Author Rothman (1958-2007), a former history professor at the U. of Nevada, offers a clear-eyed view of how modern-day Nevada came to be. Frequently considered the country's black sheep state for its adoption of the vice industry (Las Vegas, for example), Nevada didn't really have much going for it when it joined the union other than a gold and silver strike. Dry, desolate, and sparsely populated, the state was unique. The author obviously cared deeply about Nevada, but he also was more than capable of telling a completely unvarnished story. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)