Golden State

The Making of California

By: Michael Hiltzik

Narrated by: Bob Souer

“Superb. Hiltzik makes a compelling case that California is the heartbeat of our nation.”—Douglas Brinkley, New York Times bestselling author of Silent Spring Revolution

From Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Hiltzik, a definitive new history of California—from the Spanish conquistadors to the Gold Rush to the state’s meteoric rise as a tech powerhouse and bulwark of progressivism—and of its indelible mark on the United States and the world.

California has long reigned as the land of plenty, a place where the sun always shines and opportunity beckons. Even prior to its statehood in 1850, it captured the world’s imagination. We think of bearded prospectors lured by the promise of gold; we imagine its early embrace of immigrant labor during the railroad boom as prologue to its diverse social fabric today. But what lies underneath the myth is far more complicated.

Thanks to extensive research by Michael Hiltzik, one of our longstanding voices on California, Golden State uncovers the unvarnished truth about the state we think we 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, previously overlooked detail, we see its earliest statesmen wreak havoc among native peoples while racing to draft their own constitution even ahead of statehood. Gold-hungry settlers venture into the Sierra foothills only to leave with little, while a handful of their suppliers turn themselves into millionaire railroad magnates. Wars erupt in the name of water as Los Angeles booms, and early efforts to tame the vast landscape create a haven for fossil fuel extraction and environmental conservation alike. Hollywood politicians stoke fear, contributing to a centuries-long tradition of anti-Asian violence, and, remarkably, legal redlining and free higher education take root together.

Golden State brings a fresh critical eye to the origins of the state against which the rest of the country measures itself. From its very start, Hiltzik shows, the story of the United States was written in California.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Fabulous human history of California

A fabulous, layered and nuanced history of societal evolution of California starting with the arrival of Europeans to 2023. An objective view of the suffering of natives and immigrants, impacts driven by opportunistic investors, economic and societal impacts of state fiscal and political trends. Overall, remains a very human history. Highly recommend.

Stupendous Cali History

This book is great. It is the first California History book of about 5 that I've listened to that has a whole chapter on Japanese American Internment and the Watts Riot.

Excellent overview of California history

As a native Californian and a big history buff, I completely endorse this short history of California. The author covers all the big points that ought to be there, fairly and accurately, and the writing is interesting and well-paced. The only area I found lacking was discussion of the era of Spanish colonial rule and when California was part of Mexico. That is all covered extremely lightly, and the book effectively starts shortly before the Mexican-American War. That's obviously a choice the author made and doesn't detract from what the book does cover.

The reader was also excellent, although he did mispronounce a few names and places that I know well (Sproul, Kerr, Phelan, Delano). But most people won't even notice. Otherwise, he has a good voice and style. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in California history.

Revisionist History

Not worth your credit nor your time. Stay away if you think you want accurate history accounts of CA