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"Superb. Hiltzik makes a compelling case that California is the heartbeat of our nation." - Douglas Brinkley, New York Times bestselling author of Silent Spring RevolutionFrom 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.