• Harvest of Empire

  • A History of Latinos in America
  • By: Juan Gonzalez
  • Narrated by: Robert Fass
  • Length: 15 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (165 ratings)

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Harvest of Empire

By: Juan Gonzalez
Narrated by: Robert Fass
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Publisher's summary

The first new edition in 10 years of this important study of Latinos in US history, Harvest of Empire spans five centuries - from the first New World colonies to the first decade of the new millennium. Latinos are now the largest minority group in the United States, and their impact on American popular culture - from food to entertainment to literature - is greater than ever. Featuring family portraits of real-life immigrant Latino pioneers, as well as accounts of the events and conditions that compelled them to leave their homelands, Harvest of Empire is required listening for anyone wishing to understand the history and legacy of this increasingly influential group.

©2011 Juan Gonzolez (P)2017 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"A serious, significant contribution to understanding who the Hispanics of the United States are and where they came from." ( New York Times)

Featured Article: The Best Audiobooks That Capture American Latino History


Latinos and Latinas in the United States might find themselves questioning where they belong, whether they migrated from Latin American countries with their parents as children, arrived as adults, or were born in the USA. American history often overlooks those who don't have British or European ancestry. Dive right into this list and prepare to have an "ear-opening" experience as you learn more about what makes Latino heritage of all kinds so special.

Editorial Review

Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America is a history book with a difference. This powerful audiobook teaches you what you didn’t learn in school about Latino immigration to the United States. Juan Gonzalez pulls the curtain on how U.S. foreign policy has impacted countries in South and Central America.
This audiobook is written by the American reporter and journalist Juan Gonzalez, a Puerto Rico-born American. Gonzalez is the co-host of the long-running American news show Democracy Now! The Audie Award-winning narrator Robert Fass tells the story and sets the right tone for this educational yet moving listen.
The novel inspired the 2012 award-winning documentary film Harvest of Empire: The Untold Story of Latinos in America, directed by Peter Getzels and Eduardo López. It features inspiring interviews with the Nobel Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú, poet Martin Espada, writer Junot Diaz, and journalist Maria Hinojosa.
Writer Juan Gonzalez explores the history of various groups in the Latino community, including Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Central Americans, and more. Harvest of Empire delves into how the Spanish-speaking countries south of the U.S. border have been oppressed and colonized over time.
Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America is an essential listen for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge of Latin American history and imperialism in U.S. history. It uncovers key events and foreign policy that affected relations between the United States and Central America, South America, and the Caribbean and their impact on Hispanic people around the world. —Audible Latino Editor.

What listeners say about Harvest of Empire

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The real story behind Immigration

An excellent and informative analysis on how United States policy has impacted the rest of Central and South America throughout our history and the unintentional consequences that we've had to face.
The narrator has a wonderful voice and I never tired of listening to him.

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5 people found this helpful

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Great!

Very informative and mind opening read. I learned more listening to this than an entire semester at college. Loved it!

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3 people found this helpful

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eye-opening read

powerful and much needed history of the United States! we don't teach this in our schools enough. helpful to all who want to understand the undercurrent of our country's empire and exploitation of our own backyard

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2 people found this helpful

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I loved this book.

Latin American History is American History..."afterall, America never ended at the Rio Grand". I recommend this book.

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2 people found this helpful

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Well written, well read, and well thought out.

This book is so informative and entertaining. The reader does a great job evoking the proper tone from the text.

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1 person found this helpful

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The best

The author does an amazing job of telling Latin American history. They focus on the history and the people, and not the conquerer or conquered. Kudos.

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The amount of information.

Thank you Juan! This book should be read by everyone and I mean everyone. Should be required reading in schools. Juan did such a good job as a journalist collecting all necessary information on why things are the way they are here in the states in regards to our latino population. Excellent read.

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Thank you!

Thank you, Juan Gonzales for presenting a picture that is vital for an American citizen to have in order to understand the what, the who, and the why of inequality. Thank you for expanding my world.

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Latinos experiences in U.S.

I loved this book and I am considering to recommended to my family the reader makes it very interesting like I was living in every part of the book. I got to read and listening to it because my professor required this book and I’m glad I got to read it and listening at the same time and the changes or modifications the audio have with the hard copy. Thank you for making audio possible for me and others we need to listen the books.

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Dated material - hyperbolic at points but it is an accurate assessment

Juan Gonzales the book provides a comprehensive history of Latinos in the United States. Although some of the content may be outdated, I concur with the majority of the Gonzales’ evaluations. I would say the place where we differ most is Puerto Rico’s status. There are points in the story when Gonzalez sounds likea a whiner. He erred in formulating appeals to emotion rather than logic. Latinos have been marginalized long enough. When arguments are presented from the perspective of a disenfranchised minority, they only serve to confirm the dominant culture's cognitive biases.

Regardless, I would recommend <i>Harvest of Empire,</i> mostly because it offers some perspectives regarding disenfranchisement experienced by Latinos.

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