pridėti nuorodaThe Johnstown Flood
At the end of the last century, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was a booming coal-and-steel town filled with hardworking families striving for a piece of the nation's burgeoning industrial prosperity. In the mountains above Johnstown, an old earth dam had been hastily rebuilt to create a lake for an exclusive summer resort patronized by the tycoons of that same industrial prosperity, among them Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and Andrew Mellon. Despite repeated warnings of possible danger, nothi... (show more)
At the end of the last century, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was a booming coal-and-steel town filled with hardworking families striving for a piece of the nation's burgeoning industrial prosperity. In the mountains above Johnstown, an old earth dam had been hastily rebuilt to create a lake for an exclusive summer resort patronized by the tycoons of that same industrial prosperity, among them Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and Andrew Mellon. Despite repeated warnings of possible danger, nothing was done about the dam. Then came May 31, 1889, when the dam burst, sending a wall of water thundering down the mountain, smashing through Johnstown, and killing more than 2,000 people. It was a tragedy that became a national scandal.
Graced by David McCullough's remarkable gift for writing richly textured, sympathetic social history, The Johnstown Flood is an absorbing, classic portrait of life in nineteenth-century America, of overweening confidence, of energy, and of tragedy. It also offers a powerful historical lesson for our century and all times: the danger of assuming that because people are in positions of responsibility they are necessarily behaving responsibly.
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Heres the thing. The fact that someone is wealthy and powerful is not in any way an indictment- they arent inherently bad as is too often the trite case made in media and books--, but neither are they neccessarily that much smarter than you or me (lots of them are, but I imaging there are lots of smart not-so rich guys too, witness your average professor).
Because they are rich they are assumed to be super competent and this book from the early part of the industrial age shows some things r... (show more)Heres the thing. The fact that someone is wealthy and powerful is not in any way an indictment- they arent inherently bad as is too often the trite case made in media and books--, but neither are they neccessarily that much smarter than you or me (lots of them are, but I imaging there are lots of smart not-so rich guys too, witness your average professor).
Because they are rich they are assumed to be super competent and this book from the early part of the industrial age shows some things really are not that different than what we see unfolding now, and have seen in other settings. Its a mistake to figure someone is paying attention if you arent. I think it also speaks volumes to the mundane in a way-- Paving roads, fixing bridges, maintaining dams-- from there perhaps, public health nurses, well funded probation and social service programs-- all little unglamorous unpopular things that cost money and nobody generally profts from or gets a lot of credit but which prevent very lage future costs and perhaps a lot of misery too. (show less)Already read
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I worked in Johnstown for 3+ years and knew OF the flood. McCullough makes me understand the flood. I'm upset now that I did not visit the "flood museum." Another reviewer mentioned Katrina and 9/11, the flood was the late 1800 version of these catastrophes and this book (written far in advance of the current events) draws parallels that gives you goosebumps. I think this is McCullough's first book and his style of narrative and using reports from the time is already present. ... (show more)
I worked in Johnstown for 3+ years and knew OF the flood. McCullough makes me understand the flood. I'm upset now that I did not visit the "flood museum." Another reviewer mentioned Katrina and 9/11, the flood was the late 1800 version of these catastrophes and this book (written far in advance of the current events) draws parallels that gives you goosebumps. I think this is McCullough's first book and his style of narrative and using reports from the time is already present. He may rely too heavily on text from that time as he quotes too liberally from newspaper accounts. However, it is evident that he is a fine author of historical events for the masses, which includes people like me who like history and really love McCullough's work. (show less)
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