Born in Hollywood, screenwriter Paul Haddad has also penned numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including High Fives, Pennant Drives, and Fernandomania: A Fan’s History of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Glory Years, 1977-1981; Skinny White Freak; and Freewaytopia: How Freeways Shaped Los Angeles. His latest book is Inventing Paradise: The Power Brokers Who Created the Dream of Los Angeles, which Publishers Weekly says, “offers a meticulous group biography of six powerful men who were behind the supercharged growth of Los Angeles at the turn of the 20th century.” Haddad discussed Inventing Paradise with Stephen Usery during a two-part interview in July.

This podcast comes courtesy of WYPL Book Talk in Memphis. Listen to part one here.