Description

In “The Pacific Circuit,” award-winning journalist Alexis Madrigal crafts a vivid and compelling examination of how deeply understanding Oakland can illuminate key insights into our contemporary world.

Blending big-picture thinking with meticulous historical analysis and personal narrative, Madrigal paints an intimate yet expansive portrait of Oakland—an essential American city uniquely positioned at the crossroads of crucial twenty-first-century issues. Through Oakland’s vibrant stories, the book explores the profound impacts of Silicon Valley’s rise, the implications of an intensely digital future, and the often neglected human costs that technological innovation imposes on local communities—evident in the city’s shifting landscape and the lived experiences of its longtime residents.

“The Pacific Circuit” carefully examines lasting scars left by decades of systemic segregation alongside the relentless pace of technological change. Madrigal brings to life these complex themes by highlighting the experiences of the diverse people at Oakland’s core—from dockworkers and community leaders to property developers and entrepreneurs pursuing maximum profit.

Focusing closely on city hall politics, the entangled paths of venture capital and hedge fund economies, and Silicon Valley’s origins and expansion, Madrigal uncovers new connections and untold stories. The insightful lens of Oakland ultimately reveals powerful truths about how our global markets and modern society operate.