Kevin Starr, winner of the Gold Non-Fiction Award for "Americans and the California Dream, 1850-1915," talks about the historical heritage of Californians. He traces the state's history back to the Gold Rush and describes California as a type of surreal, mythical environment. Starr looks at California's unique style of literature, identifying its focus on hope and humor, and compares it with literature of the American south, which he says is concerned with issues of race. While residents of the state are beginning another chapter of the "California Dream," Starr encourages the audience to reflect on their history as they move forward.