Berkeley: A City in History

by Charles Wollenberg

The Railroad Age, The Depression, World War II, The Atomic Age, The Sixties―these periods shaped and were in turn shaped by Berkeley, California―a city that has had a remarkable influence given its modest size. This concise book, the only up-to-date history of Berkeley, is a rich chronicle connecting the people, trends, and events that made the city to much larger themes in history. From the native builders of shellmounds to the blue-collar residents of Ocean View, the rise of the University of California, the World War II shipyards, and today's demographics and politics, it's all here in this fascinating account of the other beloved city by the bay. Along the way, we find the answers to many intriguing Why is Adeline Street is so oddly aligned? How did Berkeley benefit from the 1906 earthquake that destroyed much of San Francisco? What differentiated Holy Hill from Nut Hill? A City in History offers a delightful sense of place to anyone who has lived in, worked in, or traveled through this unique city.

Genres: History

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2007

About the author

Charles Wollenberg, Chair of Social Sciences and Professor of History at Berkeley City College, is coeditor, with Marcia A. Eymann, of What's Going On? California and the Vietnam Era (UC Press) and author of Marinship at War: Shipbuilding and Social Change in Wartime Sausalito and Golden Gate Metropolis: Perspectives on Bay Area Regional History."

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, concise history of my hometown. For someone with a good knowledge of the city already this short book provides a LOT of aha! moments as Wollenberg connects the dots and otherwise fills in information about WHY some things are as they are in Berkeley.

I enjoyed the thematic nature of the chapters, following a concept or institution through time rather than jumbling all the threads together as a novel would. Particularly interesting to me was the information about the development of individual neighborhoods.

How interesting this book would be to the lay reader I am not sure but it is well written and informative.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting, quick, and absorbing read about the origins of Berkeley. Wollenberg lays out the development of the city, explains the intertwining relationship between the city and the University of California, and introduces readers to many of the residents for whom various streets are named. At the end of the book, I understood why Berkeley is so .... well ... Berkeley.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about a city I love. I first traveled to Berkeley in high school and then spent two years at Cal getting a master's degree in journalism. Charles Wollenberg structures the book well, allowing for themes to be developed independently. The collection of plates is wonderful, though I would have loved to have seen a few detailed maps. Overall, an informative history of Berkeley from its start until the turn of the 21st century.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent look at the history of Berkeley. Helps understand the cultural mentality of the town here. My only suggestion to make it better would be the inclusion of maps of the area and places he references, especially historically when the boundaries of areas change.

[Mark Bunch · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to understand where Berkeley is coming from …. this book does it.....

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Some of the Avenue habitues were so used to living by their wits that they continued to steal items that were being given away at the Free Store." (147)

[Tallulah Brannigan]

talk about the racism i dare you

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally based on course material Mr Wollenberg has taught over the years on Berkeley history, Berkeley: A City in History is a well-developed and researched overview of the city. Although there is a brief discussion of early Berkeley, the main focus is on the Euro-Centric, modern evolution of Berkeley as its own entity: development, affect on and by the region (and nation) throughout time. Like other histories he's written, (Golden Gate Metropolis immediately comes to mind) Mr Wollenberg has formatted his book in discernible eras, which makes the reading approachable and easy to comprehend for the armchair historian or casual reader. If I was pressed to make any negative comment, it would be that there was only one section dedicated to the 1960s where so much had occurred. Despite there being so much material covered, it flowed well and I only regret having finished it, that I immediately wanted to go back and re-read certain chapters.. (and most likely will at some point.) While the book itself may have been a decade in the making, the writing is very much relevant over 5 years after its publication. Also, despite Mr Wollenberg's suggestion that history should be devoid of nostalgia (in my opinion, nostalgia indeed smells of emotional subjectivity) the book itself ends on a positive, hopeful note for the future. Not only is the book worth the read for anyone who lives in or has had ties to the area, it's well worth keeping, re-reading, and referencing as a modern historical tract on Berkeley.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I love the history of California and its cities and it is written so well here. Im about halfway through and and just loving learning how everything got its name and why the town is set up the way it is. The review on the back cover really says it all "a sweeping panorama of Berkeley by one of California's finest historians... Anyone who cares about Berkeley-and there are many- will devour it with pleasure."


edit: I have now finished this book and I still left it with a great feeling, but honestly I was a little disappointed at the end because the 1970s, 80s and 90s, were really just swept over quickly. But I guess to be kind of expected for such a short book. Still a fabulous read with great historic pictures at the end.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wollenberg always manages to find interesting facts that illuminate history. I found this an easy and enjoyable read.

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

General history of Berkeley. good, broad view

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked what was there but was expecting more than what was presented. A decent read, just not as in-depth as I would have liked.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, breezy history of Berkeley. Though it seems pretty comprehensive, and touches all the bases, I found it to be pretty dry. But a quick read.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting to learn how a community I was grown up in was formed culturally,politically and geographically

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

very readable although covers everything very quickly, so dense...

[Carinepyree Pyree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting for everyone who's visiting or living in the East Bay. A very good way to understand the history of a unique city !