Unfamiliar Fishes
by Sarah Vowell
Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell holds a well received rating of 3.60 out of 5, based on 10.4K reader ratings. First published in 2011. The book spans 238 pages.
About Unfamiliar Fishes
Many think of 1776 as the defining year of American history, when we became a nation devoted to the pursuit of happiness through self- government. In Unfamiliar Fishes, Sarah Vowell argues that 1898 might be a year just as defining, when, in an orgy of imperialism, the United States annexed Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and invaded first Cuba, then the Philippines, becoming an international superpower practically overnight.Among the developments in these outposts of 1898, Vowell considers the Americanization of Hawaii the most intriguing. From the arrival of New England missionaries in 1820, their goal to Christianize the local heathen, to the coup d'état of the missionaries' sons in 1893, which overthrew the Hawaiian queen, the events leading up to American annexation feature a cast of beguiling, and often appealing or tragic, characters: whalers who fired cannons at the Bible-thumpers denying them their God-given right to whores, an incestuous princess pulled between her new god and her brother-husband, sugar barons, lepers, con men, Theodore Roosevelt, and the last Hawaiian queen, a songwriter whose sentimental ode "Aloha 'Oe" serenaded the first Hawaiian president of the United States during his 2009 inaugural parade.With her trademark smart-alecky insights and reporting, Vowell lights out to discover the off, emblematic, and exceptional history of the fiftieth state, and in so doing finds America, warts and all.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Sarah Vowell |
| Published | 2011 |
| Pages | 238 |
| Genres | Non-Fiction, History, Travel, Religion & Spirituality, Fiction |
| Average Rating | 3.60 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 10,389 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Unfamiliar Fishes?
Unfamiliar Fishes is categorized as Non-Fiction, History, Travel, Religion & Spirituality. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.
Is Unfamiliar Fishes worth reading?
Based on 10.4K reader ratings, Unfamiliar Fishes has an average score of 3.60 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is Unfamiliar Fishes?
Unfamiliar Fishes has 238 pages.
Who wrote Unfamiliar Fishes?
Unfamiliar Fishes was written by Sarah Vowell. It was first published in 2011.
What is the ISBN for Unfamiliar Fishes?
The ISBN-13 for Unfamiliar Fishes is 9781594487870.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
