My Book Post

The book that I chose to read was A People's History of the United States.  I chose this 25 chapter book, written by Howard Zinn, because I have always had an interest in history. I was especially excited to read this book after looking at the back cover. The back cover explains the book and states that it is, "Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, A People's History of the Untied States is the only volume to tell America's story from the point of view of --and  in the words of -- America's women, factory workers, African Americans, Native Americans, working poor, and immigrant laborers." I liked that the book was from the view of Americans. People who had really lived to see what our history books teach us and maybe even leave out today.

The book starts with the very first discovery of North America and Christopher Columbus. I had actually read the first few pages in an AP US History class. I did not know at that time that the story was from A People's History of the Untied States, but none the less, I was still as moved the first time read it as the second time I read it. The first chapter really changed my point of view, of how North America was discovered. I always celebrated Columbus Day with my family and was happy that he had discovered our country. Now I can only wonder why we celebrate this day. Why does America have a Holiday for a mass murder? The only thing I could compare it to, is having a Holiday for Hitler.

Most of the book was like this. It was very interesting and very eye opening. I did enjoy that the book included history from this time as well. The very last chapter is about the Gore v. Bush election and all of the controversy that fallowed. The last chapter also includes some facts about 9/11.

 I did not agree with everything Zinn wrote, but a lot of it had some truth to it. Just going threw the Table of Contents you could get a feel to the tone of the book. Chapter 10. The other Civil War, Chapter 16. A Peoples War?, Chapter 18. The Impossible Victory: Vietnam, and so on.

I would highly recommend this book, A People's History of the Untied States . Not only because it is an interesting read, but because it has the possibility of changing your view and question about just how much they leave out of our history books.

Is Google Making Us Stupid?

I couldn't help but laugh when I first glanced at the title of this piece of writing. As soon as you drag your eyes from the witty title to the rest of what author, Nicholas Carr, has written you can see the truth in it. I have always known that the Internet and Google, aren't always the most honest or truthful ways to find information. Most of the information is just plain false. For example, I do know that Russia and Mexico are not countries that happen to be right on the border each other; as a website from Google shared with me only a few days ago. The struggle to find the correct information, and the information that actually answers your question, has become harder and harder as Google progresses. This is not helped by the fact that our brains have started to progresse differently as well, as Carr shares in this article.

My favorite line in this article is: "I feel as I'm always dragging my wayward brain back to the text. The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle." I can 100%  relate to this. Being the avid reader that I am, I have noticed that when I was younger I could sit down for hours and read no problem. But as I have become older, I observed that after the first hours I start to get restless and feel the need to do something else.

I have also noticed then when I use the computer with homework it takes longer. I am much more distracted. I do feel as if I "risk being turned into "pancake people"-- spread wide and thing as we connect with that vast network of information accessed by the mere touch of a button". My homework takes longer, if I don't find the answer that I am looking for in the first five minutes I start to give up.

This article has made me wonder if the distractions to our brains, and the need we feel to find the answers fast; whether they are true or not, is really stemming from Google. It also made me question, that if we are this bad with distractions now, how will we and future generations be as technology progresses. Can Google make us even Stupider?