katilleriydi, savaşsever emperyalistlerdi. En liberal başkanlarımız olan Jefferson, Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt ve Kennedy beyaz olmaan insanların haklarından çok politik güç ve ulusal büyümeyle ilgilenmişlerdi" (s.3)
Bunun gibi pek çok bölüm var kitapta. Bu kitapta Vietnam Savaşı'nın, ABD'deki sosyal hareketliliklerin, ABD Yargı sisteminin, üniversite yönetiminin altında yatan; hissedilir veya gizlenmiş ırkçılığı, yayılmacılığı ve diğer siyasi amaçları da ortaya çıkarmış.
Dönemindeki mücadelelere kayıtsız kalamayan Zinn'in, aslında eski bir bombardıman pilotu olduğu gerçeği bana şunu düşündürdü; vicdan azabı, insanı tam bir barış gönüllüsü yapabilir.
Hareket halindeki bir trende ise tarafsız olamazsınız."
December 19, 2018
First off, I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program, and I'm grateful to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a really good little memoir; if you've read others by activists like Zinn (Rebecca Solnit's Hope in the Dark, for example, or the memoir by Staughton and Alice Lynd,) you basically know what you're getting into, but it's still really solid and I think probably important for a lot of folks to read right now (hence, in some ways, the reason for the reissue.) Zinn comes across as both kind of soft and clearly self-ware, and some of the things he says here are really beautiful. There are things I would have liked more out of the book, but I can't exactly demand them here, and I admittedly haven't read his other works. Overall though I really enjoyed this, it's a really fast read, and I encourage folks interested in hearing his insights to read it!
This is a really good little memoir; if you've read others by activists like Zinn (Rebecca Solnit's Hope in the Dark, for example, or the memoir by Staughton and Alice Lynd,) you basically know what you're getting into, but it's still really solid and I think probably important for a lot of folks to read right now (hence, in some ways, the reason for the reissue.) Zinn comes across as both kind of soft and clearly self-ware, and some of the things he says here are really beautiful. There are things I would have liked more out of the book, but I can't exactly demand them here, and I admittedly haven't read his other works. Overall though I really enjoyed this, it's a really fast read, and I encourage folks interested in hearing his insights to read it!
March 23, 2015
I have a new hero! I read Howard Zinn's Just War a short time ago and was looking forward to reading this memoir. It tells of his time teaching black kids during the civil rights movement in the States and his part in furthering that cause. He then moves to teach in Boston and the timescale reaches the Vietnam War and again he describes his participation in the anti war movement. But he also explains his humble beginnings and why he fights for justice and human rights. His belief in human compassion and the power of individuals to make a difference is inspiring. The last chapter is about hope and the last page is so perfect in it's summing up I almost cried. I would urge anyone interested in politics to read this book.
October 25, 2018
Zinn's is a very interesting life, I doubt if you can actually go through such a variety of experiences within the span of just one lifetime these days -from a poverty-ridden childhood to shipfitting, from that to being a bombardier in the WWII, from that to grad school and academic life, from that to civil rights activism in the American South and peace activism in the anti-Vietnam-War movement etc. etc. The storytelling around these moments was good and the book is full of sweet-sensuous anecdotes as well as inspirational events and personalities (my favorite being the priest with whom Zinn went to Vietnam for the return of three American POWs); but on the whole I found Zinn's optimism a little simplistic and his MO consisting of speeches, demonstrations, books, articles, picket lines and courtroom testimonials (at the end of which the public awakens and pressures/arguments become unbearable for the personalities of power) a bit difficult to relate to -almost irrelevant to the times and places I've grown and lived in.
June 17, 2025
What an inspiring read. What a courageous man. An easy read of the life of the author of the legendary 'People's History of the United States'. Zinn, the academic caters to the general population in this work and succeeds in doing so.
January 24, 2009
If my mind were malleable and uncritical, I would have come away with a dangerous set of situational ethics and relative morals. But it's not, so I learned the author is a fool.
July 16, 2022
Howard Zinn was a teacher for much of his life and he came in personal contact with a lot of students and people because of that. But he also grew up and lived for sometime in most difficult circumstances with limited resources. In someways he is a person who pulled himself up by his bootstraps. And yet he is also a person who would vehemently decline to support the idea that anyone in this country could do just as he has done.
This is a story of the life of Howard Zinn through the early 1990s. But it is not just a recitation of the events in his life but of his awareness about how social change and community organizing can be successfully undertaken. He is a firm believer in the power of small actions, the accumulation of small things that sometimes surprisingly turn into big things unexpectedly.
