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California: An American History
A concise and lively history of California, the most multicultural state in the nation
California is the most multicultural state in America. As John Mack Faragher explains in this new history, California’s natural variety has always supported such diversity, including Native peoples speaking dozens of distinct languages, Spanish and Mexican colonists, gold seekers from all corners of the globe, and successive migrant waves from the eastern United States and from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
Faragher tells the stories of a colorful cast of characters—some famous, others mostly unknown—including African American Archy Lee, who sued for his freedom; Sinkyone Indian woman Sally Bell, who survived genocide; and Jewish schoolgirl Marilyn Greene, who spoke up for her Japanese friends after the attack on Pearl Harbor. California’s diversity has often led to conflict, turmoil, and violence but also to invention, improvisation, and a struggle to achieve multicultural democracy.
California is the most multicultural state in America. As John Mack Faragher explains in this new history, California’s natural variety has always supported such diversity, including Native peoples speaking dozens of distinct languages, Spanish and Mexican colonists, gold seekers from all corners of the globe, and successive migrant waves from the eastern United States and from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
Faragher tells the stories of a colorful cast of characters—some famous, others mostly unknown—including African American Archy Lee, who sued for his freedom; Sinkyone Indian woman Sally Bell, who survived genocide; and Jewish schoolgirl Marilyn Greene, who spoke up for her Japanese friends after the attack on Pearl Harbor. California’s diversity has often led to conflict, turmoil, and violence but also to invention, improvisation, and a struggle to achieve multicultural democracy.
480 pages, Hardcover
Published May 10, 2022
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662 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 31, 2022
I learned so much from reading this book! I'm a bit of a Californiaphile - a person who wants to learn a lot about California. I love reading books about this state, including fiction set in this state. This history of California from start to current times (2020, 2021) is full of information I've never read from any other source.
I liked how the author, John Mack Faragher, focused in on multicultural relationships starting from the Native Californians who gave aid to distressed foreign seafarers, to the present time when people of many shades of color are more numerous here than people of only European descent.
Before I go on, I want to add that the chapter illustrations by Weshoyot Alvitre are marvelous... I had a Kindle copy of this book to read and always stopped to enlarge the illustrations so I could admire them. They gave hints of what each chapter would be about, in part. Truthfully, the chapters each contained a variety of topics, but the illustration with the chapter title gave me clues, and things to look forward to.
I don't think there's much this author failed to include in this history book. I especially liked the focus on Native Americans, and telling the truth about how they were attacked and how even now they're struggling for prosperity and hoping to regain access to ancestral lands. Unhappy history that's been hidden or passed over in other California history books is presented here. This author didn't mince words.
Honestly - there were a few things so terrible that I can't get them out of my mind now, and I'd recommend this book more for college students (or older people) rather than for teenagers. It is definitely not for children. I think it is really necessary for California people to know about these atrocities. We need to be aware about the problems in this state. It isn't a land of milk and honey and there's much more to our history than the discovery of gold and the 1849 migration.
I'm a Californian - born in Oakland and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. I now live north of there at the top of our state, about twenty miles from Oregon. I've lived here most of my life so it is only natural that I want to know more about California, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to read this newly published history.
I appreciated that the author occasionally included information about his early life of living in California, though he now lives and works in New England. Just today I found an interview he did a few days ago to talk about this book - it is on YouTube. Very interesting! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHOCf...
Of course this isn't the only book he wrote. A few others are Woman and Men on the Overland Trail, Daniel Boone: The Life and Legend of an American Pioneer, and Eternity Street: Violence and Justice in Frontier Los Angeles.
I thank the publisher, Yale University Press, for making this book available to me through NetGalley. As soon as I saw the title, California, I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed! I got a good education out of the time I spent reading this from cover to cover. All comments I've made about how much I've enjoyed reading and learning from this book are my own, sincerely given. I now feel I know a lot more about my home state than I did before I started reading the book.
Politics: I felt both sides of the political spectrum were fairly represented.
Language: There were two profanities.... but given in quotations as part of the history being reported on. (I'm a clean-reads advocate so I like to mention these kinds of things.)
