Entertaining look at the 1849 gold rush. Centers around the specific journeys of a few individuals from beginning to end. The tales are pretty varied and are meshed together well. The writing is quite good and knits it all together in a satisfactory manner. ( )

The story of the California gold rush is so familiar, it is hard to believe that anyone could find a new way to tell it, but Dolnick has done just that. Using personal journals, he presents the gold rush as it was experienced by five individual gold seekers from different walks of life. No larger than life heroes here - these were ordinary people who abandoned everything they knew, in hope of finding a better life. The reader travels alongside, sharing their highs and lows.

The author concludes that the collective experience of the gold rush continues to influence us today, from the excesses of Wall Street to the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley. ( )

Liked this book. Reads like a thriller. The author's enthuisasm is catchy and it makes you really stop and wonder about things.

I learnt a technique called skimming while reading this book (basically you read only 1 sentence per paragraph until your interest comes rushing back). ( )