If you are a person who works for or desires social change in any aspect of life in this country and in this world you might well find yourself motivated in your activities by the story of Howard Zinn because he is an optimist and he has a wealth of experience to share.
The fact that this book ends in the early 1990s is a deficit in the book. But the fact that it was finally recorded in the audible format in 2017 is a benefit to us all.
This is a story of the life of Howard Zinn through the early 1990s. But it is not just a recitation of the events in his life but of his awareness about how social change and community organizing can be successfully undertaken. He is a firm believer in the power of small actions, the accumulation of small things that sometimes surprisingly turn into big things unexpectedly.
If you are a person who works for or desires social change in any aspect of life in this country and in this world you might well find yourself motivated in your activities by the story of Howard Zinn because he is an optimist and he has a wealth of experience to share.
The fact that this book ends in the early 1990s is a deficit in the book. But the fact that it was finally recorded in the audible format in 2017 is a benefit to us all.
June 30, 2025
This book stands as a profound and essential collection of essays, reflections, and speeches that encapsulate the unwavering commitment of one of America's most significant historians and activists. The work serves not only as an intellectual autobiography but also as a powerful call to action, urging readers to confront injustice and participate actively in shaping a more equitable world. Zinn’s voice, characterized by its clarity, conviction, and moral compass, resonates throughout, offering insights that remain remarkably relevant.
The themes woven into the book are deeply interconnected and represent the culmination of Zinn's lifelong intellectual and activist journey. Foremost among these is the crucial imperative of moral courage and active engagement in the face of societal inequities. Zinn adamantly rejects the notion of neutrality, asserting that in a world marked by profound injustices, inaction is complicity. He passionately argues that "The power of a bold idea uttered publicly in defiance of dominant opinion cannot be easily measured. Those special people who speak out in such a way as to shake up not only the self-assurance of their enemies, but the complacency of their friends, are precious catalysts for change." This belief underscores his own willingness to challenge established narratives and conventional wisdom, making him a "precious catalyst" in his own right. This conviction is further illuminated by his deep skepticism of state power, as he observes that "The state and its police were not neutral referees in a society of contending interests. They were on the side of the rich and powerful. Free speech? Try it and the police will be there with their horses, their clubs, their guns, to stop you." This sharp critique of state power and its role in suppressing dissent is a recurring motif, urging readers to be wary of official narratives and to question authority.
Another foundational theme is the critical importance of history as a tool for understanding and challenging contemporary power structures. Zinn emphasizes that "History can come in handy. If you were born yesterday, with no knowledge of the past, you might easily accept whatever the government tells you. But knowing a bit of history--while it would not absolutely prove the government was lying in a given instance--might make you skeptical, lead you to ask questions, make it more likely that you would find out the truth." This perspective directly connects to his magnum opus, A People's History of the United States. In A People's History, Zinn meticulously unearths the experiences and struggles of marginalized groups – indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans, laborers, women, and dissenters – whose stories are often overlooked in conventional historical accounts. Both books champion the idea that understanding history from the perspective of the oppressed is crucial for recognizing present-day injustices and inspiring movements for change. Can't Be Neutral provides the philosophical underpinnings for the methodology employed in A People's History, revealing Zinn's personal journey to challenge the historical narratives that serve to legitimize state power and suppress resistance.
The book also grapples with the profound failures of the criminal justice system and the urgent need for radical reform. Zinn's scathing indictment of incarceration is particularly poignant: "I am convinced that imprisonment is a way of pretending to solve the problem of crime. It does nothing for the victims of crime, but perpetuates the idea of retribution, thus maintaining the endless cycle of violence in our culture. It is a cruel and useless substitute for the elimination of those conditions--poverty, unemployment, homelessness, desperation, racism, greed--which are at the root of most punished crime. The crimes of the rich and powerful go mostly unpunished." This powerful statement critiques the carceral state as a perpetuator of violence rather than a solution to societal ills, advocating instead for addressing the root causes of crime. This perspective, too, finds echoes in A People's History, which frequently details how systems of power have historically relied on coercion and control to maintain social hierarchies. I, also, highly recommend checking out Angela Davis's work, Are Prisons Obsolete, for a more thorough critique of the prison industrial complex.