I liked how the author, John Mack Faragher, focused in on multicultural relationships starting from the Native Californians who gave aid to distressed foreign seafarers, to the present time when people of many shades of color are more numerous here than people of only European descent.
Before I go on, I want to add that the chapter illustrations by Weshoyot Alvitre are marvelous... I had a Kindle copy of this book to read and always stopped to enlarge the illustrations so I could admire them. They gave hints of what each chapter would be about, in part. Truthfully, the chapters each contained a variety of topics, but the illustration with the chapter title gave me clues, and things to look forward to.
I don't think there's much this author failed to include in this history book. I especially liked the focus on Native Americans, and telling the truth about how they were attacked and how even now they're struggling for prosperity and hoping to regain access to ancestral lands. Unhappy history that's been hidden or passed over in other California history books is presented here. This author didn't mince words.
Honestly - there were a few things so terrible that I can't get them out of my mind now, and I'd recommend this book more for college students (or older people) rather than for teenagers. It is definitely not for children. I think it is really necessary for California people to know about these atrocities. We need to be aware about the problems in this state. It isn't a land of milk and honey and there's much more to our history than the discovery of gold and the 1849 migration.
I'm a Californian - born in Oakland and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. I now live north of there at the top of our state, about twenty miles from Oregon. I've lived here most of my life so it is only natural that I want to know more about California, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to read this newly published history.
I appreciated that the author occasionally included information about his early life of living in California, though he now lives and works in New England. Just today I found an interview he did a few days ago to talk about this book - it is on YouTube. Very interesting! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHOCf...
Of course this isn't the only book he wrote. A few others are Woman and Men on the Overland Trail, Daniel Boone: The Life and Legend of an American Pioneer, and Eternity Street: Violence and Justice in Frontier Los Angeles.
I thank the publisher, Yale University Press, for making this book available to me through NetGalley. As soon as I saw the title, California, I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed! I got a good education out of the time I spent reading this from cover to cover. All comments I've made about how much I've enjoyed reading and learning from this book are my own, sincerely given. I now feel I know a lot more about my home state than I did before I started reading the book.
Politics: I felt both sides of the political spectrum were fairly represented.
Language: There were two profanities.... but given in quotations as part of the history being reported on. (I'm a clean-reads advocate so I like to mention these kinds of things.)
May 3, 2022
“California” by John Mack Faragher is an exploration of California’s history from the landing of the first Spanish explorers to present day. Faragher weaves fact with a narrative that is easy to follow and oftentimes difficult to put down, at least for this reviewer. The history presented also focuses on the Native and BIPOC voices of those effected by the onslaught of colonization and continued pressures of white supremacy on a systemic level. Faragher also adds a personal touch to the state’s history, mentioning the lives of his grandmother and parents. Overall I found this to be an excellent read, whether you have a marked interest in history or a passing fancy to learn more about the state of California.
December 9, 2022
I think for what this book is (a condensed popular history of California) it does a great job. I am curious to see if anybody I know who doesn’t work in a history-related field would like this book. It is so instructive to anyone living in California today, to understand how our state came to be. Themes of racism and labor run throughout, so this can be a sad or discouraging read in many places. Still! Californians, please read! You’re guaranteed to learn a lot. I listened on audiobook and plan to purchase a copy to keep on my bookshelf, too.
October 22, 2022
This is the best, most up-to-date, and multicultural history of the state I’ve read.
December 19, 2023
Great overview of California history. Each chapter could be its own book. The author did a good job incorporating as much as he could into 400 pages. Should be required reading for Californians or anyone thinking about moving to the state.
September 6, 2022
A thorough history of California.
In a series of short and easily digestible chapters the author describes the history of California from what we know of the Indigenous people before European contact to the modern day.
Many histories of California tend to gloss over its history before 1846; this work does not. The author goes into considerable detail regarding the Indigenous people, the days of the Spanish missions and Spanish rule, and the twenty-five year period of Mexican rule. The author does not spare detail as he covers California's history as part of the United States, covering the socio-political and cultural events and milestones of each decade since the 1840s.
The author interweaves the history of his own ancestors into the story of the development of California, and never forgets the existence and influence of the Indigenous people on the land. A very insightful and judicious exploration into California's heritage.
**--galley received as part of early review program
In a series of short and easily digestible chapters the author describes the history of California from what we know of the Indigenous people before European contact to the modern day.
Many histories of California tend to gloss over its history before 1846; this work does not. The author goes into considerable detail regarding the Indigenous people, the days of the Spanish missions and Spanish rule, and the twenty-five year period of Mexican rule. The author does not spare detail as he covers California's history as part of the United States, covering the socio-political and cultural events and milestones of each decade since the 1840s.
The author interweaves the history of his own ancestors into the story of the development of California, and never forgets the existence and influence of the Indigenous people on the land. A very insightful and judicious exploration into California's heritage.
**--galley received as part of early review program
January 12, 2025
Listening to this is like auditing that niche college course that’s super interesting and engrossing but without the midterm that is the hardest test you’ve ever taken in your life.
California history, like anywhere else, is fraught with racism and atrocities. But let’s give credit where it’s due: California is also historically at the forefront of fighting for equality and justice. West coast best coast.
California history, like anywhere else, is fraught with racism and atrocities. But let’s give credit where it’s due: California is also historically at the forefront of fighting for equality and justice. West coast best coast.
August 10, 2022
A history of California told in stories which made it interesting and easy to read. He hits the high points and includes all the people of California (Gov. De Santis would not approve but he’s not a Californian so what do we care). I learned a lot about our history.
September 22, 2022
Very readable and interesting history of California. Especially good for someone who lives here. Lots of fascinating facts - like that more native Americans lived here - over 300,000 - at the time of colonization than in any other state.
October 5, 2023
This book is the strongest in the pre-American period. After that it seems like a catalogue of people the author doesn't like doing things the author doesn't like instead of developing themes that drove California's history. For example, very few pages are given to the complete transformation of the state by the New Deal and World War II and most of it is pointing out its shortcomings.
Much of the book is tearing down historical figures who no one thought was a saint. For example, is the hit job on John Muir totally necessary? I'm not really sure what Faragher's trying to do here. He starts in the first chapter brightly:
At the beginning of Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, Zinn is entirely frank about his perspective. Faragher, on the other hand, seems to be full of it in his first chapter. Indeed, he felt it was necessary to write this:
And yet other than pointing out their admittedly horrible attitudes about their fellow humans, the protagonists of the book are themselves mainly land-owning European men. There is also no broad discussion about racial attitudes at Muir's time or their connections to today. There is no discernible thread connecting the many cases in this book where the this is done. Perhaps it’s to disguise the fact that, again, the vast majority mentioned are white men? Otherwise it just seems quite discordant with the rest of the music. When Faragher does talk about goings on in different racial groups, we are already in the post-World War II period, close enough to today to connect the dots on our own.
Faragher spends more time documenting his own family's history than connecting some of the admittedly fascinating vignettes throughout the book.
I'm going to leave aside for a moment the false equivalence Faragher makes between Hetch Hetchy and Owens Valley, which seems to be the origin of his critique of Muir for supporting the latter and opposing the former.
But if everyone then a racist by today's standards, it might be worth pointing out if someone wasn't, otherwise it seems like a gratuitous point completely at odds with his paean to "historical empathy" in the beginning of his work.
Despite his warts, John Muir demonstrably moved the arc of the universe in the good direction. Faragher seems to want to trash him. This kind of diss seems to be the main theme of the book.
Perhaps if Faragher had written an introduction like Zinn's and framed the book that way, instead of calling for empathy and then showing none, the other redeeming qualities of the book would stand out.
Much of the book is tearing down historical figures who no one thought was a saint. For example, is the hit job on John Muir totally necessary? I'm not really sure what Faragher's trying to do here. He starts in the first chapter brightly:
Thinking historically also requires 'historical empathy,' the attempt to understand the thoughts, feelings, and actions of those who lived before us. They were like us in many ways: they lived and loved, worked and played, fought and died. Yet they were also very different from us. They laughed at jokes that today mystify us, they cherished values we find difficult to understand, they worshiped in ways that may seem strange and exotic.”
At the beginning of Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, Zinn is entirely frank about his perspective. Faragher, on the other hand, seems to be full of it in his first chapter. Indeed, he felt it was necessary to write this:
“Work on the Muir place was seasonal, requiring as many as forty hands at harvest, and Muir found supervising their work a vexing task. Like most Californians, he was a racist.”
