Reviews

California: A Multicultural Documentary History

"My students are always bored by textbooks but this one breaks the mold. The documents paint a rich portrait of the past, giving students a window into what California was like for the native peoples, the Mexican ranchers, and pioneer women. A rare blend of multiculturalism, social history, and a way of weaving local stories into the broader narrative. My students are excited when they learn by reading old diaries, seeing family pictures, and personal accounts. This book is sure to excite, challenge, and enlighten!"
- Michael Moriarty, Los Angeles (quoted from Amazon.com)

Orange Groves and Jails

North Bay Bohemian - Februrary 16, 2005, “King of California.”

SF Chronicle Review - January 12, 2005

"Kudos to Coodley for shedding light on a rich sampling of the life and work of a great American patriot. An engaging, interesting, well-researched, and well-done book".
- Michael Parenti, Author of The Assassination of Julius Caesar

"Seven decades after Upton Sinclair's breathtaking campaign for governor, California is a land of corporate orange groves and countless jails. In this meticulous book, Lauren Coodley provides context and excerpts that blow away fog about Upton Sinclair - a terrific writer and committed activist who broke down barriers everywhere he turned, and one of the most brilliant American polemicists of the twentieth century."
-Norman Soloman, Author of The Habits of Highly Deceptive Media

"As a pioneer critic of those who use mass media to distract and debase the electorate, Upton Sinclair remains at least as timely as when he wrote, and arguably more so. Like a skillful host, Professor Coodley introduces us to a fascinating individual, a force of nature whose activism moved history. It's good to see him back - and in fighting form." - Gray Brechin, Author of Imperial San Francisco and coauthor of Farewell Promised Land

"Lauren Coodley gives us a great gift with this masterfully edited collection of Upton Sinclair's writings. Land of the Orange Groves and Jails should be required reading for every course on California history." - Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Author of Red Dirt; Growing up Oakie

"Thanks to this brilliant anthology, we can now realize that Upton Sinclair deserves to be considered in the company of Carey McWilliams as an astute and pivotal observer of Southern California in the first half of the twentieth century." - Kevin Starr, Professor of History, University of Southern California

Napa: the Transformation of an American Town

"I grew up in Southern California and Napa is not my home town, but this book captured and held my interest every page of the way. It is a surprisingly poignant account of how life has evolved in Napa for the people and creatures living there - from thousands of years ago, up through the decades of the 20th century. I think almost anyone could enjoy this classic American story - the rise and fall of the native Americans, waves of settlers migrating from everywhere, the gold rush, the changing role of women, rise and fall of labor unions & small business, racial relations, and most recently - urban sprawl in a one industry (wine making) city. All this is told through very personal accounts about or by people living in Napa during these times. I particularly appreciated the author's focus on women and girls. If only our school text books could be half this interesting. I highly recommend this book." - Helen Cartwright (quoted from amazon.com)

"Napa's beauty, wineries, and weather draw visitors. To discover the history of this town, Lauren Coodley's book anchors Napa in its fascinating past. To visit here without reading her book is to miss the remarkable evolution of Napa: Indigenous people, Spanish landowners, gold seekers, farmers: all played a part in transforming the face of Napa and Napa Valley. The book is filled with wonderful photographs, and includes a recipe for Malfatti, the well known 'raviolis without flour' still served today at The Depot restaurant. I strongly suggest reading this before your visit to Napa. It will be all the more enjoyable for doing so." - Winnie St. John (quoted from amazon.com)

September 27, 2004 - New book takes a look at how Napa evolved to what it is today

August 1, 2004 - Press Democrat - "Napa on tap: Hold the ritz, hold the glitz"

August 1, 2004 - The Press Democrat - "Author Lauren Coodley, Napa's Down-Home Historian"

July 12, 2004 - Napa Register - "Prof's book digs into Napa roots"