California

January 1, 2012

This latest entry in the "On-the-Road Histories" series is, like its predecessors, more of a popular history than a travel guide. Only a short set of appendixes, on destinations, festivals, and the like, provide practical travel information. Beginning with precolonial California and stretching through the present day, Silverman (history, Pomona Coll.) and Glover (writing, Univ. of California, Davis) cover a significant time span in a clearly organized and readable narrative. Chapters contain ample photographs, many in full color. One of this title's strongest points is its explicit mission to combat the whitewashing of California history; it does not shy away from difficult subjects or conflicts and continually emphasizes the role of minorities. As in many history books, however, modern periods do not receive the same depth as those further in the past. The Zoot Suit Riots of 1943, which erupted in Los Angeles between uniformed white sailors and suit-wearing Latino youths, for example, are reduced to a few sentences. VERDICT With much more history than classic travel guides like Fodor's or Frommer's but less depth than an academic monograph, this should appeal to readers of popular history, who will appreciate its wide range and respect for diversity.--Audrey Barbakoff, Kitsap Regional Lib., Bainbridge Island, WA

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