Like its predecessors, this seventh edition of a best-loved publication recounts California's history from its origin to the present in a format that is engaging and informative. Even in the five years since the last edition of the book appeared, enormous social and material changes have overcome the Golden State. This new edition reflects these developments, considering them in historical context and pondering their implications for the future. Likewise, those sections of the book devoted to women, the environment, ethnic diversity, crime, sports, energy, and transportation have been expanded. It features new photographs, maps, tables, and charts, making it the perfect core text for courses on California history as well as engaging reading for anyone interested in what is in many ways the premier state in the nation.