Book Description
Upton Sinclair came to California after the success of his ground-breaking exposure of the slaughterhouse industry in his 1906 novel The Jungle.During the next fifty years,he served as a board member for the American Civil Liberties Union, wrote countless novels, campaigned for food reform, railed against fascism, and was resoundly criticized by the Los Angeles Times. One of his most famous writings was the slogan for his memorable campaign for governor: "End Poverty in California."Naturally, Sinclair turned hiscampaign trail experiences into yet another book.

In The Land of Orange Groves and Jails, Lauren Coodley draws on a variety of Sinclair `s writings to show his impressions of California, his political awakening, and the development of popular culture. His interest in the dilemma of the worker and the American with a social conscience is evident in the title piece and throughout the collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A brilliant anthology for anyone interested in a neglected but crucial figure in California history
Lauren Coodley presents an in-depth portrait of Upton Sinclair, a visionary whose political and cultural activism had a profound impact on California and whose insights are terribly relevant today.She reminds us that Upton Sinclair is not just the answer to the "Jeopardy" question "Who wrote The Jungle?" although his exposé of the Chicago meat-packing industry spurred reforms resulting in healthier food for the entire country. This Pulitzer Prize-winner wrote 100 books, was an early feminist, advocated health food and exercise before they were popular, and--vowing to end poverty in California--nearly won the 1934 gubernatorial election.

Professor Coodley has created a beautifully edited collection of Sinclair's writings.The photos alone are worth the cover price.Land of Orange Groves and Jails should be read by anyone interested in a neglected but crucial figure in California history.

Nancy Manahan, Ph.D.
Author of Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully: A Journey with Cancer and Beyond (2007).

An unusual perspective on Sinclair's politics and life
Novelist/political commentator Upton Sinclair may best be known for his flaming critiques of the Chicago meatpacking industry in "The Jungle"; but he's equally notorious in California for his harsh critiques of Southern California's culture and excesses. Land Of Orange Groves And Jails: Upton Sinclair's California assembles fifty years of these writings: plays, articles and essays demonstrate his political activism and his controversial impressions of the area. While Sinclair students will be the likely audience for this assembly, Southern California residents and students of literature alike will relish the unusual perspective on Sinclair's politics and life.
... Read more

Book Description
Mental Radio
Upton Sinclair

World-renowned author of "The Jungle" and described as a "prophet of social justice," Upton Sinclair astounded his readers and the scientific world with a bold venture into the paranormal.Written in 1929 by Sinclair with his wife, Mary Craig Kimbrough, "Mental Radio" is the product of Sinclair's reading - hundreds of volumes on psychic research - followed by three years of intense, hands-on scientific investigation into psychic phenomena.Without a doubt, Sinclair's in-depth study of his wife's telepathic abilities helped establish the paranormal as a subject worthy or scientific consideration and research.

- A timeless classic of paranormal exploration and dicovery from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Upton Sinclair

- Hundreds of carefully controlled, precisely documented instances of telepathic communication

- A book far ahead of its time in proposing human ability to learn and use psychic skills

- A deliberate, brilliant, and finely-crafted work whose impact has not lessened with time ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Stepping Out On A Limb For The Sake Of Truth
Upton Sinclair took a considerable gamble by writing this book and had to withstand a good deal of criticism as a consequence of it.It was obvious, though, that he felt this was a story that needed to be told, and we should be glad he went through with his hunch.

The book is essentially a description of a large number of experiments done in the areas of mental telepathy and remote reviewing, broken down into sets or groups of sessions.The author tends to bend over backwards to convince the public of the sincere intentions of all involved in these tests - mostly his wife, himself, his secretary, brother-in-law and several friends and associates.

The information is presented in a very frank and accessible manner, without a lot of protocol and formality, because the tests were being carried out by non-scientists who were just trying to be as diligent as possible.This in turn makes for easy reading by the layman.

Chapter 21 is a verbatim account by Sinclair's wife (whom he calls by her middle name, Craig).It is both a handbook of her methodologies and a fascinating insight into the way she theorizes the workings of the mind.This is very useful information for anyone wanting a "how to" for remote viewing or telepathic research and is a very simple sequence of instructions.Of course a great deal of practice would be necessary to achieve the necessary level of concentration required.But at least one can have a distinct roadmap to follow as opposed to a lot of vague references.

