Book Report: Embattled Dreams
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Book Report: Embattled Dreams
Motive and Thesis
Embattled dreams marks the sixth volume of Kevin Starr’s series on the California Dream. In this view, the volume is a continuation of the discussions covering the periods between 1850 and 1915. The book mainly focuses on the 1940s, California, and the events surrounding the war and reconstruction. In this book, Starr seeks to demonstrate the effects of the war on California and how the state was a central pillar of the transformations that happened in the country. The author wishes to argue how California assumed a more powerful position both as a leading arsenal manufacturer and the driver of democracy in the country. This is the thesis of the book.
Organization
Starr appears to follow a chronological order in organizing the book. Markedly, each chapter is primarily dedicated to discussing a single year throughout the decade. Nevertheless, the author retains proper thematic connections between the episodes, linking the events of each section with the previous and preceding sections as well as the thesis of the paper. For instance, every chapter discusses and demonstrates an essential transformation in the country that happened in California. The first chapter begins with the social analysis of Californians and their resilience in the face of war. Starr labels the section “A matter of Life and Death” to emphasize the worldwide climate of violence that rocked civilizations, destroying significant aspects of life. Regardless, people in California retained their sanity and composure, demonstrating a commendable commitment to restoring peace in the state and the country at large.
The second chapter continues the author’s perspective by discussing the integration of Japanese Americans, who had been historically subjected to prejudice. The invasion of Santa Barbara by imperial Japan would have marked a period of retribution for the locals but instead led to their interning. Equally, the third chapter illustrates the transformation of California into a military deployment center, serving to promote the country’s war preparations. Notably, the book’s transitioning from section to the next reveals a new and yet related development that reaffirms the significance of California during the decade. For example, the fifth chapter deliberates the metamorphosis of the U.S. air force, importantly the integration of women into the workforce to defy previously held gender prejudices regarding employment and military service. Such developments exemplify not only the author’s ability to link themes in organizing the book but also the contribution of each chapter to the overall thesis.
Categorization: Subfield of History
Embattled dreams can be described as a predominantly cultural history genre focusing on the interactions of social phenomena in California and their influence within and outside the state. The book qualifies as such due to the author’s emphasis on the social transformations in perspective, character, and approach in the target society. However, the discussed effects spill over to political and economic spheres, but the origin is cultural. Starr does not explicitly mention the use of a specific methodology in examining the cultural aspects of Californian history. Nevertheless, several research approaches can be deduced from the nature of discussions employed. For instance, Starr mainly used Phenomenological research to interpret the perceived experiences of Californians during the 1940s. The author uses his imagination and acquired knowledge to subjectively judge the events that took place and offer a critical outlook. Also, the book can be argued to have been written using hermeneutic research, which helps the explorer to gain perspectives from cultures, texts, or narratives about a phenomenon. Notable theoretical approaches used in the book include feminism in discussing the inclusion of women in the air force, against existing gender stereotypes. Social constructionism enables the examination of how each of the cultural elements addressed in the books affected society. However, the author does not specify the use of a particular school of thought.
Primary Sources
Starr uses both primary and secondary sources to inform his writing. The primary sources informed the writer on various social phenomena that were relevant in understanding the period in review. For instance, Starr utilized oral recollections of the Warren family, recorded in tapes, to understand the significance of the individuals in the political structure of California, noting that Earl Warren was the governor from 1943 to 1953. This period forms a substantial amount of the book’s timeline. Additionally, such stories inform the writer on the societal effect of the family, especially in discussing chapter nine. In the seventh chapter, the author uses David Ryder’s 1972 edited memoirs of Charles Kendrick to gain a better perspective of the veteran reintegration project. This is just one of the many secondary sources used in the book.
Historiography
Starr does not make an explicit attempt to discuss the historiography of the book’s subject. This can be in part due to the fact that Embattled Dreams is a continuation of an existing series of writings, aimed at presenting a specific them from the author’s perspective. Nevertheless, Starr makes numerous references to historical writings to support his arguments. Markedly, the book possesses significant parallels with the course readings. For instance, the history of civil rights can be further informed by the gender and racial interactions discussed by Starr. The rise of a women workforce, the integration of Japanese Americans, and the protests of Mexican Americans are all relevant topics.
Critique
Starr’s overall organization of the book is commendable. The author seamlessly links the chapters, providing a progressive development of ideas that enables the reader to gain a budding perspective. Importantly, each section is dedicated to an independent theme, but one which contributes to the subject and thesis. Such elements denote the strengths of the book and the writer. However, some weaknesses are also evident. For instance, the author’s attempt to provide a philosophical Freudian analysis of the first chapter is confusing, given his reputation as a narrative historian. Also, the author’s effort to limit each chapter to a single year might be overwhelming. For instance, social phenomena tend to stretch over periods due to their interlinked nature. Regardless, Starr’s book is informative and valid in historical studies.
References
Starr, K. (2003). Embattled dreams: California in war and peace, 1940-1950. New York: Oxford University Press.