Despite its many strengths and invaluable contributions, Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train is not without its limitations. While Zinn powerfully advocates for nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience, the book can be critiqued for potentially downplaying the role and efficacy of strategic violence in certain historical liberation movements. Zinn's unwavering commitment to nonviolence, while admirable and deeply moral, might not fully acknowledge the complexities of resistance where oppressed groups have, at times, resorted to violence as a means of self-defense or to achieve liberation in the face of overwhelming state repression. This critique is notably articulated in works such as Peter Gelderloos's How Nonviolence Protects the State, which argues that an exclusive focus on nonviolence can inadvertently serve the interests of oppressive powers by limiting the tactical options available to those seeking radical change. While Zinn's moral stance is clear, a more nuanced discussion of the historical contexts where violence has played a part, even if regrettable, could offer a more complete picture of the spectrum of human resistance. This is not to diminish the profound power of nonviolent action, but rather to acknowledge the broader historical realities that some movements have confronted.
Nevertheless, Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train remains a timeless testament to Howard Zinn's enduring legacy. It is a compelling and thought-provoking read that challenges readers to move beyond complacency, to engage with history critically, and to embrace their role as agents of change in a world that desperately needs their voice and action. His persistent optimism, encapsulated in the warning that “Pessimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; it reproduces itself by crippling our willingness to act,” serves as a powerful antidote to despair, reminding us that collective action and unwavering hope are essential for building a more just future. I could continue quoting this book all day, but I have to stop at some point so that you can go and check it out.
The themes woven into the book are deeply interconnected and represent the culmination of Zinn's lifelong intellectual and activist journey. Foremost among these is the crucial imperative of moral courage and active engagement in the face of societal inequities. Zinn adamantly rejects the notion of neutrality, asserting that in a world marked by profound injustices, inaction is complicity. He passionately argues that "The power of a bold idea uttered publicly in defiance of dominant opinion cannot be easily measured. Those special people who speak out in such a way as to shake up not only the self-assurance of their enemies, but the complacency of their friends, are precious catalysts for change." This belief underscores his own willingness to challenge established narratives and conventional wisdom, making him a "precious catalyst" in his own right. This conviction is further illuminated by his deep skepticism of state power, as he observes that "The state and its police were not neutral referees in a society of contending interests. They were on the side of the rich and powerful. Free speech? Try it and the police will be there with their horses, their clubs, their guns, to stop you." This sharp critique of state power and its role in suppressing dissent is a recurring motif, urging readers to be wary of official narratives and to question authority.
Another foundational theme is the critical importance of history as a tool for understanding and challenging contemporary power structures. Zinn emphasizes that "History can come in handy. If you were born yesterday, with no knowledge of the past, you might easily accept whatever the government tells you. But knowing a bit of history--while it would not absolutely prove the government was lying in a given instance--might make you skeptical, lead you to ask questions, make it more likely that you would find out the truth." This perspective directly connects to his magnum opus, A People's History of the United States. In A People's History, Zinn meticulously unearths the experiences and struggles of marginalized groups – indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans, laborers, women, and dissenters – whose stories are often overlooked in conventional historical accounts. Both books champion the idea that understanding history from the perspective of the oppressed is crucial for recognizing present-day injustices and inspiring movements for change. Can't Be Neutral provides the philosophical underpinnings for the methodology employed in A People's History, revealing Zinn's personal journey to challenge the historical narratives that serve to legitimize state power and suppress resistance.
The book also grapples with the profound failures of the criminal justice system and the urgent need for radical reform. Zinn's scathing indictment of incarceration is particularly poignant: "I am convinced that imprisonment is a way of pretending to solve the problem of crime. It does nothing for the victims of crime, but perpetuates the idea of retribution, thus maintaining the endless cycle of violence in our culture. It is a cruel and useless substitute for the elimination of those conditions--poverty, unemployment, homelessness, desperation, racism, greed--which are at the root of most punished crime. The crimes of the rich and powerful go mostly unpunished." This powerful statement critiques the carceral state as a perpetuator of violence rather than a solution to societal ills, advocating instead for addressing the root causes of crime. This perspective, too, finds echoes in A People's History, which frequently details how systems of power have historically relied on coercion and control to maintain social hierarchies. I, also, highly recommend checking out Angela Davis's work, Are Prisons Obsolete, for a more thorough critique of the prison industrial complex.
Despite its many strengths and invaluable contributions, Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train is not without its limitations. While Zinn powerfully advocates for nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience, the book can be critiqued for potentially downplaying the role and efficacy of strategic violence in certain historical liberation movements. Zinn's unwavering commitment to nonviolence, while admirable and deeply moral, might not fully acknowledge the complexities of resistance where oppressed groups have, at times, resorted to violence as a means of self-defense or to achieve liberation in the face of overwhelming state repression. This critique is notably articulated in works such as Peter Gelderloos's How Nonviolence Protects the State, which argues that an exclusive focus on nonviolence can inadvertently serve the interests of oppressive powers by limiting the tactical options available to those seeking radical change. While Zinn's moral stance is clear, a more nuanced discussion of the historical contexts where violence has played a part, even if regrettable, could offer a more complete picture of the spectrum of human resistance. This is not to diminish the profound power of nonviolent action, but rather to acknowledge the broader historical realities that some movements have confronted.
Nevertheless, Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train remains a timeless testament to Howard Zinn's enduring legacy. It is a compelling and thought-provoking read that challenges readers to move beyond complacency, to engage with history critically, and to embrace their role as agents of change in a world that desperately needs their voice and action. His persistent optimism, encapsulated in the warning that “Pessimism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; it reproduces itself by crippling our willingness to act,” serves as a powerful antidote to despair, reminding us that collective action and unwavering hope are essential for building a more just future. I could continue quoting this book all day, but I have to stop at some point so that you can go and check it out.
January 7, 2011
I am still a huge fan of Zinn. His writing is humble but so smart. He inspires me to do more, be more, and live bigger.
October 16, 2018
Zinn's message rings just as true today as it did in 1993 when it was published. READ IT.
May 2, 2021
dang what a life... every story in this book blew my mind and i hope to have a teacher like him one day R.I.P
July 14, 2025
[E]ducation becomes most rich and alive when it confronts the reality of moral conflict in the world.Zinn's marvelous memoir is an unforgettable reading experience. In 208 pp. (15 concise chapters), Zinn describes his life as activist, teacher, writer / historian in a way that quietly commands attention and rewards with insight and valuable life lessons.
Any serious-thinking American with an interest in what democracy is *really* all about should want to read this book.
Not long ago, I read Zinn's 'A People's History of the United States' (another must-read). It opened my eyes in a way that my woefully inadequate high school history classes never could. 'You Can't Be Neutral...' supplements 'A People's History' by showing what shaped its author's thinking.
As autobiography, it doesn't go into exhaustive depth about Zinn's beginnings - growing up in a poor family, working various menial jobs, being a bombardier in WWII (where his enlightenment began re: how governments tend to operate largely in their own interests). An economic writer, Zinn tells you just what you need to know, to get the point.
As a professor - a popular one; first at a black college in the South, then later at Boston University (where he, along with everyone else, labored for years under a cretinous university president) - Zinn seemed to maintain a balance of classwork with more-or-less steady protesting (entailing events, speeches, marches, civil disobedience, skirmishes with police / courts, and jail time - all in the cause of democracy and people's rights, in the face of those with the money / power to oppress / suppress for its own sake).
Zinn's heartfelt story is immensely readable; written in a style that makes you want to know more. He doesn't suggest that everyone with a righteous heart has the exact same capacity for achieving justice. And he acknowledges that societal progress has been made - but only in relation to efforts towards it... efforts helped by even the smallest of ways:
Social movements may have many 'defeats'--failing to achieve objectives in the short run--but in the course of the struggle the strength of the old order begins to erode, the minds of people begin to change; the protestors are momentarily defeated but not crushed; and have been lifted, heartened by their ability to fight back.I cannot praise this book enough - and there's little I could add that comes anywhere near the power and passion of Zinn's own words.
October 3, 2021
I found this interesting to see how far we have come, but how far we still need to go.
November 4, 2018
Leiam!Leiam!Leiam!
Um sopro de esperança em tempos sombrios
Um sopro de esperança em tempos sombrios
November 18, 2019
The more I learn about Zinn the more respect I have for him. This memoir highlights just some of his incredible life and I would definitely recommend to anyone looking to start understanding Zinn. Really interesting to hear about these events from his own perspective after learning about his role throughout them.
Read
August 28, 2024neat guy 👍
October 31, 2024
A succinct yet powerful book. It’s hard to believe how many lives Zinn lived - from army man in WWII to civil rights activist to teacher to anti-war demonstrator to expert in civil disobedience. There were a few moments and ideas that I wished he had dug into a little deeper, and at times his writing style didn’t really work for me. All in all though, it was fascinating to read about his life and learn how he remained optimistic for the future despite troubling times
April 17, 2022
What could I ever say about this book that would live up to its greatness? Not much.
This is a testament to the urgent, relevant nature of Howard Zinn's work and the necessity for hope, always.
This is a testament to the urgent, relevant nature of Howard Zinn's work and the necessity for hope, always.
February 26, 2012
Undoubtedly one of the most powerful books I've read.
My first introduction to Zinn came at the great expense, and weight, of A People's History. While I didn't have the tenacity to make my way all the way through, the idea of an alternative history book really peaked my interest in its author.
Upon my brother's return from a semester at Morehouse College, where he spent most of his time in classes at Spelman College, he eagerly dropped Zinn's memoir into my lap, insisting I take it with me to school. I couldn't be more glad he did.
"You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train" reflects on the positions Zinn held throughout his career, the choices that drove him to those positions and the challenges he faced, and posed, in each. In a similar light as Derrick Bell's, "Confronting Authority," Zinn eloquently and accessibly lays out his ideals in confrontations with those who stood in his way or actively disagreed with his pursuit of a true justice.
Much of what I find most inspiring about Zinn is not any particular ideology he holds but rather the process through which he encouraged his students to find their own path. He believed strongly in critical pedagogy, recognizing that individuals can come to their own conclusions but that in order for the educational experience to be comprehensive, it inevitably requires questioning and critical thinking, not rote memorization and passive acceptance of a world-as-is.
So much of what I read in Zinn is what I hear coming from my brother's struggles and I feel fortunate to have such a guiding and challenging force in my life. One that asks the questions of me that force me to ask further questions of myself and the world in which I exist. For if there's one take away that resonates most with me, it is not that the goal is any particular answer but but rather finding the questions that can lead us towards an ever expanding series of answers that define the path of justice.
My first introduction to Zinn came at the great expense, and weight, of A People's History. While I didn't have the tenacity to make my way all the way through, the idea of an alternative history book really peaked my interest in its author.
Upon my brother's return from a semester at Morehouse College, where he spent most of his time in classes at Spelman College, he eagerly dropped Zinn's memoir into my lap, insisting I take it with me to school. I couldn't be more glad he did.
"You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train" reflects on the positions Zinn held throughout his career, the choices that drove him to those positions and the challenges he faced, and posed, in each. In a similar light as Derrick Bell's, "Confronting Authority," Zinn eloquently and accessibly lays out his ideals in confrontations with those who stood in his way or actively disagreed with his pursuit of a true justice.
Much of what I find most inspiring about Zinn is not any particular ideology he holds but rather the process through which he encouraged his students to find their own path. He believed strongly in critical pedagogy, recognizing that individuals can come to their own conclusions but that in order for the educational experience to be comprehensive, it inevitably requires questioning and critical thinking, not rote memorization and passive acceptance of a world-as-is.
So much of what I read in Zinn is what I hear coming from my brother's struggles and I feel fortunate to have such a guiding and challenging force in my life. One that asks the questions of me that force me to ask further questions of myself and the world in which I exist. For if there's one take away that resonates most with me, it is not that the goal is any particular answer but but rather finding the questions that can lead us towards an ever expanding series of answers that define the path of justice.
July 5, 2020
At a 1992 Kalamazoo talk, someone asked Howard Zinn, “What gives you hope?” The question frames this book. Why optimism? Why now?
It’s the people, Zinn says.
It’s the communist shipbuilders Zinn labored with in WWII dockyards, who after hellish days hauling, hammering, and welding in the bellies of battleships, would pass out Marxist literature and help organize “unskilled” laborers into unions. It’s the black girls at Spelman College who, risking their spots at the university, challenged a conservative president on his reactionary bullshit, joined SNCC, and marched across the South to tear down Jim Crow. It’s a young John Lewis Zinn watched being beaten, beaten, beaten, and then rising to march again.
It’s the professors Zinn taught with at Boston University who marched with their students against the Vietnam War, spiting the conservative college president and walking away from easy tenure. It’s Father Berrigan, the Catholic priest who spoke against the Vietnam War when his Church wouldn’t; who commiserated with all humans, not just those backed by the US Army, and thus had no problem travelling with Zinn to meet the Viet Cong and bring back prisoners; Dan Berrigan who broke into an army office and burned draft cards, protesting a draft that preyed on the poor to uphold a façade for the powerful; who hid from the FBI from years, was eventually tried for arson, and when released, took up the cause of peace once again.
It’s Zinn’s parents who raised him in tenements, ground down their bodies working any job they could find, and spent their last pennies buying Zinn the collected works of Dickens, whom Zinn would read to understand his own experience.
