Book Review: The Age of Gold by H. W. Brands

In this incredible record, the author presents a far-reaching narrative of an impactful era of modern American history: the California Gold Rush. I initially thought this hefty book would solely talk about the Gold Rush in California. In fact, it delved into all the developments that were born out of the period: the mass-migration of people around the world to the western US, the creation of California, and the acceleration of American divisions which culminated in the Civil War. The gold from this era would go on to power the banks and factories of the Industrial Revolution, making America into the economic powerhouse of the early 20th century. Material impacts aside, the cultural impacts also left an indelible mark: the concept that Americans could become rich quick, and that the unashamed pursuit of wealth and happiness was the future of people across the world.