The Golden Fortress
California's Border War on Dust Bowl Refugees

Keeping the White Spot White As a native Californian, born and brought up in Los Angeles, I never had much exposure to local history. We were taught there were the Franciscan missions, Olvera Street, and movie studios. Then sometime later the GI Bill helped our families move into brand new homes in t......more

It was an extremely interesting and informative book but this book is by no means a quick or easy read. Everything Lascher talks about can be seen in politics today but this book seems as if it is meant to inform not entertain. If you like in depth political history, this is a great book for you.......more

A story as relevant now as it was 80 years ago. Certainly something every Californian and, especially, every Angelino should read. Lascher perfectly out together a non-fiction narrative that reads like something between a western and a noir. I couldn’t put it down.......more

This is a meticulously-researched account of a time in history that, in many ways, mirrors our own. I loved the descriptive language throughout the book: It really put me at the center of the conflict and made me see all the characters as nuanced. Aside from the compelling details, I learned a lot a......more

There is much more to The Golden Fortress than its underlying story about how Los Angeles Police Chief James Davis, backed by the business elite of the day, took it upon himself and the police force he commanded to try to keep “undesirables” out of California. The book reminds how dangerous it is wh......more