Railroaded: The Transcontinentals and the Making of Modern America

This book immediately makes it clear that the transcontinental railroads that sprang up across the US in the late 1800s were colossal failures. White examines the multi-faceted history of these railroads with sections on their politics, economics, entrepreneurs, workers, and impacted industries. What emerges is a shockingly modern picture - a litter of failed companies that enriched a small number of entrepreneurs through their systematic exploitation of the public coffers, workers, and dependent industries. This history urges us to consider other choices that can be made about deploying new technologies around how they're funded, what risks the public takes, and what evidence is needed before assuming that disruption or new technology is actually a long term societal positive. Highly recommend.