City of Quartz

Excavating the Future in Los Angeles

Book • 2018

In *City of Quartz*, Mike Davis delves into the complex history of Los Angeles, exploring how the city has been influenced by various powerful groups, including real estate boosters, the Protestant elite, Jewish Westside elites, homeowner groups, and the Los Angeles Police Department.

The book critiques the city's development, highlighting issues of racial tension, economic inequality, and the transformation of Los Angeles into a 'fortress city' characterized by fear and surveillance.

Davis also examines the impact of market forces on urban design and the lives of different classes, concluding with a study of the de-industrialized town of Fontana, which he terms a 'junkyard of dreams'.

Mentioned by

Michael Shellenberger

Christopher Sandbatch

Mentioned in 12 episodes

Mentioned by

Michael Shellenberger

as a nihilistic book advocating the idea of letting Malibu burn.

220 snips

Tucker Carlson and Michael Shellenberger Break Down the California Fires

Mentioned by

Kmele Foster

while discussing the history of fire management in Malibu.

65 snips

#485 - The Fire This Time

Mentioned by

Robert Evans

to describe the racism and excessive force of the LAPD.

40 snips

Part Two: Daryl Gates: The Man Who Invented SWAT Teams and DARE

Mentioned by

Jacob Soboroff

as a book by Mike Davis about the Los Angeles wildland urban interface.

30 snips

Jacob Soboroff and Sarah McBride: Democracy at the Ground Level

Recommended by

Robert Evans

for listeners interested in learning more about Daryl Gates and the history of Los Angeles.

27 snips

Part One: Daryl Gates: The Man Who Invented SWAT Teams and DARE

Mentioned as an incredible book about the history of Los Angeles and talks about the kind of surveillance system that separates different classes in Los Angeles.