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What did you think about this title?
1 to 7 of 7 items
Jan 10, 2024ryner rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
On May 31, 1899, after days of heavy rainfall, the South Fork Dam perched in the mountains 14 miles upstream of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, failed. The result was a catastrophic loss of human lives and an unimaginable level of destruction. In…
Jan 17, 2022TWDAY71 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Possibly two of the biggest lessons to take away from this book are how easily humans can procrastinate about solving an obvious, life-threatening problem until the dam breaks and everyone has to "run for the hills" and, other than a brief…
Jul 07, 2019RDJohannes rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This title is probably my least favorite of McCullough works. While historically accurate, it is not an easy read as there is so much detail of what I might consider minutea!
Feb 02, 2019
I've not read McCullough before, and I was happily surprised at how utterly engaging this book is. I'm looking forward to reading more of this fine historian's work. The Johnstown Flood was a fully preventable tragedy, caused - in part -…
Dec 08, 2018mammothhawk229e rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Classic riveting book of Pittsburgh elite under the "South Fork Fishing & Hunting Club" funded earth dam to create artificial lake & private summer resort. Improper maintenance & rainstorm created disaster & dubious distinction first time…
Nov 10, 2018rogeraeschliman rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The first big effort by super historian David McCullough is still a great read today. Most of America has forgotten about this disaster 120 years ago but it serves as a reminder yet today of the abuse of power and the will to survive. This…
May 31, 2014
David McCullough's first book,though it's not nearly as long as his others,puts you right in the tiny town in PA that is/was Johnstown, and sets the scene brilliantly. Then the flood happens.