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The California Kid: From USC Golden Boy to International Drug Kingpin
You’ve read the shocking one-sided tale of international drug kingpin Owen Hanson in The Rolling Stone, VICE, and the LA Times—but now he’s ready to tell his side of the story.
A surfer kid from Redondo Beach, California, Owen Hanson was still in his twenties when he found himself the leader of a multimillion-dollar criminal empire. What began as an attempt to fit in with the rich kids at the University of Southern California soon grew into gambling and loan sharking, which then opened the door to drug trafficking and money laundering. Hanson wasn’t just involved in this stuff—he excelled at it. Living the fast-paced lifestyle of the rich and famous, Hanson was finally gaining the respect he craved. But with the cartel, a serious drug-abuse problem, and the pursuit of the FBI all threatening to overtake him, it wouldn't be long before his glamorous lifestyle caught up with him.
The California Kid follows Owen from his roots as a USC star athlete from a broken home, where his idolization of the rich and famous began, to his descent down a dangerous path where he would stop at nothing to earn the love and respect of the people around him. The story that follows is almost too wild to believe—but Owen bears the 21-year sentence to prove it.
A surfer kid from Redondo Beach, California, Owen Hanson was still in his twenties when he found himself the leader of a multimillion-dollar criminal empire. What began as an attempt to fit in with the rich kids at the University of Southern California soon grew into gambling and loan sharking, which then opened the door to drug trafficking and money laundering. Hanson wasn’t just involved in this stuff—he excelled at it. Living the fast-paced lifestyle of the rich and famous, Hanson was finally gaining the respect he craved. But with the cartel, a serious drug-abuse problem, and the pursuit of the FBI all threatening to overtake him, it wouldn't be long before his glamorous lifestyle caught up with him.
The California Kid follows Owen from his roots as a USC star athlete from a broken home, where his idolization of the rich and famous began, to his descent down a dangerous path where he would stop at nothing to earn the love and respect of the people around him. The story that follows is almost too wild to believe—but Owen bears the 21-year sentence to prove it.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published November 26, 2024
22 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 23, 2024
You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my new blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.
Thank you, Turner Publishing Company, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. No review was required in return for an advance reading copy and no review was promised.
Mr. Book just finished The California Kid: From USC Golden Boy to International Drug Kingpin, by Owen Hanson and Alex Cody Foster.
Hanson got a volleyball scholarship at USC, where he decided to become a drug dealer. His coach decided to redshirt him for his sophomore season, so he decided to bulk up on steroids to try to become bigger and increase his chances of making the team. That led to him being noticed by the football team, which he ended up making. He won a national championship with USC, but, with the exception of blocking on one play, the author never mentions any football accomplishments. Instead, it is all talk about his drug activity during that time.
After graduating from USC, he got a job in real estate but was eventually fired from that. He then quickly turned to the world of gambling. He got a job in construction, and used the people he there, along with his sports contacts and contacts from his previous job, as a starting client base, which he was very good at expanding. That led him back into the world of drugs.
This was a very fast paced book that always held by interest. To my surprise, once things started going south for him, I started to feel sorry for the author. While this was a lifestyle that I would never have any interest in, it was very interesting to read about his exploits.
I give this book an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews
Mr. Book originally finished reading this on June 23, 2024.
Thank you, Turner Publishing Company, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. No review was required in return for an advance reading copy and no review was promised.
Mr. Book just finished The California Kid: From USC Golden Boy to International Drug Kingpin, by Owen Hanson and Alex Cody Foster.
Hanson got a volleyball scholarship at USC, where he decided to become a drug dealer. His coach decided to redshirt him for his sophomore season, so he decided to bulk up on steroids to try to become bigger and increase his chances of making the team. That led to him being noticed by the football team, which he ended up making. He won a national championship with USC, but, with the exception of blocking on one play, the author never mentions any football accomplishments. Instead, it is all talk about his drug activity during that time.
After graduating from USC, he got a job in real estate but was eventually fired from that. He then quickly turned to the world of gambling. He got a job in construction, and used the people he there, along with his sports contacts and contacts from his previous job, as a starting client base, which he was very good at expanding. That led him back into the world of drugs.
This was a very fast paced book that always held by interest. To my surprise, once things started going south for him, I started to feel sorry for the author. While this was a lifestyle that I would never have any interest in, it was very interesting to read about his exploits.
