The Hoover Dam is just part of the infrastructure in Southern Nevada. In the 1920's, it was a political squabble, an engineering problem of unprecedented scope and by the time it was under construction, it had become a marvel.

This story is recounted in Michael Hiltzik's new book, Colossus: Hoover Dam and the Making of the American Century. He is a writer and columnist for the Los Angeles Times and joins us in the studio.

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Michael Hiltzik, columnist, LA Times