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Mike
1,526 reviews59 followers
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November 20, 2016
Steinbeck's final book is a meditation on the American people, character, landscape, history, and future. He offers insight on the paradoxes of our political system, the immigrant experience (and our subsequent [mis]treatment of immigrants), the myths that construct our shared American identity, the way we project our identity to the world, our connection to (and destruction of) the land, our economic obsession, the pitfalls of our nation, and how we seem to overcome our flaws to continue progressing as a united people. Steinbeck offers an honest, frank, and highly-subjective analysis (which he freely admits on page one), and he does so out of an obvious abundance of love for the nation and its people. This hardback edition from 1966 is a large book that contains striking black-and-white and color photos, offering a glimpse of the United States in the mid-twentieth century that perfectly compliments Steinbeck's text. Photographs are included from Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Gordon Parks, and Alfred Eisenstaedt, among many others.
Sometimes Steinbeck's essays are illustrated by personal experiences or stories he has heard from other Americans. The result is a literary composite of a people in the mid-20th century, at the height of the United States' influence in the world after WWII, but also in the midst of challenging and chaotic problems that reverberate today, including the Cold War, the atomic age, and the struggle for civil rights. Steinbeck's national portrait still holds strikingly true fifty years later. His warnings of a populace numbed by complacency, greed, and comfort, and all-too-riled-up by emotional political rhetoric that panders to base fear and prejudice, remains relevant as our nation enters the unchartered waters of a Trump administration that threatens to take us down an authoritarian route.
Perhaps we can understand the rise of Trump from Steinbeck's view of what Americans desire in their politicians: "We want a common candidate but an uncommon office holder." It's an impossible contradiction, but one that has somehow worked in the past, as Steinbeck acknowledges. But what happens when that office holder is revealed to be decidedly "common"? Or even worse: dangerous? Again, we may turn to Steinbeck for some words of hope. The final paragraph of his afterword reassures us that even in the midst of our darkest moments (which Steinbeck does not shy away from illuminating throughout the book) Americans always manage to rise to the occasion and push for progress. The final paragraph is worth printing in its entirety:
"From our beginning, in hindsight at least, our social direction is clear. We have moved to become one people out of many. At intervals, men or groups, through fear of people or the desire to use them, have tried to change our direction, to arrest our growth, or to stampede the Americans. This will happen again and again. The impulses which for a time enforced the Alien and Sedition Laws, which have used fear and illicit emotion to interfere with and put a stop to continuing revolution, will rise again, and they will serve us in the future as they have in the past to clarify and to strengthen our process. We have failed sometimes, taken wrong paths, paused for renewal, filled our bellies and licked our wounds; but we have never slipped back--never."
Let us take strength from Steinbeck's words, and understand that as we take up the mantle of progress against the forces of fear and division, we are engaging in the long, unending national struggle of a people who stubbornly fight against the odds--and against our own base flaws and shortcomings--to reach for an ideal which might be impossible to achieve, but which is nonetheless worth striving for, since it is in that struggle where we find the greatness of our people as a nation and in our shared humanity.
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Nathaniel Wilder
59 reviews
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March 15, 2016
his incisive cynicism never ceases to bore me. also he says "goodly" in like, 5 out of the 6 essays included, which is a goodly amount. the photos from old time and life mags are really, really great.
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Zoë
67 reviews1 follower
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December 29, 2023
I’ve somehow never read a Steinbeck but my grandpa has his whole collection so I picked something interesting and also short that I could read during my stay. This book is an interesting ethnography of sorts about American culture that is interesting to compare to 1966 when it was written, to today. Not a lot has changed (seems like we’ve always thought the world was going to shit and that the government isn’t very trustworthy) but he gets to his ideas about the roots of how we are the way we are.
He’s also totally a pessimist and thinks we’re all doomed and had very little nice things to say about the whole lot.
My favorite section was about “America and the land” maybe because I’m in Nebraska now and seeing the Oregon trail and reminders of what used to be here and the bison and wildlife before it was all so quickly devoured is an interesting comparison to what he talks about. Essentially that there are too many of us, and we take too much and have too much and get advertised to too much and that applies to the land we took too. Boy if he could see it now!
“The rules allow us to survive, to live together and to increase. If our will to survive this is weakened, if our love of life, and our memories of a gallant past, and faith in a shining future are removed-what need is there for morals or rules? Even they become a danger.”