I give this book an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews
Mr. Book originally finished reading this on June 23, 2024.
June 7, 2024
What an awesome book! Probably top 2 or 3 of the 25 books I’ve read so far this year. Amazing from start to finish!
The California Kid is a fascinating look at the life of Owen Hanson, more specifically his college years and beyond that lead him to world of drug-dealing and money laundering. It talks about how no matter what extracurriculars he was involved with, he excelled and rose to the top. Whether that was walking on at the legendary USC football teams of the early 2000’s, peddling drugs, or becoming a bookie and VIP concierge to many high profile athletes and celebrities.
This book was captivating from the get go. Once I started I could not put it down, finishing this book in under 24 hours. This book was extremely well written and moved quickly! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crime/thriller type books, along with sports fans, as there is something for everyone.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Turner Publishing for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for my honest and fair opinion.
The California Kid is a fascinating look at the life of Owen Hanson, more specifically his college years and beyond that lead him to world of drug-dealing and money laundering. It talks about how no matter what extracurriculars he was involved with, he excelled and rose to the top. Whether that was walking on at the legendary USC football teams of the early 2000’s, peddling drugs, or becoming a bookie and VIP concierge to many high profile athletes and celebrities.
This book was captivating from the get go. Once I started I could not put it down, finishing this book in under 24 hours. This book was extremely well written and moved quickly! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crime/thriller type books, along with sports fans, as there is something for everyone.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Turner Publishing for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for my honest and fair opinion.
April 12, 2025
AUDIOBOOK 🎧
Nobody cares until you’re rich, pretty or dead.
How does a surfer kid from Redondo Beach become a leader of a multimillion dollar criminal empire?
Normally books about how someone became a drug dealer to a drug smuggler bore me. I can be quite critical of these kinds of books. I am not a fan when they try to make out like the whole drug enterprise thing is sexy…hey maybe it is to some….
But The California Kid by Owen Hanson and Alex Cody Foster didn’t take that path. Sure there are parts of the book that made my eyes roll…. But I actually enjoyed the honesty and truth behind the humble beginnings of Owen’s life and what started his rise that became his downfall landing him behind bars.
Unquestionably, he was living his life like it was straight out of a Hollywood movie.
If you like stories about the ins and outs of drug trafficking or the drug trade, from ways to smuggle drugs to washing money, then you will enjoy this one.
Nobody cares until you’re rich, pretty or dead.
How does a surfer kid from Redondo Beach become a leader of a multimillion dollar criminal empire?
Normally books about how someone became a drug dealer to a drug smuggler bore me. I can be quite critical of these kinds of books. I am not a fan when they try to make out like the whole drug enterprise thing is sexy…hey maybe it is to some….
But The California Kid by Owen Hanson and Alex Cody Foster didn’t take that path. Sure there are parts of the book that made my eyes roll…. But I actually enjoyed the honesty and truth behind the humble beginnings of Owen’s life and what started his rise that became his downfall landing him behind bars.
Unquestionably, he was living his life like it was straight out of a Hollywood movie.
If you like stories about the ins and outs of drug trafficking or the drug trade, from ways to smuggle drugs to washing money, then you will enjoy this one.
November 19, 2025
Owen Hanson is truly a one-in-a-million kind of person, and while he made some bad choices, he lived a life with a hell of a lot of thrill. This is one of those books that’s so suspenseful it’s hard to put down, and you get excited thinking about what happens next.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the ghost writer. The quality of the writing felt as if it didn’t have ghost writer; it feels like someone who needs a bit more experience and fine-tuning. The attempt to be comedic at times made Hanson seem arrogant and un-remorseful (if that’s a word) for his very damaging actions.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the ghost writer. The quality of the writing felt as if it didn’t have ghost writer; it feels like someone who needs a bit more experience and fine-tuning. The attempt to be comedic at times made Hanson seem arrogant and un-remorseful (if that’s a word) for his very damaging actions.
November 8, 2025
I can't believe this book was even published.
Hanson's credibility is highly questionable. His stories are not believable.
Hanson's credibility is highly questionable. His stories are not believable.
December 3, 2025
A good, quick read about Mr. Hanson's adventures in drug dealing. Crazy life.
December 5, 2025
Wild ride. O-Dog made me want to join the cartel
December 28, 2025
Repetitive but great book to illustrate how much of a role good networking can play in your success
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews