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alexvincoh's review against another edition
5.0
My first John McPhee book. Engaging storytelling about human hubris in the face of unstoppable forces. The Heimaey volcano section is unforgettable.
el_entrenador_loco's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.25
shirisandler's review against another edition
2.0
I wish I could rate this chapter by chapter: Atchafalaya - 2 stars, Iceland - 4 stars, LA - 2.5?.
ajchurch's review against another edition
2.0
I read this for class but some parts weren't just straight facts and I enjoyed the inside to the surrounding culture and people of the areas he talked about
noahbalazs's review against another edition
3.0
After reading The Pine Barrens and The Founding Fish, I was ready for more McPhee. This book was a slog. Each of the three sections (on The Mississippi River, Iceland Volcanoes, and the cumbling San Gabriels into neighboring L.A.) was twice as long as they needed to be and I lost interest at just about the midpoint of each. As ever, McPhee is a meticulous researcher and interviewer. Perhaps I'll have better luck with Coming Into the Country or Uncommon Carriers.