![]() Since Johnson hones in on a shorter time period, she’s able to delve into great detail about Oakland and the greater East Bay before, during, and after World War II. ![]() The Second Gold Rush, which I just finished, is a nice follow-up to Bagwell’s book. The Second Gold Rush: Oakland and the East Bay in World War II, by Marilynn S. Actually, I think I might re-read it again soon to refresh my memory on Oakland’s history now that I have a better understanding of the city’s current socio-political sructure. This book was part of my inspiration to start this blog, and I think it should be required reading for anyone who cares about Oakland. Almost no detail is left out, with topics including the environmental landscape, schooling, economics, racial issues, transportation, and development. She thoroughly delves into city politics, not shying away from covering the corrupt power-plays that made this city what it is today. Bagwell traces Oakland’s history from it’s Native American origin through the 1950s (and a bit beyond). If you’re going to read just one book about Oakland, this is it. ![]() ![]() Oakland: The Story of a City, by Beth Bagwell Check back in a few days for a review of my favorite Oakland blogs. So I thought I’d reflect on all that I read about Oakland in 2007, starting with the books. I recently finished the third book I read last year about Oakland, and it got me thinking about just how much I read about Oakland and how lucky we are that there are so many alternatives available to the Tribune and TV news. ![]()
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