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wildweasel105's review against another edition
4.0
When will man ever learn that he cannot...ever...predict Nature? Erik Larson has a masterful gift of bringing this question to the forefront of history by way of the recorded events surrounding the deadliest hurricane to strike the U.S. - the Galveston hurricane of September 1900.
This is the story of one Isaac Cline, who is head of his district office of the newly formed U.S. Weather Bureau in Galveston Texas. His decisions, both good and bad, ultimately lead to the costly underestimation of the track of the monster storm that swept past Cuba and entered the Gulf of Mexico rather than steer northward towards Florida as most of his colleagues predicted.
But remember, 120 years ago, there was only a fraction of the advanced technology we enjoy today. The seemingly "off the cuff", rudimentary observations and data collecting capabilities of these weathermen of yesteryear simply could not match the precision of storm prediction they really needed. The result: a massive destruction of one of the fastest growing cities on the Gulf at the turn of the 20th century.
This is a must for both meteorology and history buffs!
This is the story of one Isaac Cline, who is head of his district office of the newly formed U.S. Weather Bureau in Galveston Texas. His decisions, both good and bad, ultimately lead to the costly underestimation of the track of the monster storm that swept past Cuba and entered the Gulf of Mexico rather than steer northward towards Florida as most of his colleagues predicted.
But remember, 120 years ago, there was only a fraction of the advanced technology we enjoy today. The seemingly "off the cuff", rudimentary observations and data collecting capabilities of these weathermen of yesteryear simply could not match the precision of storm prediction they really needed. The result: a massive destruction of one of the fastest growing cities on the Gulf at the turn of the 20th century.
This is a must for both meteorology and history buffs!
book_concierge's review
5.0
5***** and a ❤
What an extraordinary read - a page-turner about weather! But then, the hurricane that destroyed Galveston was the most deadly disaster to ever strike the United States (and still is). Larson brings the drama to life while conveying the calm of ignorance and the unbelievable loss afterwards. Very well researched. The personal stories really brought it to life. There is some detailed scientific data here, but the basic plot is gripping.
I was lucky to hear Larson speak when he was on the book tour. He talked specifically about the scene when the water surges from ankle-deep to shoulder-deep in a moment, and he(Larson) thought - "My children are all under 4 feet tall; they would have drowned." Larson personalized the story by giving this thought (and others) to Isaac himself.
(I couldn't help but think of this book in 2008 with Hurricane Ike bearing down on Galveston, yet again.)
What an extraordinary read - a page-turner about weather! But then, the hurricane that destroyed Galveston was the most deadly disaster to ever strike the United States (and still is). Larson brings the drama to life while conveying the calm of ignorance and the unbelievable loss afterwards. Very well researched. The personal stories really brought it to life. There is some detailed scientific data here, but the basic plot is gripping.
I was lucky to hear Larson speak when he was on the book tour. He talked specifically about the scene when the water surges from ankle-deep to shoulder-deep in a moment, and he(Larson) thought - "My children are all under 4 feet tall; they would have drowned." Larson personalized the story by giving this thought (and others) to Isaac himself.
(I couldn't help but think of this book in 2008 with Hurricane Ike bearing down on Galveston, yet again.)
blumoongirl's review against another edition
3.0
Meh.
Opinion is based on my inability to stay interested in minute detail of a topic I only have mediocre interest in to start with. If you enjoy that sort of thing-and you are a weather buff-definitely give this a try.
Opinion is based on my inability to stay interested in minute detail of a topic I only have mediocre interest in to start with. If you enjoy that sort of thing-and you are a weather buff-definitely give this a try.
alidottie's review
4.0
I had never even heard of thiw hurricane till Katrina. Now that Ike has once again hit Galveston I am interested in what it was like this time. Anyone who read this book would have left aGalveston far behind at the chance of a hurricane coming their way. I felt like I was in the hurricane reading the survivors tragic experiences quoted in this book.