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Howard Zinn has led quite a life: raised in the slums of Brooklyn, decorated World War II bombadier, author, anti-war activist, teacher, professor emeritus at Boston University and celebrated lecturer. Zinn, a history professor during the Vietnam War, chided fellow historians for shying away from denouncing the war, hiding behind the ruse of objectivity.<p>

He's long been a champion of the oppressed and downtrodden, asserting that history is written by the ruling classes in his book "A People's History of the Unites States: 1942 to present." Readers get a different view of American history, the view from women, Latinos, African Americans, the poor and disenfranchised peoples in general. "A People's History" received a boost from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's film "Good Will Hunting." Damon actually grew up next door to Zinn, and the historian is an family friend.<p>

Given the current political and social climate, Zinn is sure to have insight on the war in Iraq and place it in historical context.

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