Roadside History of California (Roadside History Series) [Paperback]

Ruth Pittman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Roadside History | Publication Date: August 1, 1995

Author Ruth Pittman writes with graceful ease and contagious enthusiasm about the missions, the gold rush, the rich cultural diversity, and issues as old as California--water, social programs, the environment, and more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An exceptional guide for curious, history-conscious travellers." --Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Mountain Press Publishing Company (August 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878423184
• ISBN-13: 978-0878423187
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,747,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A California Roadside Treasure!, August 30, 2006

By 

A. H. Agren - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roadside History of California (Roadside History Series) (Paperback)

Looking for titles that cover both California Roads AND California History, I was surprised to not only find so few, but also to find Ruth Pittman's thoroughly researched "Roadside History of California." Ms. Pittman enjoyably includes historical photos and roadmaps alongside her historical anecodotes. This book would be an entertaining companion to bring along on my next roadtrip to any of the twelve California regions that she covers with one to six excursions, depending on the location. This book could also be good armchair reading to anyone encumbered by wanderlust, but unable to physically get out on the road.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Authors personal interests., July 24, 2011

By 

Mary J. Welsh (Eugene, OR USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Roadside History of California (Roadside History Series) (Paperback)

Disappointing entry to an otherwise fine collection of Roadside History books. If you're interested in the struggles of minority labor (Chinese) and the Spanish Mission era, then you'll enjoy this book. The author missed out on Cezar Chavez's rich California history. The author, in my opinion, almost ignored the east side of the Sierra Nevada with its rich pack equine history. What about Father Crowley and his role in the water wars of the Owens Valley? And the monuments in his name? This is a book that should be divided into three separate volumes by state sectors for a more complete history. The author is quoted to say "there are other less history-rich towns in this area". These are quite possibly the towns and areas you bought the book to learn about. Glad I paid only a penny for it!

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Author's Liberal Bias Spoils an Otherwise Interesting Book, March 9, 2008

By 

Camperdude (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roadside History of California (Roadside History Series) (Paperback)

Mrs. Pittman's book is not a great book by any means. It certainly has it's good points here and there, but it is not very well organized, and does very little to tie together the tidbits into any kind of cohesive whole.

But the irritating thing about this book is the author's left-wing bias. Looking at her picture, you wouldn't think of Mrs. Pittman as a "flaming liberal." But the points she makes - and, more importantly, doesn't make - read like a classic case of leftist revisionist history.

There's no where this is more apparent than in the short chapter on San Francisco. Writing about the City, Pittman devotes almost the entire chapter to denouncing the "vigilance committees" of the immediate post gold rush era. Pittman whines, "Many historians have upheld, even praised the work of the vigilantes of San Francisco, but there's no escaping the truth: These self righteous bullies were criminals." Pittman conveniently ignores the reality of brutal gangs - particularly Australian gangs - that made the city hell in the early days. Simply put, many historians (and I would say 'most' historians) have praised the vigilance committees because they were praise-worthy!

This tone unfortunately runs through the whole book. From the obligatory Port Chicago chapter to denouncing authorities at nearly every turn (like blaming the cops for the St. James Park lynching in San Jose in 1933).

This book should be titled "An old, bleeding-heart liberal's roadside guide to the atrocities committed by white people in California."