The core book is Golden State: The Making of California by Los Angeles Times business writer, columnist and Pulitzer Prize Winner Michael Hiltzik. Thanks to extensive research the book provides a definitive new history of California, brings a fresh critical eye, and uncovers an unvarnished truth. In it he details the discovery of California, the many stories of the indigenous population, the colonization by Spain, the development of the Missions, Mexican Independence, the Bear Flag Revolt, the discovery of gold, the struggle over slavery, joining the United States, the domination by rail roads, Chinese exclusion, the water wars, the San Francisco earthquake and fire, the Progressive Era, John Muir, conservation, fossil fuel extraction, the rise of Los Angeles, Japanese internment, WW II's impact, Richard Nixon, Disneyland, conservatism, Pat Brown, Ronald Regan, the 60s, the coming of La Raza, the Watts Rebellion, the rise of Big Tech, growth and the California Dream. We will also view several films relevant to the topic including The Grapes of Wrath, Chinatown, Milk, Fruitvale Station, and The Last Black Man in San Francisco.

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