Howard Zinn, one of the most important figures of the American left, recounts a long journey of civil courage and resilience: what it was like to grow up poor in New York City, and how witnessing injustices and police repression contributed to his radicalization. He describes his involvement in the struggle of Black Americans in the 1960s in Mississippi, recalls the time he spent in prisons, as well as his last students in 1991 at Boston University, whom he dismissed early to participate in a protest against government policy. Zinn builds a monument to the struggle of ordinary people who organized, challenged the law, were beaten, imprisoned, or killed – yet changed the USA forever. He draws parallels between his experiences as a bomber pilot in World War II and the Vietnam War, as well as the current war on terror. From the students in his classrooms to the audiences at his many lectures and readers of his books – Howard Zinn's hopeful voice is inspiring.