THE PEOPLE’S HISTORIAN | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation

A biography of iconic radical historian Howard Zinn, examining his life and work as a progressive icon and thought leader through the story of the times that shaped him as well as the United States of America.

From The Nation magazine columnist and New York Times bestselling author Dave Zirin, The People's Historian is a deeply researched biography of Howard Zinn, the beloved author of the classic national bestseller with more than four million copies sold, A People's History of the United States.

The People's Historian shows Zinn's presence on the great canvases of the 20th century: from the Depression to World War II to the Civil Rights Movement to the war in Vietnam all the way until his death in 2010. With intimately researched stories from Zinn's life and career, such as the way Atlanta's small Spelman College, where Zinn taught as a young professor, helped launch the Civil Rights Movement, Zinn's work traveling to Hanoi to engineer the release of POWs, and his continuing influence in the emerging Democratic Socialist movement, The People's Historian explores Zinn's past while also demonstrating how his 75 years of political engagement with the social struggles of his time informs our perilous present.

With input from family and access to Zinn's personal papers, The People's Historian paints a picture of the man behind A People's History, examining his work and legacy in the broader context of the United States.

Dave Zirin is joining us on the Busboys stage alongside Jessica A. Rucker to dive deeper into this “finely tuned narrative of an undeniably sweet but complicated scholar who transformed how we Americans see ourselves” (Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Prometheus). Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Zirin will be signing following the program.

This event is free and open to all. Doors open to guests at 5:30pm. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies ofTHE PEOPLE’S HISTORIAN will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person. 

We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books

Dave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation Magazine, their first sports editor in 160 years of existence. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sport, including most recently The Kaepernick Effect. He is the co-producer, writer and narrator of the new documentary, Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL Zirin has also worked as an advisor for filmmakers and documentarians such as Ang Lee and Ken Burns. Named one of UTNE Reader’s “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Our World,” Zirin has been a frequent guest on ESPN, MSNBC, and CNN. He also hosts The Nation’s Edge of Sports podcast and cohosts The Collison on WPFW.

BOOK DETAILS

The People's Historian

The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn

By Dave Zirin

August 04, 2026 | Hardcover, 320 pages, $32

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