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Jackson Kimball
7 reviews
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March 19, 2026
“But now we have food, shelter and transportation and the more terrible hazard of leisure.”
When I started reading America and Americans (1966), I was writing it off as a collection Steinbeck essays I could flip through while I was going to the bathroom or sitting out on the stoop, while the drizzles of misty March rain slapped down on the tin roof lurching out over my Portland patio. I was surprised to discover a singularly profound perspective that was maintained and expertly strung together over the course of around 200 pages, nearly half of which being black and white photos that look like they ripped from a compilation of TIME Magazine’s GOAT 🐐 pictures. Steinbeck’s scathing review of Americans’, past, present and future, while at times obnoxiously pessimistic and foreboding, does not feel at all unverified and has aged liked one of the finest wines a thirsty SOB could ever sip. I noticed a lot of Goodreads reviews of this were quick to complain about Steinbeck’s callous words on American habits and historical injustices. These users seemed to have missed Steinbeck’s oftentimes incredibly compassionate and, albeit deceptively, hopeful conclusions that he would end almost every entry with. A quote from the final chapter: “We seem to be running in all directions at once- but we are running.”
This book, on top of the fantastic takes, also features some evocative narratives that give Travels with Charlie fans something to enjoy. I’m giving this four, as opposed to five stars, because I would have enjoyed a couple more anecdotes. That’s just the opinion of this reviewer though and not indicative of the actual quality of this BOOK, which is probably a perfect five out of five stars.
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Anya
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January 29, 2026
Ok we get it I love Steinbeck... But seriously this was such an incredible read especially during a time like this. Steinbeck hits the dang nail on the head about major issues and feelings of what it means to be an American(especially during times of strife). And although the book was published in the 60's feels incredibly relevant and somehow timeless. Even in his nonfiction works this man just gets it. A few things dragged on a bit or went over my head which is fine I still had a great time.
I feel like this book really just reinforces the idea that I wish I could have just had a drink with the man sitting on a porch or like in front of a fire or something, seriously a brain I would have loved to pick.
4.5⭐️
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Roxann
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April 21, 2021
While John Steinbeck is my favorite author, this is the weakest of the books he wrote. This book, a collection of essays, is missing all the inspiration that makes Steinbeck's other works amazing. His unique ability of making all of his characters, both fictional and non-fictional, approachable, unique and likable is missing in this work. Basically, very few people are mentioned at all. Also missing is his sense of humor. This book was published in 1966, two years prior to his death. I am not sure that he felt any desire to write these essays, they are definitely filled with grim despair, and not much hope. He really just comes across as a cranky old man.
Also included in this book are a lot of photos. Most of these photos have no connection with the essays in the book. In fact, it is as if someone took two books and mashed them together. The photos are not stellar. There are a handful of standouts, but most are just average photos. And, the printing (maybe this is because of printing options in the 60s) is not good. The paper not quality, so even the photos that are okay are not printed great. One of the most annoying things was having 10-20 pages of photos, and the titles of them on one page, the page prior to the photos, so if you have any interest in knowing what the photo is and who snapped it, you need to keep flipping back to that page. This book must have been Viking Press' last gasp at getting another volume of work out of their Star Author. Unfortunately there is not much in it that is salvageable.
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Kirk
241 reviews3 followers
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March 26, 2019
I read the original edition of this book (white, green, and blue hardcover) which includes 100-some pages of photographs. The book is a large format because of this, which is great for the photographs, but not so great for portability or reading a page of text. I will say that the photos could have been more evenly interspersed with the text. Rather than opting for a text-photo-text-photo page layout, there are pages of text followed by pages of photos, with the largest dump of photos coming at the end. I'm torn as to whether or not the photos are a necessary part of the experience. Sure, there are some great ones, of the type one would expect from the front cover of TIME or LIFE. Perhaps I will be content in having seen these photographs at least once; then, if I ever buy the book, I'll buy the latest Penguin paperback that omits the photos and adds in various other non-fiction work of Steinbeck's. At any rate, it's the essays that are the real draw.
The following was a nice complement to my recent re-reading of David Foster Wallace's The Pale King:
"I strongly suspect that our moral and spiritual disintegration grows out of our lack of experience with plenty. […]
John Kennedy said in his famous lines, “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country,” and the listening nation nodded and smiled in agreement. But he said it not because this selfishness might become evident but because it is evident, and increasingly so. And it is historically true that a nation whose people take out more than they put in will collapse and disappear.
