By the Author of the Bestselling Pulitzer Prize Finalist THE FIRST AMERICAN
THEY WENT WEST TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND IN THE BARGAIN THEY CHANGE... read full description
THEY WENT WEST TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND IN THE BARGAIN THEY CHANGE... read full description
reviews
Feb 07, 2012
Chris
rated it: 
The ‘California Gold Rush’ is known as one of the most iconic time periods in American history not only because of the economic boom that it brought west but because of the idealistic American values that came with it. ‘Manifest Destiny’ is an idea that has caressed the minds of some of the greatest people in history. These people have been in different circumstances and no two experiences are exactly alike. Even though the term was coined in the United States it is still an ideal that has be
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Jul 24, 2009
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it: 
I like to read books about the places I visit. That’s why I picked The Age of Gold. It came highly recommended and it did not disappoint.
Gold is found during the building of Sutter’s Mill in California. People began to flood into California, risking death, willing to sacrifice everything for a chance to get rich.
Brands hones in on his characters---Sutter, young men headed to California from all parts, Stanford, Hearst---until the book feels more like a novel than a histor More...
Gold is found during the building of Sutter’s Mill in California. People began to flood into California, risking death, willing to sacrifice everything for a chance to get rich.
Brands hones in on his characters---Sutter, young men headed to California from all parts, Stanford, Hearst---until the book feels more like a novel than a histor More...
Jan 29, 2012
It's no exaggeration to say that California was created by gold. No doubt there'd have been a state there anyway - the concept of Manifest Destiny ensured that Americans were always going to spread out across the continent - but the discovery of gold in 1848 accelerated the process and made for a way of life and an atmosphere quite unlike America up to that point. In pre-Gold Rush America the cardinal virtues were patience and hard work, rural, agrarian and slow - Jefferson's gentleman farmers.
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Mar 29, 2008
Lisa
rated it:
The Age of Gold is a complete and well written account of arguably one of the most pivotal times in America's history. To me, the essence of this book is eloquently summed up in this paragraph...
"Where life was a gamble and success a matter of stumbling on the right stretch of stream bed, old standards of risk and reward didn't apply. In the goldfields a person was expected to gamble, and to fail, and to gamble again and again, till success finally came - success likely fol More...
"Where life was a gamble and success a matter of stumbling on the right stretch of stream bed, old standards of risk and reward didn't apply. In the goldfields a person was expected to gamble, and to fail, and to gamble again and again, till success finally came - success likely fol More...
Jun 05, 2011
Bob
rated it: 
An excellent telling of discovery of gold and it's impact on California in the 1850's. The book tells the story thru the voices of those involved so the reader gets a personal view of the trials the 'Argonauts' faced on their journey to the gold fields.
Brands then broadens the scope to show the impact of the discovery in terms of the social political, and economics of the day.
I found the book to be wider in range than I thought it would be providing an understanding of th More...
Brands then broadens the scope to show the impact of the discovery in terms of the social political, and economics of the day.
I found the book to be wider in range than I thought it would be providing an understanding of th More...
Dec 23, 2009
Lauren
rated it:
I was surprised by this book. It was much broader than I expected. Brands shows the ripple effect the gold rush had throughout American culture and the world. The reader learns what it was like to travel from different parts of the world and the country to get to California. He shows how the gold rush changed American culture because of its "instant wealth" mentality. He discusses the rise of the railroads in relationship to the rush.
May 21, 2011
Linda
rated it:
Excellent, wide-ranging history of the CA gold rush with details about the trips people took to get to CA, John Fremont, William Sherman, the first railroad to cross the country, and how the gold rush shaped American attitudes and expectations. Fun and fascinating. Good read
Jul 04, 2009
Craig
rated it:
Brands is such a terrific storyteller.
What I really liked about this book is how it takes an event like the discovery of Gold in California at Sutter's Mill and shows how it influenced major aspects of American history like the Transcontinental Railroad, expansion of the U.S., Compromise of 1850, Civil War, Gold Standard and even the American spirit.
But the heart of the book is its people and stories and in that regard, this book excels.
