This book uses personal narratives to illustrate the history of Asian Americans from the arrival of the first Chinese laborers in Hawaii in the nineteenth century to the recent arrival of Southeast Asian refugees in the 1960s. The histories and contributions of the following groups are outlined: (1) Japanese; (2) Chinese; (3) Koreans; (4) Filipinos; (5) Asian Indians; (6) Vietnamese; (7) Cambodians; and (8) Laotians. The development of ethnic solidarity in the face of exclusion, the growth of ethnic urban communities, and the impact of World War II are emphasized. The fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States, Asian Americans have recently been hailed as the "model minority" and their accomplishments have been lauded as an affirmation of the American Dream. Yet, Asian Americans have been traditionally perceived as foreigners in their own land and encounter discrimination in higher education and employment. Asian American engineers often encounter the "glass ceiling" in high-tech industries, through which they can view but never attain top management positions. Thirty-one black-and-white illustrations and a map of Asia are included. A list of 1,017 references, an index, and a brief biography of the author are appended. (FMW)