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thomcat's review against another edition
3.0
Started off great (glaciers and volcanic lahars) and then slowed down; this travelogue can be preachy at times. A good history of some land change around Seattle - hill removal, wetland fill, and a ship channel between two lakes with a 10' difference in water height.
Some good photos and maps, nothing in color. Good suggestions for where to visit some features, and a more complete story of the Black River than I've found anywhere. I'm not sure why the Seattle libraries don't have more copies of this book, or more books from this author.
Some good photos and maps, nothing in color. Good suggestions for where to visit some features, and a more complete story of the Black River than I've found anywhere. I'm not sure why the Seattle libraries don't have more copies of this book, or more books from this author.
jar7709's review
4.0
Dirt can be fascinating. Because of my line of work, I already knew most of the broad strokes in this book about the human manipulation of Seattle topography. However, this book is well researched and included many new-to-me details and human stories behind the big earthmoving projects, as well as great historical photos and maps I'd not seen before. I am recommending it to colleagues, and anyone interested in historic human use of the earth and the history of Seattle and PNW.
eagereyes's review against another edition
3.0
Good but long-winded book about the history of Seattle and the way its landscape was altered significantly. There are some good stories and a good amount of interesting information. It also feels really slow and overly drawn out at times, though.
Still definitely worthwhile if you want to know why there is no more Denny Hill, and how very different the city's topography looks today from before white people came here in the 1850s.
Still definitely worthwhile if you want to know why there is no more Denny Hill, and how very different the city's topography looks today from before white people came here in the 1850s.
stargazerb09f7's review
4.0
This book tells the fascinating story of how Seattle's topography was altered by our predecessors -- from filling in tideflats, replumbing the lakes, to removing Denny Hill.
The author describes places around the city where you can see hints of what once was. I look forward to visiting these places.
If you live in the Seattle area, I highly recommend this fascinating book.
The author describes places around the city where you can see hints of what once was. I look forward to visiting these places.
If you live in the Seattle area, I highly recommend this fascinating book.
kevinhanes's review
2.0
a potentially interesting history of Seattle entirely ruined by the author's overwhelming presence and poor choices. from referring to the same streets by different names (depending on the era they were being referred), to the confusing alternating of writing styles. i'm not sure if this is a history, an autobiography, or someone's journal.
i don't care how "enlightened" you think the tunnel project is, and i don't want to have to think about which First Ave or Miller St you're referring to. i also don't care about a walk you took around the city.
i don't care how "enlightened" you think the tunnel project is, and i don't want to have to think about which First Ave or Miller St you're referring to. i also don't care about a walk you took around the city.
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