A Larger Memory: A History of our Diversity, With Voices

by Ronald Takaki

A sweeping yet intimate history of the diverse individuals who, together, make up America. Ronald Takaki uses letters, diaries & oral histories to share their stories. Workers, immigrants, shopkeepers, women, children & others, their lives often separated by ethnic borders, speak side by side as Takaki frames their voices with his own text.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, School, Sociology

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 1998

About the author

Ronald Toshiyuki Takaki was an American academic, historian, ethnographer and author.

Reviews

[Glenn Wachter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcoming our muticultural destiny takes open minds and hearts... let "America be America!"

[Olivia d'Aliberti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this book, and it is a good way to review American history - with a more personal, humanistic touch. The diversity of America is well-represented in A Larger Memory, as the book provides a holistic account of American struggles through personal accounts by a large range of immigrant settlers and Native Americans starting with stories from original European settlers and ending with affirmative action. However, I cannot say that I enjoyed all parts of the book - particularly the portrayal of affirmative action and the continued need for such a program. Accounts from this more modern segment of history only enhance my personal view that affirmative action is misused, and although it shouldn't be removed, it must be re-examined.

[Linda Dittes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the way the author set the stories from American Indians to Asian Indians. These give great background to where racism started in the US.

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars on this one. I really enjoyed the oral history excerpts that illuminated Takaki's basic introductions of each section. There were a few that really stood out, and i thought he did a good job covering multiple identities and issues within a polictical economy framework.

[LA · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIST 8980: Hawes: Thematic Studies, Fall 2005

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal!