“A half-century later, Mark Twain would say that the gold rush drastically changed the American character, ending the tradition of patient apprenticeships, the gradual mastery of self, talent, and money. Gold created the get-rich-quick mentality that has been with us ever since, most recently during the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s.”

American journalist, novelist, essayist and editor

Pete Hamill was an American journalist, novelist, essayist, and editor. He worked in New York City journalism and became known for writing about the city’s politics, sports, and crime. His life and career are closely tied to the press in New York. He was a columnist and editor for the New York Post and the New York Daily News. His writing was noted for trying to catch the particular character of New York, especially its public life and its darker edges.