Why are we on this verge of moral and hence nervous collapse? One can only have an opinion based on observation plus a reading of history. I believe it is because we have reached the end of a road and have no new path to take, no duty to carry out, and no purpose to fulfill.
[…] We manufacture things we do not need and try by false and vicious advertising to create a feeling of need for them. We have found no generally fulfilling method for employing our leisure.
[…] We have succeeded in what our fathers prayed for and it is our success that is destroying us."
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Andrew Doss
22 reviews
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February 22, 2024
To break out of a reader's block that the East Coast winter had put me in, I spent a Saturday afternoon wandering around bookstores and coffee shops in Williamsburg, where I stumbled across a collection of non-fiction works by John Steinbeck.
The first essay I read was titled "The Making of a New Yorker"-- apt, as I am now nearly 7 months into the transition, myself, and I was charmed and inspired to find a comradery with Steinbeck regarding it... So I bought the book and opted to read the longer form essay at the end, America and Americans.
This was my adult introduction to Steinbeck (as in: not mandated by a curriculum), and I can say I quite like his take on things, and his straightforward style.
This one only gets 3 stars because it didn't draw much emotion out of me, but I'd easily give the New Yorker essay 4 or 5.
John gives an impassioned and loving take on the state of America-- its history, and its future; and fusing a libertarian foundation in himself with an understanding of the necessity of the collective, and a true desire to find the best for his country and countrymen, he expresses his concerns.
(Paraphrasing a line I quite liked: "A man is both a social animal and an individual, and he cannot be the second, without first being the first.")
The essay, to me, equates itself to a fulfilling conversation about culture and politics over coffee with a friend whom I would generally agree with. At any rate, I'm excited to read more.
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Kevin Hogg
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July 21, 2025
I love how Steinbeck builds characterization and descriptive settings in his novels. I've enjoyed some of the personal accounts in his nonfiction work in which he discusses going out and interacting directly with people and places. This book has none of that. I read one of his books every year, and I quickly found myself hoping for something more interesting next year.
This book reads as though someone is sitting on their front porch talking about the good old days, ignoring the majority of the problems that existed while complaining about how nobody's any good anymore. But that's not what sunk this book for me--it's the inaccuracies in the reminiscences about a glorified past, and it's the failure to see that the experiences of his family aren't the experiences of all.
Starting from the beginning, he discusses how everyone has come together to form a unified country. Throughout, he speaks of Americans as though they're all treated equally and blessed with equal opportunities at every step. Interestingly, he discusses how everyone has chosen to come to this great land, listing countries around the globe, but Black people are notably absent from this discussion of the formation of the American people. He simplifies the story to make it seem as though people of all races and origins have not only been given ample opportunity to join the elite, but that they've all succeeded--quite the blanket statement to make. Then he goes on to lament how society has gotten to the point that people can't tell jokes about Jewish people anymore.
In another chapter, he discusses slavery as a necessity and says that enslavers shouldn't be judged too harshly. To support this, he invokes the experience of a grandfather who paid an enslaver for the use of a use of enslaved people to farm some land. He acknowledges that the workers got no pay whatsoever, but he leaves it at that--if my family did it, it can't be so bad. He reduces the opposition to slavery to a single point: Northerners were probably jealous of the leisure that Southerners enjoyed, so they wanted to take away the system that made life so easy for others. He says the discussions of adding free vs. slave states were just a means of planning the future economies of the states, and that the Civil War wasn't fought over moral concerns about slavery. He says this ended up giving enslaved people freedom that they didn't want, and he seems to indicate that post-Civil War violence was an understandable reaction by people who had lost their property.
In terms of the current population, he says that medicine has reduced infant mortality, maternal mortality, and senior mortality in a way that has become problematic. The weaker people aren't killed off anymore, so we have too many people, and society doesn't really have a use for the young and the old. He specifically discusses widows--back in the old days, they'd die young, so a man could marry five times, but now they outlive their husbands, and they don't have anything useful to do or contribute.
He says that the only real problem with American tourists has been that they were too humble and too generous when visiting other countries, and that building an increased contempt for people who haven't bothered to learn English has brought American tourists greater appreciation and respect around the world.
