The Human Tradition in California

Davis and Igler present a superb collection of diverse short biographical essays, arranged chronologically, which map out critical issues in the history and growth of California. A wide variety of voices is presented as the biographies cover both the famous (Caesar Chavez, John Steinbeck) and the unheralded (Guadalupe Trujillo: a Mexican woman charged with the murder of her Indian slave; Joy Neugebauer: a wife and mother seeking to purchase a home in post-WWII suburbia). Their use of a wide variety of authors and biographical subjects makes the book a delight to read. While it would not serve alone as a textbook for a course on California History, it would certainly make a highly appropriate supplement. My hope is that in a future edition they will include other voices their first edition did not have time or space to include: megachurch/Pentacostal churchmembers (like Semple-McPherson or Chuck Smith), gay-rights activists (like Milk), Orange County Republican conservatives (Reaganites or Nixonians), musicians (Selena or the Beach Boys), tax rebels (Howard Jarvis), and environmentalists (like Muir). Maybe they will put out a second volume. If so, I'll be happy to buy it and use it if I teach a course in California history!