Part of the impact of this book is the lush illustrations, maps, and photos that illustrate the text. They make it more interesting, help set the different periods in time in the reader's mind, and they help make the entire book more entertaining and relevant to the reader. The rush comes alive because of all the illustrations, documents, and other elements of the book's design, and it makes the book more complete and fulfilling, somehow. The author often quotes from primary documents like letters, journals, newspapers, and diaries, and that helps make the book more real to the reader, too. It is possible to actually feel what the pioneers were feeling as they crossed the desert on the last leg of their journey to California, and it helps make the hardships and their determination more real, as well.

The book also ties in other areas where California influenced history and development, like the Comstock Lode in Nevada (currently Virginia City just...

He also shows how the miners were ruthless in their mining activities, and how, because of such mass destruction, miners became the enemies of many in California, especially the farmers.
In conclusion, this is an excellent history of California, and it belongs on the library shelf of anyone who loves the history of the Golden State. It is a lot more than a history book; it is somewhat like an almanac or coffee-table book that should be opened repeatedly. This book is also an intimate look at mining operations, life in the mining towns, and California's roots, and it was a pleasure to read.

References

Holliday, J.S. Rush for Riches: Gold Fever and the Making of California. Berkeley, CA: University of California, 1999.