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California Rich Kindle Edition

by Stephen Birmingham (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.2 72 ratings

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“[A] downright intriguing history . . . chronicling of the creation of the Californian Dream.” —Los Angeles Times

Since the Gold Rush, California has represented a land of opportunity for a special breed of American. Heading west in pursuit of sunshine, riches, and elusive dreams, the early mavericks of California set out to make their fortunes—and often succeeded beyond their wildest imaginations. Prospectors became oil tycoons, squatters became cattle barons, and farmers’ wives became grandees of a new rough-hewn society.

In California Rich, Stephen Birmingham explores this fascinating social history, showing how the ruling class of California was born and how it evolved a lifestyle that continues to fascinate the world. Its colorful array of characters include: the despotic media mogul William Randolph Hearst; governor and railroad baron Leland Stanford; and real estate magnate James Irvine, who attended business meetings with an entire pack of hunting dogs.

In exploring how these self-made millionaires acquired their money—and what they did with it—Birmingham sheds light on the customs and quirks of California wealth, and how the state came to symbolize the easy, opulent life that still entices seekers of fame and fortune today.

Print length

447 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Open Road Media
Publication date

May 14, 2024
File size

6732 KB
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Enabled
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D27TZCKN
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media (May 14, 2024)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 14, 2024
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 6732 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 447 pages

Customer Reviews:
4.2 72 ratings

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Stephen Birmingham
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Stephen Birmingham (1929–2015) was an American author of more than thirty books. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, he graduated from Williams College in 1953 and taught writing at the University of Cincinnati. Birmingham’s work focuses on the upper class in America. He’s written about the African American elite in Certain People and prominent Jewish society in Our Crowd: The Great Jewish Families of New York, The Grandees: The Story of America’s Sephardic Elite, and The Rest of Us: The Rise of America’s Eastern European Jews. His work also encompasses several novels including The Auerbach Will, The LeBaron Secret, Shades of Fortune, and The Rothman Scandal, and other non-fiction titles such as California Rich, The Grandes Dames, and Life at the Dakota: New York’s Most Unusual Address.
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Carey Birmingham
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Stephen Birmingham was born in 1929 in Hartford, CT and graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1950.
Mr. Birmingham was perhaps most noted for his worldwide best seller Our Crowd, published in 1967. The book, which has the subtitle A History of the Great Jewish Families of New York took over 18 months to research and write and, after publication, almost single-handedly created the literary genre of social histories. Our Crowd broke numerous records at its publication for, among other things, length of time on the NY Times Best Seller List, and confirmed Mr. Birmingham’s preeminence in the social history genre. Subsequently, he wrote several other books in the genre, including The Right People: A Portrait of the American Social Establishment, The Grandees: America’s Sephardic Elite, Real Lace: America’s Irish Rich, and Certain People: America’s Black Elite, among others.
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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

72 global ratings

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Rachel S.

Another Superb Stephen Birmingham Work!

Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2022

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Very informative and eye opening as well as "Wow" I never knew that!!

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David Mac

Great combo of entertainment and education

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2018

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A new look for me, a non-American into the history of California and written by a man who must have several houses full of information and clippings Ok some of the subjects don't come out of it well but the experienced author builds up such a background that it is easy to understand why what happened happened. Greed played a role but to be fair balanced by the people who handled their money with respect and human kindness. My only criticism and it is largely one of the reviewer is that there were so many names and relatives mentioned sometimes it was hard to keep up. Entertaining and informative but also a reminder of what drives human nature

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URBANEXUS

California history with a flair

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2020

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Great insight on families who influenced California from the 19th Century into and through the 20th Century

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Marz

California's Wild Men

Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2013

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Informative history of the rough and wild men who built California starting from hard-scrabble beginnings and succeeding with bribery, fraud and theft.

One person found this helpful

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elias llamas

Fascinating information about californias old established families.

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2017

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Even in its history it is one of the most unique states around and the people who helped mold it are no different.

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2014

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I was reading aabout the Sutro Family and a friend recommended this book.
I live in the Bay Area and it gives alot of information about local names and who they were.

2 people found this helpful

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River Rat

Burglars Liked It!

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 1999

Reading the history of early California's powerful families was fascinating, hence so many street and institution names now fall into place. And the cultural differences existing within the state have true historical meaning.
Burglar Story - I loaned the book to a friend whose home was robbed. He had left the book on top of his computer for return to me. Alas, his home was burglarized and THE BOOK was stolen, but not his computer!

14 people found this helpful

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Linda K.

Another Birmingham great!

Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2017

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As with all Stephen Birmingham's books, well-written, interesting and as a Californian, so many things I did not know!