This exhaustive bibliography is the result of Kim's research of the Asian American experience for almost two decades. It contains some 3,396 entries in the social and behavioral sciences and the humanities, arranged in chapters that address dozens of pertinent subjects and experiential areas. The main body of the work, the annotated bibliography, is divided into two major sections: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Perspectives. Entries there are organized by topic rather than by ethnic group; the major literature of each topic receives a lengthier and more thorough annotation.

In annotating doctoral dissertations, the emphasis is placed on research methodology and findings. An insightful introductory essay written by Shirley Hune enhances the reader's understanding of the Asian American experience within the context of the development of American scholarship on immigration and immigrants. To aid the student and reseacher, each chapter has been subdivided into sections labelled Books and Monographs, Periodicals, and Theses and Dissertations. The chapters cover such diverse topics as marriage and family, justice, law, and politics, Japanese internment, and Asian American Women's Studies, among many others. This commendable and much anticipated volume fills an apparent need and will surely become an essential tool for scholars, students, and researchers in Asian American studies.