Book · 2009 · History
City of Gold
Dubai and the Dream of Capitalism
Why people recommend it
City of Gold by Jim Krane is a non-fiction book that explores the modern history and rapid rise of Dubai, detailing how a small fishing village transformed into a global economic metropolis. On the Never Enough podcast episode titled Derek Sivers on Giving Away His $22 Million Dollar Fortune and Burning the Ships, broadcast on October 4, 2024, Derek Sivers discussed his travel preparations. He explained that before visiting the region, he deliberately read three books to build context, emphasizing that a particular volume titled City of Gold by Jim Krane was especially useful. Sivers noted that this specific text provided foundational background and helped him thoroughly understand the creation and early development of Dubai. His endorsement highlighted the utility of reading focused historical accounts before experiencing a destination firsthand. Listeners interested in Middle Eastern urbanization and economic history can look to this recommendation as a practical starting point for gaining deep insight into how modern commercial hubs are successfully engineered out of desert landscapes through visionary planning and resource management.
Who recommended it
- Derek Sivers Recommended
Derek Sivers — 1 mention
“well first I read three books about it before even going there so that helped a lot especially a book called City of Gold about the founding of Dubai”