Smile Southern California, You're the Center of the Universe: The Economy and People of a Global Region (Stanford General Books) [Hardcover]

James Flanigan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Stanford General Books | Publication Date: February 9, 2009

Thirty-five years ago, a billboard announced to the world: "Smile Los Angeles! You're the Center of the Universe." Hyperbolic at the time, today, this exaggeration comes close to reality. While Southern California is not at the literal center of the universe, it is nevertheless an eye-popping illustration of our globalizing world.

Over the course of forty years of reporting, author James Flanigan has written about Southern California for such publications as Forbes and the New York Times. In this book, Flanigan provocatively distills his experiences with and knowledge of the region,arguing that Southern California is an economic model for the United States and the world. With clarity and precision, Flanigan examines numerous pillars of the region's growth, including dynamic entrepreneurship; the rapid growth of international trade,; the harnessing and development of new technologies; and the evolution of the entertainment industry. He assesses the achievements of the region's people, businesses, and institutions. The text highlights the influx of immigrants to Southern California, and discusses these people's role in building local businesses and bringing capital to the region. Flanigan concludes the book by looking past the boundaries of today and into to the economic opportunities and challenges of tomorrow—for Southern California and America.

Throughout the book, Flanigan weaves in numerous interviews that bring to life the economic forces that he describes. Most valuable are the stories that he shares of businesspeople—well and less known—who demonstrate where our economy stands and where it is heading.

Smile Southern California! delivers more than a "pat on the back" for the inhabitants of Los Angeles and its environs; it offers an insider's view on Southern California, valuable insights for readers with an eye on the economy, and an exciting story full of real people and triumphs to boot!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Journalist Flanigan argues that the 22-million-strong region at the nexus of Latin America and the U.S. has moved from the periphery to the center of the American economy via specific innovations, endowments and long-term trends that have not only helped create the new global economy but point the way to U.S. prosperity in a dramatically changed global marketplace. Profiling small business owners, inventors, academic researchers, and business and finance pioneers (including broadband innovator Henry Samueli and financier Michael Milken), Flanigan gives an informed sense of key transformations in both SoCal's economy and international trade attendant on developments in communications technology. Dismissing gloomier forecasts by the likes of Mike Davis and Joan Didion, Flanigan aligns himself with the reasoned optimism of authors like historian Kevin Starr and journalist Peter Schrag, but it must be said his is a more narrowly focused treatment than this company suggests, which leaves the book overly sanguine at points. Nonetheless, this is a valuable explication of the meaning and challenges of globalization for the region and the U.S. generally. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Thanks to this lively investigation by one of the nations most highly regarded business reporters, we can better understand how off-shore investment, technology, decentralization, can-do entrepreneurialism and sheer panache have created one of the strongest economies on the planet as well as a working model for American competition in a global age." —Kevin Starr, University of Southern California

"Few experts understand Southern California's dynamism better than Jim Flanigan. He's poured all that understanding into this book and given us a great read about one of the world's most important economies." —Michael Milken, Chairman, The Milken Institute

"The author is a recognized journalistic authority on the topic. This study offers a refreshing view of Southern California, painting biographical narratives on a background canvas of important economic data." —William Deverell, Director, Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West

"Flanigan argues that the rapid growth of the Asian economies since the mid-1970s and the preeminence of Los Angeles' deep-water port on the West Coast—among other factors—have made it the 'center of the universe.' This is an important insight, and one that is too little appreciated. The writing is forceful and most engaging are the stories of individuals who have built up lucrative businesses after coming to appreciate the available opportunities." —Susan B. Carter, Professor of Economics, University of California, Riverside

"This important book offers fresh perspectives on the resilience and global reach of Southern California's dynamic economy. Distilling his four decades of experience as a perceptive observer, Flanigan has a real eye for the biographical detail that brings to life the regions dramatic story of globalization, business innovation, and immigrant entrepreneurship." —Steven P. Erie, Professor of Political Science, University of California, San Diego and author of Globalizing L.A.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Stanford General Books; 1 edition (February 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804756252
• ISBN-13: 978-0804756259
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally- a story with a smile, April 4, 2009

By 

James F. Sitterly (San Pedro, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Smile Southern California, You're the Center of the Universe: The Economy and People of a Global Region (Stanford General Books) (Hardcover)

I am overwhelmed by the intolerance running amuck these days between the political left and the right. The huge hubbubb over Lavine's book is causing such a stir that a book of calm reflection, such as Mr. Flanigan's Smile Book can get unfairly overshadowed
Finding a book with facts and personal success stories which point to a positive economic future for California is really a pleasant breath of clean and fresh air.
I was enthralled by Mayor Reardon's comments and the rest of the book is just as interesting and full of uplifting observations about our beloved California. Hooray for Flanigan and his huge smile! This book radiates with a warmth, understanding and respect for our times as no other
book I have found. Read it and share the good news with others.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the Good Stuff, April 9, 2009

By 

Simon Burrow "Persuader" (Pasadena CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Smile Southern California, You're the Center of the Universe: The Economy and People of a Global Region (Stanford General Books) (Hardcover)

Jim Flanigan has written a book that will make the most boosterish Chamber of Commerce member blush. He make claims about the future of Southern California that seem outrageous given the current economy and yet they are probably true. In about 22 BCE Herod built a new harbor for the Mediterranean city of Caesarea and as a result for 300 years it was the center of trade in the Eastern Mediterranean. The same thing is happening in Southern California. But it is not just ports. It is universities, airports and new ways of forming capital. And most of all it is Immigrants. With today's immigrants to LA Flanigan points out "the emphasis is on success in the new land and the advantage of connections in the old."
Flanigan fails to point out two advantages that the United States and therefore Southern California have over competing cities like Mexico City, Beijing and Seoul is that we have high regard for the rule of law and a high degree of meritocracy.
Flanigan writes in the factual style of a newspaper reporter. His writing is excellent and his example are full off hope. If you want to see the positive side of immigration, globalization, automation, outsourcing and the economy in general; read this book and smile,

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jim flanigan , The facts. Only the facts., March 29, 2009

By 

joann lutz "joannl" (phonix, az) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smile Southern California, You're the Center of the Universe: The Economy and People of a Global Region (Stanford General Books) (Hardcover)

Jim Flanigan has always been a writer of the facts. No opinions. I continue to search and try to attend where he is speaking and appearing and where his writing is featured because of the amount of information I absorb from his research. His stories and columns are very interesting and educational. Smile California is again facts. How we succeed. No negative thoughts here.
We are the great Country. We are in a Global Economy. We will survive and achieve more success in this Global
ecomomy. Stories in Flanigans Book are so uplifting. Good read.