And yet other than pointing out their admittedly horrible attitudes about their fellow humans, the protagonists of the book are themselves mainly land-owning European men. There is also no broad discussion about racial attitudes at Muir's time or their connections to today. There is no discernible thread connecting the many cases in this book where the this is done. Perhaps it’s to disguise the fact that, again, the vast majority mentioned are white men? Otherwise it just seems quite discordant with the rest of the music. When Faragher does talk about goings on in different racial groups, we are already in the post-World War II period, close enough to today to connect the dots on our own.
Faragher spends more time documenting his own family's history than connecting some of the admittedly fascinating vignettes throughout the book.
I'm going to leave aside for a moment the false equivalence Faragher makes between Hetch Hetchy and Owens Valley, which seems to be the origin of his critique of Muir for supporting the latter and opposing the former.
But if everyone then a racist by today's standards, it might be worth pointing out if someone wasn't, otherwise it seems like a gratuitous point completely at odds with his paean to "historical empathy" in the beginning of his work.
Despite his warts, John Muir demonstrably moved the arc of the universe in the good direction. Faragher seems to want to trash him. This kind of diss seems to be the main theme of the book.
Perhaps if Faragher had written an introduction like Zinn's and framed the book that way, instead of calling for empathy and then showing none, the other redeeming qualities of the book would stand out.
Read
May 16, 2024This was a really solid history of California. Faragher starts with the indigenous people who lived in the area we now call California and moves right up to about 2020. As a person who grew up in California surrounded by a lot of this history I was virtually unaware of most of it. This is an incredibly accessible history book. Chapters are short and snappy without losing context or information. Faragher also does a good job using people to tell a story as opposed to rattling off dry facts. And he'll use a group of people to discuss one historical event or time period then they will crop up when he circles back to discuss other trends or events in other chapters linking all the things he's talking about in a way that is easy and enjoyable to follow.
Fourth grade is all about California history and middle and high school feature US history. I have two big complaints about how US history is taught in those years. The first is that it never seems to make it past WWII which means we miss out on all the history that has had major impacts on our current lives. The second is that, with the exception of talking about the Gold Rush from a while male perspective and a little bit about the railroad, US history is very East Coast centric. That's not to say important things didn't happen there or that that focus is entirely wrong, but in terms of what the history of the place I have always lived in is, it's very different. We had very different relationships with colonial powers and indigenous people. A lot of the bad parts of the history of the west also get obfuscated with that East Coast centric narrative, such as the fact that while California was admitted as a "free" state, it still had strong ties and investments in slavery.
This would make a great read for high school students and even a middle schooler with enough interest (while highly readable, it's still quite long!) could find a lot here. I plan on using this for homeschooling with my own kids as it's the kind of history book I've been looking for to discuss the history of our state.
Fourth grade is all about California history and middle and high school feature US history. I have two big complaints about how US history is taught in those years. The first is that it never seems to make it past WWII which means we miss out on all the history that has had major impacts on our current lives. The second is that, with the exception of talking about the Gold Rush from a while male perspective and a little bit about the railroad, US history is very East Coast centric. That's not to say important things didn't happen there or that that focus is entirely wrong, but in terms of what the history of the place I have always lived in is, it's very different. We had very different relationships with colonial powers and indigenous people. A lot of the bad parts of the history of the west also get obfuscated with that East Coast centric narrative, such as the fact that while California was admitted as a "free" state, it still had strong ties and investments in slavery.
This would make a great read for high school students and even a middle schooler with enough interest (while highly readable, it's still quite long!) could find a lot here. I plan on using this for homeschooling with my own kids as it's the kind of history book I've been looking for to discuss the history of our state.
December 11, 2022
An enjoyable, readable, and portrait style history of California. It was published in 2022 and thus, enjoys the benefit of including major recent events in its final chapter.
California is perhaps the most notorious state the U.S. for more reasons than most can account for in one sitting, and John Faragher does an impressive job bringing this all together into 40 short-story portraits. Common themes do emerge from these portraits that would be recognizable by most Americans. Yet, "hearing" (reading) them united together in this volume caused palpable unrest and a desire for resolution in me that that seemed to match the that the spirit of California. I supposed that alludes to Faragher's success with this book.
