Episode 37: Sam Anderson and Boom Town

Dear Adam Silver

Sam Anderson is a staff writer at the New York Times Magazine and author of Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, Its Chaotic Founding, Its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-class Metropolis. As is made clear in this interview, I love this book. Through my own artwork, I try to discuss intricacies of place, history and societal structures through basketball. Boom Town does just that by tracing the beginnings Oklahoma City to present day alongside the development of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The book is filled with tiny details specific to OKC, both physical and conceptual and the writing shows a level of reverence and respect for this wildly complicated place in the middle of our country.

This is a hard time for everyone, for some more than others, and I just want to recognize anyone experiencing loss or pain right now. We are truly in this together.

I recommend Boom Town as a book to add to your reading list during this time of social distancing. Once Bookman's is back open, you can pick up a copy of Boom Town at one of their six locations in Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff and Mesa.

Thank you so much to Sam for coming on the show and sharing about his experiences researching in and about OKC and writing this book.

Please note that this episode was recorded ten days ago.