Timetables of History
Atlas of Asian American History
Reviewed by Vasundhara Prabhu
Deputy Director for Interpretation and Education
Peabody Essex Museum

I have two books that I highly recommend. One has been a standby for many years, the other is a recent find. Timetables of History is a timeline that’s organized chronologically, 4500 BC to 1990’s, in categories from History &Politics; Literature & Theatre; Religion, Philosophy & Learning; Visual Arts; Music; Science, Technology & Growth; to Daily Life. It’s a quick sketch of time periods and has been immensely helpful to me in creating exhibitions, writing object labels, and designing programs. I keep a copy of this book at home, on my desk, in the Docent Library, to use in teacher institutes, and in the Idea Studio and Chat & Relax spaces at my museum. The only criticism, and a deeply disappointing one at that, is that it omits or makes few references to Asia, Africa, South America, and so on. When these places are mentioned, it’s usually dramatic and negative: “famine kills 40,000 in_____.”

The second book, Atlas of Asian American History by Monique Avakian is excellent. Anyone who is wanting to understand Asian history or is writing about Asian art or history or wanting to reach Asian American audiences will find a well-organized book with maps, color and B&W photographs, works of art, chronologies, quotes, and more! I cannot recommend this book enough. And as a person from Asia, this book has helped my understanding of the history of all Asians in America in a profound way.