Palo Alto

In 'Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World,' Malcolm Harris provides a detailed and critical history of Silicon Valley.

The book spans 150 years, from the era of railroad barons to the modern tech industry, and explores how Northern California evolved into a powerful engine for economic growth and global influence.

Harris examines the ideologies, technologies, and policies that have shaped the region, including the impact of settler colonialism, racialized labor, and the conversion of public resources into private assets.

The book also delves into the lives of key figures such as Leland Stanford, Herbert Hoover, and Peter Thiel, and offers a radical proposition for how society might change course in the face of the current economic and technological landscape.