Zinn's classic The People's History of the United States startled and informed a generation of historians. In this new collection of essays and interviews, Zinn (history emeritus, Boston U.) describes his thoughts on democracy in America, and what is missing in American education, namely the tools to discern fact from fiction and to recognize contradictions in political policies and practices. He examines what he calls the "manufacture of mass deception," the freedoms extant and missing in American education, class consciousness, the war on terror, the diverted left, and the reasons why students should study history. Series editor Donaldo Macedo provides an introduction and commentary. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)