I could go on, but I think you get the point by now. He buys almost entirely into the story of the idealized American past--he shows some slight concern for how Indigenous people were treated, but this pales in comparison to the praise of the pioneer mentality that "settled" the country. He views the 1960s as a time when anyone from anywhere has it easy--too easy, in fact--and is now a full-fledged American life anyone else and is treated as such. As an old straight white man, I guess that's an easy enough viewpoint to have. Financial challenges don't play much of a role in his understanding of America, but he doesn't seem to remember that not everyone in the country had been awarded both a Pulitzer and Nobel prize, so he might not be the everyman he seems to believe in.
In addition to the content, the writing style just didn't work for me. It read like the sort of thing that would be quickly deleted by Wikipedia administrators for being generalizations without any evidence, or a paper that would be handed back to a high school student with a note about proving your assertions. So much of the book is a series of distortions--you can't go to a park without getting mugged, all children turn out bad, all people hearing a women in distress will ignore her, etc.
The book was disappointing at best. I've always enjoyed Steinbeck as a champion of the downtrodden and oppressed. A person who can paint a sympathetic portrait of people flocking west in the Great Depression to find opportunity. A person who can describe a labour strike and have the reader hanging on every word as the employees try to fight a greedy corporation and get what they deserve. I know Steinbeck cared about people of various races. His repulsion at watching the old white women lashing out against the young Black children wanting to attend school in Travels with Charley seems closer to where I'd place his views on race, so what happened in this book? He starts off by saying that the United States has been unfairly criticized by writers in other countries, so maybe he's on the defensive?
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Kelvin Richardson
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March 30, 2020
Steinbeck has always been by far my favourite author ; I wish that I had just stuck to his fictional work !
So disappointed (and surprised) to learn of his very active support of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
His anti-communism must have overruled his innate socialism.
Shame that he died in 1968 so far too early to know just how wrong he was.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 41 reviews
More reviews and ratings
===
From other countries
- Wolfgang AurbachReviewed in the United States on 29 July 2007
An American Writer's View of his Home Country
Its present lackluster era notwithstanding, America still commands the world's attention and arouses curiosity. No matter how much we read about the country, how frequently we visit there, even live there for years, we have the nagging feeling that we do not understand its true essence. And that is not for want of pertinent information. The mass of available statistical data is beyond imagination. So is the daily, weekly and monthly output by journalists. There is no lack of in-depth analyses by eminent economists, sociologists and political scientists. And yet, it is hard to distill from all of the above an essence that speaks to me, the common everyday man. I am a native of Germany who spent most of his life in Brazil. I have always had a deep interest in American literature and have done my best to get a good glimpse of it, but even that is not an easy job. Whereas the name of John Steinbeck is fully familiar, I had always associated him with his California novels. Only recently did I take an opportunity to look at his postwar production and felt immediately attracted by the title 'America and Americans'. I certainly was not disappointed. The book offers in rich measure what is so hard to come by, the human aspect, offered in understandable, indeed beautiful language, by an unusually lucid observer. Even though the country and its society have changed dramatically over the forty years since the date it was published, the book looses nothing of its informative value. It provides a picture of a point in time, and tells of the values of that time. That is an excellent backdrop to contemplate the present moment and reflect on future options. - Andrew FrancisReviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 June 2016
ONE collection of Steinbeck's best non-fiction
Even with the challenge of both Norman Mailer and Arthur Miller, John Steinbeck remains for me as north America's great 20th century writer. This book exemplifies that.
Yes, Steinbeck did write a few journeyman pieces, which might only warrant three stars, these 54 distinctive pieces of his writing from seven different stances of his life (including that of war correspondent) are tremendous. Then add in the also-included 11-faceted social commentary, 'America and the Americans' - Steinbeck's last published work before his death in 1968 - and this becomes a stunning collection, gathered by Steinbeck scholar, Susan Shillinglaw, and (one of ) his biographer(s), Jackson J. Benson. The book humbly portrays the breadth of Steinbeck's non-fiction from the Great Depression to the Vietnam War - the core of what has shaped the USA's 20th century.
You may not have enough reading time or life or bookshelf space to do more than collect Steinbeck's great novels, whether long or short, but add this 400 page book and you will enjoy another side of Steineck's ouevre. One for the bedise table or a long train journey. Enjoy. - ABDOURAHMANE DIOUFReviewed in France on 21 October 2014
good book
C'est un très bon livre de bonne qualité, j'aime bien, et je le recommande à tout le monde.
Merci beaucoup - Neil CotiauxReviewed in the United States on 21 March 2012
Eloquent Essays on Morality Steal the Show
After reading just one novel by Steinbeck, I decided to see what he was like as a journalist. For me, this wide-ranging collection of observations, opinions, and witticisms reached its zenith with two back-to-back essays: "The Trial of Arthur Miller", in which Steinbeck parses the repugnant moral choices that his fellow writer faced when commanded to testify before Congress during the Communist witch hunt; and "Atque Vale", in which he very cleverly skewers the buffoons and bigots of the early civil rights era by examining the walk-on-water standards they set for "Negroes" in order to trip them up. Steinbeck is never better than when he is quietly seething; his fusillade of sarcasm proves highly effective.
In "America and Americans", which comprises the last quarter of this collection, there are some very interesting musings on the qualities, characteristics, and contributions of various immigrant groups; the contradictions of the American mindset (the hunger for home roots vs. our nomadic existence, for example); and a variety of spot-on sociological observations about our relationship to the land, with our leaders, foreigners, and one another. A&A ends with a positive note about the future, keyed to Americans' innate drive and optimism - a morale booster for some of us during our current trying times.
There's enough red meat in this book so you can pick and choose titles and close the cover with a feeling of fulfillment. Steinbeck was one gifted writer and an extremely opinionated man. And that's a satisfying one-two punch. - ALAN WALKINGSHAWReviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 December 2021
Great for Steinbeck fans.
Good book lots of interesting stories. - James HastingsReviewed in the United States on 5 February 2024
Loved reading it!
So much information but very interesting! - Noel RedmondReviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 November 2020
Profiles of Inspiration.
Every section contains interesting reflections on the various characters Steinbeck has encountered in his lifetime. Funny, honest and always warmhearted, the stories and reflections are written with the confidence and versatility of a great writer. The stories also include some of the characters and situations which inspired some of the great ideas and beliefs which underpin his great works. - Give It To MikeyReviewed in the United States on 14 March 2015
Pretty good
Most of the stories are really interesting. It helps if you've read his other stuff first as many of the short stories are almost background research or related notes and commentary. If you haven't read his other stuff, you'd like it less. Worthwhile read. - AndrewArtistReviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 October 2019
Wonderful read
A very intelligent read. Prophetic in many ways, especially in the context of America in the present day. - Debe W. StattmillerReviewed in the United States on 18 September 2014
Wonderful read.
My daughter-in-law passed this book out at Christmas and when we get together (seven of us) for Sunday dinner we've used this as our "Book Club" discussion. Wonderful read.
- NorthWestLondonReviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 April 2020
Captures the times superbly
Steinbeck's reportage is always worth reading; you can learn so much about times past. - JanetReviewed in the United States on 7 March 2024
it arrived ahead of the date projected;
I got what I expected; a paperback book that had been used but not badly. - BillieJReviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 December 2017
Five Stars
excellent - cometReviewed in the United States on 9 February 2014
Steinbeck
This was a gift for my son for Christmas. Steinbeck is one of his favorite authors so I'm sure he will enjoy it. - Mrs N BrennanReviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 December 2015
Five Stars
gripping - FinnBReviewed in the United States on 15 August 2018
Enjoyed.
First time reading Steinbeck. Enjoyed . - MarilynReviewed in the United States on 4 February 2018
This was an excellent book. So enjoyed reading the additional non-fiction
This was an excellent book. So enjoyed reading the additional non-fiction. Would have liked the print to be larger. - KCRReviewed in the United States on 22 February 2022
Book Wasn’t Printed Properly
The pages between 111-127 were placed out of order. The text was cut off on those 16 pages too. You can see where the error was from the side view of the book, because the text runs off the page. Very disappointing & I will be returning this. - Bob HumeReviewed in the United States on 21 August 2012
Steinbeck or history fan this is a must read
If you enjoy Steinbeck's insight of people and places or are a history buff this is the read for you. - Murray McComasReviewed in the United States on 4 July 2014
Five Stars
A must read; particularly if you grew up in the 50's - 90's
- Rudolph LioiReviewed in the United States on 9 August 2014
Five Stars
Great stories from a great American writer. - frank snyderReviewed in the United States on 12 June 2016
Five Stars
fine - BernieMReviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 January 2018
Unmitigated joy...
It could only be 5 stars for this beautifully bound American volume of Nobel Laureate Steinbeck's "America and Americans" - a joy to read and a joy to own. Carefully packed, promptly delivered. Thanks to all concerned!
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