Preview
  • California

  • A Captivating Guide to the History of California, California Gold Rush and 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
  • By: Captivating History
  • Narrated by: Jason Zenobia
  • Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (9 ratings)

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California

By: Captivating History
Narrated by: Jason Zenobia
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Publisher's summary

Three manuscripts in one book:

  • History of California: A Captivating Guide to the History of the Golden State, Starting from when Native Americans Dominated through European Exploration to the Present
  • The California Gold Rush: A Captivating Guide to One of the Most Significant Events in the History of the United States of America and Its Impact on Native American Tribes
  • 1906 San Francisco Earthquake: A Captivating Guide to the Deadliest Earthquake in the History of the United States
©2021 Captivating History (P)2021 Captivating History
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about California

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Cherry-picked history

First, the audio is somehow attached twice. The book finishes and then begins again.
My issues on content are mostly with the final portion of the book (the past 130 years). There is no mention of the national parks created in California, or of the Black Panther movement, the wine industry, consumer protections, and other noteworthy people and events. While it makes good points in several areas, the book finishes with a lament that Republicans haven't elected a governor since Schwarzenegger and politics have become more liberal. There's really no need to editorialize.
I wish the narrator had not mispronounced so many words, and that “California” had not been in every sentence. It's okay to say “the state” once in a while. As a basic introduction to the state's history, this is all right, but be sure to add other sources for a more complete understanding.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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3 books in 1

since I'd already listened to The San Francisco earthquake, separately, I only listened to the 1st 2 portions of this set: History of California and The Gold Rush.

both were really fascinating, and the narrator often kept me engaged. Jason zenobia is probably their best. and certainly my favorite.

I'd known some things about California's History, and pretty much most of the Gold Rush days, but it's always good to learn more. thank you, captivating History

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyed

Very good audio book. Captivating History is worth getting they never disappoint. narration very good

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    5 out of 5 stars
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california

this book was like getting 3 books in one. tI enjoyed the entire book and the book on the san francisco earthquake was excellent.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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California History. Three in one.

Really great. Lots of extra information that I hadn’t come across in school or other reading. History of California from the Native American days to current; gold rush California; and lastly California during the 1906 earthquake.

During one of the session, it was stated that Apple created the first computer in 1978. Not true, please check this since I know that there were several other manufacturers of computers before then SWTP (6800); MITS (Altair).

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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A progressive take on California History

Should be renamed How California Suffered at the Hands of White Men. Facts intermingled with very biased comments.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Redundant and Revisionist

There are a lot of great reviews for this title. I don't understand why. The history is shallow as might be expected in a short book such as this but redundancy is a waste of time. At least half a dozen times the author uses the same phrases to describe the population surge of the gold rush and how that allowed statehood. It is revisionist in that the author applies 21st century cultural standards to settlers and citizens of bygone centuries rather than just reporting the facts e.g. missionary efforts "enslaved" much of the population and provided nothing good. I had to quit halfway through the book. The author described this response to the San Francisco earthquake: Rich San Francisco men banded together and built substandard, inadequate and therefore discriminatory housing for the poor. That was the breaking point for me. Leave current liberal value judgements out of history. Please!

Audible - you can do better. I've searched for a straight history of San Francisco and found nothing here without an agenda.

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