It’s us, if we’re bold enough.
It’s the people, Zinn says.
It’s the communist shipbuilders Zinn labored with in WWII dockyards, who after hellish days hauling, hammering, and welding in the bellies of battleships, would pass out Marxist literature and help organize “unskilled” laborers into unions. It’s the black girls at Spelman College who, risking their spots at the university, challenged a conservative president on his reactionary bullshit, joined SNCC, and marched across the South to tear down Jim Crow. It’s a young John Lewis Zinn watched being beaten, beaten, beaten, and then rising to march again.
It’s the professors Zinn taught with at Boston University who marched with their students against the Vietnam War, spiting the conservative college president and walking away from easy tenure. It’s Father Berrigan, the Catholic priest who spoke against the Vietnam War when his Church wouldn’t; who commiserated with all humans, not just those backed by the US Army, and thus had no problem travelling with Zinn to meet the Viet Cong and bring back prisoners; Dan Berrigan who broke into an army office and burned draft cards, protesting a draft that preyed on the poor to uphold a façade for the powerful; who hid from the FBI from years, was eventually tried for arson, and when released, took up the cause of peace once again.
It’s Zinn’s parents who raised him in tenements, ground down their bodies working any job they could find, and spent their last pennies buying Zinn the collected works of Dickens, whom Zinn would read to understand his own experience.
It’s us, if we’re bold enough.
July 14, 2012
Howard Zinn’s inspirational memoir is one of a kind. It traces a few anecdotes from his life’s events, but its principal thrust comes from telling the stories of extraordinary people doing extraordinary things, Howard Zinn among them. The people are extraordinary in the sense that they are ordinary people challenging the status quo, challenging oppression, putting themselves up for sacrifice for our common good.
Howard Zinn has been called many things: from being a radical to be a troublemaker, but I think in the end all he wanted was to be a good human being. This took him from participating in early civil rights efforts in the deep south to giving talks about justice and democracy in Boston and everywhere else. This memoir jots a few of the seminal events of his time, while bringing out the very many people playing small roles, but then, precisely because they went against what existed, big roles. More importantly, this memoir is a story of hope, of how we can achieve an understanding of the people around us: white, brown, black, and of every other color by simply speaking up, by simply questioning the injustice that plagues the modern age. Zinn argues if history is any evidence of how things will turn out, there are then countless stories of cruetly but also of compassion and sacrifice, and by emphasizing the kind sides of human beings, we can go a long way to a peaceful and worthwhile existence. “You can’t be neutral on a moving train” is a remark by Zinn to warn us that acting and acting now, is of the fundamental importance.
Howard Zinn has been called many things: from being a radical to be a troublemaker, but I think in the end all he wanted was to be a good human being. This took him from participating in early civil rights efforts in the deep south to giving talks about justice and democracy in Boston and everywhere else. This memoir jots a few of the seminal events of his time, while bringing out the very many people playing small roles, but then, precisely because they went against what existed, big roles. More importantly, this memoir is a story of hope, of how we can achieve an understanding of the people around us: white, brown, black, and of every other color by simply speaking up, by simply questioning the injustice that plagues the modern age. Zinn argues if history is any evidence of how things will turn out, there are then countless stories of cruetly but also of compassion and sacrifice, and by emphasizing the kind sides of human beings, we can go a long way to a peaceful and worthwhile existence. “You can’t be neutral on a moving train” is a remark by Zinn to warn us that acting and acting now, is of the fundamental importance.
March 11, 2019
I received this updated version of Howard Zinn's memoir/autobiography. I knew who Zinn was, of course, and what he had written, but hadn't myself read anything of his yet. In these tumultuous times, reading is an escape, so I haven't been reading much like this. I decided to give this book a try because his purpose for writing it was to show how movements can create change, and to give hope. I learned a lot from Zinn's book - specifics of movements I knew about in general. His history is fascinating, and just as I had hoped, it is hope-infusing. Important history to read and know about, and a perfect read in these scary times if you need some hope.
January 26, 2011
An entertaining, easy read. Zinn was a great writer and thinker and I personally think that anybody who lives in the US should have to read his "People's History Of The United States." In this, his memoir, the reader is offered a glimpse of the forces that shaped his thinking. It's nothing too earth-shaking, certainly lacking much of the insight for which he's better known, and can occasionally seem self-congratulatory. But it's worth reading either as an introduction to the man himself or as a supplement to his more thoroughly-researched work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews