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AirTalk

Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century

By AirTalk Staff
Published Jun 7, 2010
An aerial view of the Hoover Dam and the Hoover Dam bypass under construction June 12, 2009 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada.
An aerial view of the Hoover Dam and the Hoover Dam bypass under construction June 12, 2009 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada.
(
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
)
Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century
Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century
(
Free Press
)
Listen 17:24
Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century
The Hoover Dam was an engineering feat- a Depression-era accomplishment that harnessed the Colorado River and gave rise to cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. But the success of the project also represented a shift from the pioneer individualism of America's beginnings to a new ideal of shared enterprise. In his book Colossus, Los Angeles Times reporter Michael Hiltzik chronicles the saga behind the dam's construction and how the effort shaped the nation's sense of identity.

The Hoover Dam was an engineering feat- a Depression-era accomplishment that harnessed the Colorado River and gave rise to cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. But the success of the project also represented a shift from the pioneer individualism of America's beginnings to a new ideal of shared enterprise. In his book Colossus, Los Angeles Times reporter Michael Hiltzik chronicles the saga behind the dam's construction and how the effort shaped the nation's sense of identity.

On Tuesday, June 8 Michael Hiltzik will sign and discuss his book at 7:30 pm at the Autry National Center in Griffith Park. Admission is free.

Guest:

Michael Hiltzik, author of Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century (Free Press). Hiltzik is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and writes about business, technology and national affairs for the Los Angeles Times.