Mary Craig Sinclairs Story of Her Amazing Clairvoyance!!!
Author Upton Sinclair is ledgend. What is morecomplementary to the great authors saga is his soul mate and life's companion, wife Mary. A certain risk in Sinclair's time was the issue of "the occult". Evenpolite discussion or any association to the subject labeled it's members asoutsiders or worse. So is the bravery and love that Upton and Mary Sinclairbring to the reader in enlightenment and discovery. That the"subject" of telepathy and precognitive ability is basedintimatly between man and wife, it unfolds in a love story, bringing uscloser to the heart and our minds deepest of mystery's. "MentalRadio" is a book of wonderment and love. The reader takes a glimpseinto a couples quest to bring understanding to our lives and theirdiscoverys. The book is justly prefaced by none other than Albert Einstien,May 23, 1930. ... Read more

Book Description
1927. Biography of Upton Sinclair, prolific writer of novels and nonfiction who is known for his steady espousal of socialism and his concern with social and political problems. His best-known book, The Jungle, created a sensation when it was published and influenced the passing of the Pure Food and Drug Act. Contents: Preliminary Explanations; Southern Beginnings; Adolescent Discoveries; The Young Hack; The Artist in Revolt; Thyrsis; Thyrsis and Corydon; The Journal of Arthur Stirling; Manassas; The Jungle; Love's Pilgrimage; King Coal; Jimmie Higgins; The Book of Life; The Great Pamphlets; and Oil! See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

Book Description
Upton Sinclair's The Jungle not only drew attention from the likes of Winston Churchill and President Theodore Roosevelt—it drew action. The novel's depiction of what takes place in a meat-processing plant pressed the U.S. government into taking steps to regulate the industry. Examine the work with this text.

The title, Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, part of Chelsea House Publishers' Modern Critical Interpretations series, presents the most important 20th-century criticism on Upton Sinclair's The Jungle through extracts of critical essays by well-known literary critics.This collection of criticism also features a short biography on Upton Sinclair, a chronology of the author's life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (210)

A classic mainly because of its historical importance
This novel does a wonderful job of painting scenes from the daily life of a family of Lithuanian immigrant workers in the early 1900s.Sinclair produces memorable characters and captures the spirt of the times well.However, it is not a great novel from a purely literary perspective due to its lack of depth and rather uneventful plot.This novel carved out its niche in history by exposing the unsanitary conditions of the meat packing industry of the day.Many credit this novel with setting in motion the wheels that ulitmately led to the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906.This is a book that is worth reading because of its historical impact, but it is does not contain the ingredients of a literary masterpiece.

The point has been missed... Dr. Barry Sears has no purpose in the novel.
First off, I'd like to express my opinion that this is one of the most brilliant novels of all time, eloquent in its own hyper-literal and miserable way, and though a hard read(400 pages of pure sorrow and exposure of our dark world) is one of the most fulfilling literary experiences available.

Now then, this book reformed and improve meat laws.It also deals heavily with the meat packing industry.But it even states within its walls that eating meat is virtually unnecessary, it supports the abolishment of such industry altogether, not to change any laws to better it.Though better than nothing, the accidental achievement of improving FDA standards of meat is a complete joke, and it was accomplished out of the pure lack of deep thought which Americans have possessed in the past 100 years.This novel is an example of the highest brilliance of political commentary, and everyone thinks its a ****ing book on nutrition.This angers someone as passionate about the work as I am, so excuse the hostility, but really...Its not just about health code problems.The boy eaten by rats, the death of Jurgis' entire family, the traitorous nature of politicians, how often Jurgis is conned without ever realizing it, the fact that his wife, one of his few lingering purposes for life, is violated and dies, because of foolish decisions he was forced into and must cope with, the imprisonment, the poverty, starvation, loneliness!The meat industry is almost irrelevant, its simply one symbol of the thousands of possible ones which can epitomize the cruel nature of capitalism.It didn't end with the improvement of meat quality, its the idea that in this world, we are slaves to money, and those who by either chance or folly fail to achieve wealth will be tossed aside as garbage.Don't you see, this poverty still goes on today, that it did not end with the simple improvement of cleanliness?It is an expose on the sick nature of capitalism, of this merciless dog-eat-dog world which confuses superiority with circumstance, not a suggestion of how we should prepare food.Women are still prostitutes, children are still starving, politicians are still crooks, men are still alcoholics, and we are still owned by monetary garbage.At least recognize these socialist themes, you don't need to do anything about it, its radical, its insane, it would never work, sure, think what you will, but if you're going to praise a book written by a genius such as this, I'd appreciate that you didn't completely destroy his point.Notice, also, how he speaks of the world as a whole at some points in his book.Despite apparent increase in our quality of life here in the grand ole USA, the world is still quite ****ed, if I may say so myself, as Sinclair DID, and everyone failed to notice because they've sort of forgotten than an entire planet exists outside of ourselves.Please, with the numbers who have read this book, you'd think that quite a few may have been reached, but this focusing on the trivial and denial of the extreme has hardly done this book any justice.

And Dr. Barry Sears has absolutely no place in the book... he states in the afterword in so many words that Sinclair would have to admit that the current strides in the meat industry have done more for the American working man than "any political movement could have ever accomplished."This nutritionist is going to say that Upton Sinclair, obviously one of the most convicted socialist figures of all time, would be happy that his grand vision of a utopian brotherhood was instead interpreted as something so shallow as 'cleaner meat means happier America'?Complete and utter ignorance!And he has the gall to plug The Zone, and the foolishness to say that The Jungle and The Zone are similar, passing The Jungle in the same boat as some dieting garbage and The Zone off as some world-saving, revolutionary book.Complete and utter ****ing ignorance.

