Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, its Chaotic Founding… its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-class Metropolis by Sam Anderson

The bustling city of Oklahoma City has come a long way since its chaotic founding in 1889. Founded during the Land Run, a violent competition between settlers to claim newly available land, Oklahoma City’s origins were tumultuous and unruly. Despite these tumultuous beginnings, the city has weathered countless storms and historic changes. In the ensuing 130 years, Oklahoma City has established itself as a modern metropolis with a bright future.

At the beginning of Anderson’s book, Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, its Chaotic Founding… its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-class Metropolis, Anderson provides an overview of the city's unique history. He delves into how the boomtown was built from the ground up, and how its diverse population has blended together to create Oklahoma City’s unique identity. Anderson recounts how the early settlers used unknown railroad technology and canal systems to develop their new city.

Anderson also chronicles the purloined basketball team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, which moved to the city in 2008. This addition to the city marked a pivotal point in its history, showing the world that Oklahoma City was ready to step onto the world stage. The Thunder have been deemed a success, and the city's newfound status as an NBA market has helped attract other businesses to the area.

The book then moves on to explore Oklahoma City's current reality and its aspirations for the future. Anderson takes readers on a tour of the city, showing off its impressive skyline and diverse neighborhoods. He talks about the city's current cultural attractions, from breweries to eateries to museums and music venues. He also visits some of the city's landmarks, from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.

Finally, Anderson discusses what he calls the “dream of becoming a world-class metropolis.” He paints a picture of the city’s ultimate potential, where tourism, entertainment, technology, and culture all mix to create the city's ultimate identity. With the addition of the Thunder, its slew of new residents, and its booming economy, Oklahoma City is becoming the city of its founders’ dreams.

While Anderson's book provides an in-depth look at Oklahoma City's past and present, it also serves as a reminder of its ultimate potential as a world-class metropolis. From its chaotic founding to its modern-day attractions and businesses, Oklahoma City has come a long way. Through Anderson's book, readers are shown the city’s unique history and its ambitions for the future. Whether it's exploring its rich Native American heritage, business prospects, or the purloined basketball team, Boom Town will give readers an exciting and comprehensive look at Oklahoma City's past and present, as well as its future potential.