Oil
In southern California in the 1930’s, what adventurous investors were after was oil. It was pretty much everywhere, and the discovery of it forever changed lives, communities, even ethics. Told through the eyes of his son, this is the story of "Dad," who makes a killing in oil. But our narrator develops a social conscience, and the story he relates—of Dad’s investments, of his friendship with evangelists, of his personal journey—is rich not only in what he says but where he is. If you ever wondered about Los Angeles and environs in their early glory days, this is the book to read.
Upton Sinclair