What I really liked about this book is how it takes an event like the discovery of Gold in California at Sutter's Mill and shows how it influenced major aspects of American history like the Transcontinental Railroad, expansion of the U.S., Compromise of 1850, Civil War, Gold Standard and even the American spirit.
But the heart of the book is its people and stories and in that regard, this book excels.
Dec 31, 2008
Mark
rated it:
One of the top books for me for 2008. My California history is a bit sketchy; this was a great, fun read about the gold rush era, and filled in some blanks.
Sep 30, 2010
Kim
rated it:
Gripping from start to finish - we honestly couldn't wait to get back in the car and keep listening...
May 29, 2009
The Age of Gold: The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream by H.W. Brands (2002)
Oct 27, 2008
Mike
rated it:
H.W. Brands is a great author. This books spans several decades and many characters who populated mainly California, and turned the area from a quiet part of Mexico to the 31st state. Thanks to the discovery of gold, the sleepy town of San Francisco exploded almost overnight.
H.W. Brands introduces us to a list of major characters who had important roles to play in the founding and growth of California. Leland Stanford, William T. Sherman among many others. This book won't fail to More...
H.W. Brands introduces us to a list of major characters who had important roles to play in the founding and growth of California. Leland Stanford, William T. Sherman among many others. This book won't fail to More...
Oct 21, 2009
Gary
rated it:
This is a great book, full of 'nickel knowledge'. Great telling of how the discovery of gold in California changed not only the U.S., but the whole world. We see how San Francisco developed; how much serendipity is almost the equal of hard work and effort; how people who bluff their way through and succeed, or bluff their way and run smack into the brick wall. We see the famous (Fremont) and the obscure.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Oct 15, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Really liked this book. The writing style was fast paced and made the book interesting (I only got bored with it at the end). I really liked hearing about the different immigrants stories of how they got to California and the boom and bust nature of the state which exists today. I also really liked reading about how gold affected the Civil War, various banking crisis, Native Americans and transportation in the US.
Oct 08, 2008
A must read if you live in California. Or especially if you live near Coloma, as we do! This was written very well- it did not have the "history book" feel I expected it to have. I love the way he tied in the history of California with the history of our entire country.
May 29, 2008
Bill
rated it:
Stories from newspapers, journals, and letters about people who risked everything to journey to California after hearing the rumor of the discovery of gold. The author suggests that the rush to find gold may have significanly altered the resolution of the issue of slavery.
Mar 20, 2007
Alex
rated it:
Pretty good history of the California gold rush. Brands is known as the guy that did the excellent Benjamin Franklin biography.
The book uses correspondences from 49ers and other to piece together a delightful history that reads like a narrative.
The book uses correspondences from 49ers and other to piece together a delightful history that reads like a narrative.
Jun 06, 2008
Caitlin
rated it:
As usual, H.W. Brands provides a very readable account of the Gold Rush era. Any history book by this author is a recommended read.
Dec 19, 2009
Chris
rated it:
Reads like a novel, and with a lot of analysis of the causes and effects of the gold rush. Highly recommended.
Jan 02, 2009
Natalie
rated it: 
I bought this book a couple of years ago but was inspired to go back to it after a recent drive up the coast.
Jan 06, 2010
Jeffrey
rated it:
This book really ties in the effect events in California had in the creation of our nation as we know it. Very unlikely the North wins the war without this Gold Rush. Great read for non-fiction fans!
Dec 14, 2009
Shawn
rated it:
I would give this book three and a half stars, but one can not do that. The book was quite informative about the people and events which populated California, quickly after its acquisition from Mexico after the Mexican American war.
First off, anyone who does not believe that the US never had a war of acquisition do not know about the Mexican-American war, nor the Spanish American war. It was agrued quite convincingly that the president at the time, Polk, really wanted California an More...
First off, anyone who does not believe that the US never had a war of acquisition do not know about the Mexican-American war, nor the Spanish American war. It was agrued quite convincingly that the president at the time, Polk, really wanted California an More...
Feb 11, 2012
Feb 07, 2012