I do have one big (big to me) criticism of this book. There is no real source material. I know that probably makes the book feel more accessible to more people, but it also makes me very skeptical. The abused and mistreated people groups in California's history deserve to be seen in heard through the telling of this story in this volume, but also through giving source material do others can learn more. Without source material, It is almost like a story that is only half told. And, a simple selected biography or endnotes can also make the book feel less academic. I contacted the publisher to see if they will provide any source material.
California is perhaps the most notorious state the U.S. for more reasons than most can account for in one sitting, and John Faragher does an impressive job bringing this all together into 40 short-story portraits. Common themes do emerge from these portraits that would be recognizable by most Americans. Yet, "hearing" (reading) them united together in this volume caused palpable unrest and a desire for resolution in me that that seemed to match the that the spirit of California. I supposed that alludes to Faragher's success with this book.
I do have one big (big to me) criticism of this book. There is no real source material. I know that probably makes the book feel more accessible to more people, but it also makes me very skeptical. The abused and mistreated people groups in California's history deserve to be seen in heard through the telling of this story in this volume, but also through giving source material do others can learn more. Without source material, It is almost like a story that is only half told. And, a simple selected biography or endnotes can also make the book feel less academic. I contacted the publisher to see if they will provide any source material.
August 24, 2025
What the author did well in this book was to present a history of the native peoples of California that went well beyond the usual 1900 stopping point. His research on indigenous Californians was obviously thorough, and his writing style when tackling this long history was warm and compelling.
What he did not do well was in telling a complete history of California. He used so much space for native peoples that all else seemed to get short shrift. He also had a political ax to grind, which tended to make him something less than a neutral observer. There was a real good-guys-versus-bad-guys tone in the narrative that became grating especially toward the end of the book. Even though I believe he was right, in most cases, in the way he assigned the black hats and white hats, I would have preferred a somewhat more balanced and comprehensive viewpoint, something that went beyond “people of color voted this way and white people voted this other way.”
Yeah, as general California, the book was unsatisfactory. But I did learn a lot about the indigenous peoples of California that I quite enjoyed.
What he did not do well was in telling a complete history of California. He used so much space for native peoples that all else seemed to get short shrift. He also had a political ax to grind, which tended to make him something less than a neutral observer. There was a real good-guys-versus-bad-guys tone in the narrative that became grating especially toward the end of the book. Even though I believe he was right, in most cases, in the way he assigned the black hats and white hats, I would have preferred a somewhat more balanced and comprehensive viewpoint, something that went beyond “people of color voted this way and white people voted this other way.”
Yeah, as general California, the book was unsatisfactory. But I did learn a lot about the indigenous peoples of California that I quite enjoyed.
October 28, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Review of California by John Mack Faragher
California by John Mack Faragher is a fascinating and richly detailed look at the Golden State’s complex past. Faragher brings to life the many peoples and cultures that have shaped California—from Indigenous communities and Spanish settlers to the countless immigrants who came seeking fortune and freedom.
I really enjoyed how he wove together personal stories like those of Archy Lee, Sally Bell, The Donner party, and Marilyn Greene and more to show how deeply California’s diversity, tragedies and triumphs have influenced its history. The book does an excellent job highlighting both the beauty and the tension that come with such a multicultural legacy—stories of conflict, resilience, and hope that still resonate today.
A must-read for anyone interested in U.S. history or the vibrant mix of cultures that make California what it is today. Such an interesting and thought-provoking read about the history of the state of California!
California by John Mack Faragher is a fascinating and richly detailed look at the Golden State’s complex past. Faragher brings to life the many peoples and cultures that have shaped California—from Indigenous communities and Spanish settlers to the countless immigrants who came seeking fortune and freedom.
I really enjoyed how he wove together personal stories like those of Archy Lee, Sally Bell, The Donner party, and Marilyn Greene and more to show how deeply California’s diversity, tragedies and triumphs have influenced its history. The book does an excellent job highlighting both the beauty and the tension that come with such a multicultural legacy—stories of conflict, resilience, and hope that still resonate today.
