Most Chinese immigrants found only racist reactions from Americans of European descent; according to this informative account, the resulting restrictive legislation created an insular ``bachelor society'' by the end of the 19th century. Concentrating on the achievements of Chinese workers, Takaki goes beyond the frequently described building of the transcontinental railroad to cover Chinese contributions to agriculture, the development of the laundry industry, and industrial work in Massachusetts. Always quite sympathetic to the Chinese, he also explains European-American hostility--industrial bosses and farm owners alike used the hard-working, non-striking Chinese as strikebreakers to beat down the American labor movement. Enlivened with many contemporary quotes and illustrations, an accessible and workmanlike history, though not as visually exciting or as comprehensive as the Hooblers' book (above). Chronology; bibliography; index. (Nonfiction. 12+)