If Sinclair were alive right now, no doubt he'd be insulted.You should all give the book a good second reading, and this time pay attention to the last half, you know, the one that has nothing to do with the meat industry at all.This is a book of brilliance...

"I wrote with tears and anguish, pouring into the pages all the pain that life had meant to me." -UPTON SINCLAIRYou can comprehend this pain, and understand it, and do something about it, if you simply read the book with a mind beyond an adolescent stage.And I guarantee you, the pain is not a simple matter of unsanitary steaks and chops.

This book is enlightenment for the philosopher stuck in the capitalist world, the one who thinks in the midst of all those who work.For those who fail to understand, its simply something to read because it is marked as a "classic," and I have noticed that.It is by no means pleasant to read but by all means essential to those wishing to comprehend the true genius of literary expression.Do yourself a service and read this book.You don't have to convert to a socialist, but you also don't have to be a complete idiot in its interpretation.

My apologies once again for the hostility, but as I said I am very passionate about this work.If it arises as too trying a task to take in the entire thing,at least survey the last 50 pages or so, for included are speeches of wondrous inspiration and eloquence.This review is not a simple shot at those who took it the wrong way, but a guide for those who will eventually read it.Genius lies in these pages, truly a mind-altering brain supplement... just forget everything anyone's ever told you about it, or about American politics, and see what you come to realize.

Will make you want to take a stand
This is one of my top reads. If you read and liked Fast Food Nation then you have to read this. This will motivate you to want to take a stand, start a social movement. The story is written extremely well and sucks you in. This one kept me up late and left me wondering about a lot of things. I also wonder how much is different then from now. The family in this story are very endearing and I found myself attached to them. This really brings the dark to light. Loved it.

Glad I didn't live back then!
On the socialism one needs to heed "the times" they were in. well before the information age of how we can now see and listen and freely read about all things that are happening around the USA and the world.1900, news papers, that's it.No TV, no radio, no internet, and even the papers were "controlled", no free speech back then. All this means that when your hurting, and hurting real bad and for many years, you are looking for some way out, anything can come along and sound good.

And as bad as all this was, imagine how even WORSE it was for the disabled! blind, deaf, etc. oh man, you don't even want to "go there" truly must have been treated like animals.....and the ADA? What?

Lastly, why is SPAM still being sold in the 21st Century?Because people will buy it, amazing isn't it?GROSS

A true reflection of American food industry and social movement
This is so far my favorite book. Mr. Sinclair's articulation of the English language has made the book one of the jewels in the American literature history. He was a true investigative journalist, one of the heroes in modern journalism. Sometimes I would find myself very moved and even depressed because of the vivid and harsh social image he described in the book. This book has a great impact on my life. I stopped buying products produced by big companies who do not practice ethical business. I also strongly recommand reading "Fast Food Nation" (as a matter of fact, "The Jungle" was mentioned in "Fast Food Nation", and that's how I knew it.) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book for a research paper
This book includes wonderful critical analysis ideal for students like myself working on an author project for Upton Sinclair. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful Story
Proves that real life is usually more romantic than fiction.A great read.

Lucy Adams, author of If Mama Don't Laugh, It Ain't Funny ... Read more

Book Description
The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

With help from CliffsNotes on The Jungle, you explore one of the first American social protest novels. At first look, the novel is a gritty investigation into the meatpacking industry; however, it evolves into a challenge to the policies and beliefs of our political organizations at the beginning of the 20th century.

This concise supplement to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle helps you understand the overall structure of the novel, actions and motivations of the characters, and the social and cultural perspectives of the author. Other features that help you study include

• Chapter-by-chapter summaries and analysis
• Character analyses of major players
• A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
• Critical essays
• A review section that tests your knowledge
• Glossaries of key words and terms

This concise supplement to Sinclair's The Jungle helps students understand the overall structure of the novel, actions and motivations of the characters, and the social and cultural perspectives of the author. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

interesting but too much socialism
The first chapter was a little boring as the first chapter of most books are, but then it got a lot more interesting. It was very interesting, but also quite depressing because of the hopelessness of their lives and somany people die. It gets really boring at the end, though, when all ittalks about for several chapters is how wonderful socialism is and howterrible capitalism is. These last few chapters are the reason I didn'tgive this book 5 stars.

Eye-opening look into the past
This book was wonderful.I was forced to read it for my Sociology class at Michigan State University.The first chapter dragged on, and I was wondering what I was forced into.Then as the chapters ran on, they becamemore and more interesting.I didn't want to put it down!Review: gorry,mind-opening, fantastic, almost unbelievable as to what those people had toendure at the turn of the century in Industrial America

Forced to read this and did so in three days!
Over one weekend i was forced to read the Jungle,and in three days i had completed the literary work, followed by a five page essay on why it is propaganda...some of the book was alright, but by the time i got"into" it, the story was completed and the last fifty pages ofpropaganda merely dragged on... ... Read more