Comrades and Chicken Ranchers: The Story of a California Jewish Community (Cornell Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Kenneth L. Kann (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Cornell University Press (April 22, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801480752
• ISBN-13: 978-0801480751
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #886,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Comrades and Chicken Ranchers by K. Kann, August 5, 2000

By 

Michael Chase (Concord, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comrades and Chicken Ranchers: The Story of a California Jewish Community (Cornell Paperbacks) (Paperback)

This is a marvelous oral history of the Jewish community in Petaluma, CA. It was a joy to read. I cannot recommend it too highly.

There is no narrative history in this book. Before I read it I thought I might feel that there was something missing because of the lack of narrative history. I was amazed by how rich and interesting the history is in the telling by the people who lived it -- it shows the humanity of history, the feel of lives and all that goes with them.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a surprise!, February 23, 2009

By 

J. Rochlin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Comrades and Chicken Ranchers: The Story of a California Jewish Community (Cornell Paperbacks) (Paperback)

I found this book while researching Alby Kass, a Klezmer singer who recently performed in Petaluma. I was fascinated and couldn't put it down. I had no idea of the divide in the community over religion. I thought the synogogue was ALWAYS the synogogue. My one complaint is that the names were changed. I KNOW many of these people - I am of the third generation - and I would love to be able to talk to some of them about this time in Petaluma's history. I AM going to buy eggs on Cavanaugh Lane on my way home tonight.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comrades and Chicken Ranchers: The Story of a California Jewish Community, May 1, 2009

By 

Jill D. Whelchel (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Comrades and Chicken Ranchers: The Story of a California Jewish Community (Cornell Paperbacks) (Paperback)

This is a delightful read for anyone interested in oral history, from the author's introduction and methodology to the actual words of Petaluma community members. This book shows in a personal way how a small, rural Jewish community was affected over the course of three generations by changes in the larger world.