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Golden State
Hardback
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- Book Synopsis
- From Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Hiltzik, a definitive new history of California ‒ from the Spanish conquistadors to the state's meteoric rise as a tech powerhouse and bulwark of progressivism ‒ and of its indelible mark on the world. California has long reigned as the land of plenty, where the sun always shines and opportunity beckons. Even prior to its statehood in 1850, it captured the world's imagination. We remember the Gold Rush era for bearded prospectors lured by riches; we think of its early embrace of immigrant labour during the railroad boom as prologue to its diverse social fabric today. But what lies beneath the myth is far more complicated. Thanks to extensive research by Michael Hiltzik, one of the clearest voices on California, Golden State uncovers the unvarnished truth about the state that everyone thinks they know well. From Spanish incursions into what became known as Alta California to the rise of Big Tech, the history of California is one of stark contradictions. In rich detail, we see its earliest statesmen wreak havoc among native peoples while racing to draft their own constitution even ahead of statehood. We follow gold-hungry settlers who venture into the Sierra foothills and often leave with nothing, while a handful of their suppliers become millionaire railroad magnates. We witness water wars erupt as Los Angeles booms and see early efforts to tame the vast landscape create an arena for fossil fuel extraction and environmental conservation alike. From its very beginnings, Hiltzik shows, the story of the United States was written in California.
- About The Author
- Michael Hiltzik is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author who has covered business, technology, and public policy for the Los Angeles Times for three decades. He currently serves as the Times's business columnist and hosts its business blog, The Economy Hub. Hiltzik received the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for articles exposing corruption in the entertainment industry. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two children.
- Product Details
-
- ISBN
- 9781398109025
- Format
- Hardback
- Publisher
- Amberley Publishing, (15 February 2025)
- Number of Pages
- 320
- Weight
- 724 grams
- Language
- English
- Dimensions
- 234 x 156 mm
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