A must-read for anyone interested in U.S. history or the vibrant mix of cultures that make California what it is today. Such an interesting and thought-provoking read about the history of the state of California!
January 20, 2025
As one of the many non-native Californians currently calling the state my home, I found this book to be incredibly fascinating and informative. This book covers California history from the time before its Spanish conquest all the way to the COVID pandemic. I found it to be easy to consume and never lost interest while reading. I typically start my day with non-fiction and I looked forward to this one every morning.I did the Audiobook version and the narrator was excellent. So glad I decided to pick this one up.
November 15, 2024
Reading this book helped bring me immense perspective of my favorite state that I’m so grateful to call home. The history of California is complex and oppressive - but the history that’s often lost is that regardless of economic and social woes, the working class have been the decider of our future to get us through the turbulence. This book certainly gives me further appreciation for our state and a better understanding of how the people and politics have come to be.
November 17, 2025
Not my kind of book. I've been loving history books lately, so I was excited about this history of California. I did learn some appalling things, about disease, the rape and and enslavement of natives, and terrible barbaric methods of the early Spaniards.
But mostly it was a lot of battles and explorers and details about those things that were really quite boring to me. I just don't think this author gets me. I let it go after a scant 1/3.
But mostly it was a lot of battles and explorers and details about those things that were really quite boring to me. I just don't think this author gets me. I let it go after a scant 1/3.
August 13, 2023
My one sentence review: This book had a lot to cover and was mostly interesting and seemed fairly balanced (I appreciated the inclusion of marginalized stories and the emphasis on multiculturalism near the end) - the author doesn't shy away from talking about both the highs and the lows of our state.
October 26, 2023
Very well written, concise history of California. Lots of interesting details, but not too many that bogged down the narrative. He told a complete history including the positive and negative historical events. Being a 4th generation native Californian, there were lots of things that were hard to read. But, overall, I enjoyed reading it. It flowed and was easy to read.
January 15, 2023
A long read but well worth it — looks at the multicultural history of California, directly addressing the land theft, violence, and exploitation in the state’s economic development. Much more than we ever learned in school; cannot recommend highly enough.
November 12, 2023
Excellent overview of California's history. A bit left-biased towards the more recent decades, but in general pretty balanced.
Note: On audiobook, the narrator was good except his Spanish pronunciations needed a little work!
Note: On audiobook, the narrator was good except his Spanish pronunciations needed a little work!
May 2, 2024
Good Overview of the history of California from pre written history to the modern age.
Brings in perspectives from many of the diverse peoples that have shaped the state we know to day.
Fills in a lot of gaps that weren't covered in your school history class.
Brings in perspectives from many of the diverse peoples that have shaped the state we know to day.
Fills in a lot of gaps that weren't covered in your school history class.
December 17, 2024
Deep historical context on California and really provides a solid contextual background to understand the values that Californians tend to have
Shouldn’t have only read 3 pages a night across an entire year since I remember none of it
Shouldn’t have only read 3 pages a night across an entire year since I remember none of it
April 27, 2025
This book was a beautifully written summary of California history, with a special emphasis on the impacts of race and labor. I think anyone who lives in California (and especially those without a lot of knowledge of California history) would really benefit from reading this book!
August 15, 2025
4.5/5 Stars.
A comprehensive history of California. Faragher's book centers the experiences of Native Californians, people of color, and women in California's history. Faragher often dives into anecdotal and individual stories to really make the history stick.
A comprehensive history of California. Faragher's book centers the experiences of Native Californians, people of color, and women in California's history. Faragher often dives into anecdotal and individual stories to really make the history stick.
June 10, 2022
Like being back in school, good thing I love to learn 😉
August 3, 2022
An excellently clear narrative history of California that takes good account of native Americans and historic mistreatment of them and other ethnicities.
November 27, 2022
This is one of the best overall histories of California I have ever read. Amazed at the depth of one volume. I took lots of notes to delve further!
March 27, 2023
I thought this book would be a history of California. It was a history of discrimination in the State of California.
January 24, 2024
As a lover of history I did not think there could be a bad history book. The author has proven me wrong with this work. Historical editorializing at its worst.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews