Book Description

Reviews (1)

EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST
Maclean's done it again, only this time he's done it better. His first book, FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, was and still is a popular book with wildland firefighters. This one, though, will be a must-own for the summer army of boots-and-nomex firefighters -- and will surely be assigned as mandatory reading in many a fire training course. The collection of stories in FIRE AND ASHES proves up both Maclean's dogged pursuit of history and his determined focus on accuracy gained from 30 years in journalism. Covering many thousands of miles, dozens of interviews, and with painstaking attention to detail in his writing, Maclean has crafted a book that puts his readers out on the fireline. Unlike many authors who try to write about wildfire, Maclean makes no lame allowances for readers unfamiliar with the language and culture of the firefighter. He just explains it for them. His recounting of the 1999 Sadler incident -- in retrospect a problematic compilation of small "oops" decisions that resulted in near-disaster -- is a chilling read when one considers how close it came to being a disaster like South Canyon. His "Short History of Wildland Fire" and glossary of fire terms will be a go-to resource for firefighters -- structural and wildland both -- and for anyone curious enough to read about or write about fire. It's Maclean's reconstruction of the 1953 Rattlesnake Fire, though, that stands as the highlight of the book. It's a can't-put-down story that's finally been accurately researched and told (and illustrated), about a fire that's been a benchmark for safety lessons and fire behavior training for 50 years. Young men and women in fire camps across the West -- and the older ones too -- will be packing this book along in their red bags this summer, and well they should. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

In The Proving Ground, journalist and lifelong sailor G. BruceKnecht tells the staggering story of the 54th Sydney to Hobart yacht race--anannual event that is always an extreme test of courage and skill in some of theworld's most treacherous seas, but which in 1998 would become the mostdisastrous race in modern yachting history.

Although he was already fifty feet from the boat, Brownie didn'thave any trouble spotting Glyn. He looked small, and utterly helpless.... Glynwas already having a hard time keeping his head out of the water, and everyonequickly reached the same unthinkable conclusion--Glynn was going to die and there was nothing to do but watch.... Steve Kulmar was more shaken than anyone.When he first came on deck, he believed Glyn was looking directly back athim.

Of the 115 boats that started under clear skies in Sydney, just 43 would finish.Six sailors lost their lives, and a further 55 were plucked from the storm afterthe fleet had been decimated by unforecast hurricane winds and 80-foot-highwaves.

Knecht's style is novelistic, though measured, with a strong journalisticsensibility marshaling what must have been at times appallingly poignanteyewitness testimony into a coherent account of the disaster. His intended focusis beyond the headlines, and by concentrating on the experiences of a handful ofindividual crews, The Proving Ground succeeds in conveying the agonies oftheir desperate, sometimes futile struggles to survive--and offers some insightinto what drew them to the sea in the first place, and why so many of thesurvivors have felt compelled to face it again. --Alex Hankin,Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Great Summer Read...
or for anytime of the year! I just finished reading The Proving Ground and I felt compelled to write a quick review. This book will appeal to just about anyone and it is a GREAT summer read! I enjoyed Knecht's writing and it is obvious that he spent A LOT of time researching his subject before he started to write The Proving Ground. As a result, the book is full of detailed descriptions and reconstructed dialogues (and the unspoken thoughts/fears of some of the individuals who participated in the '98 Hobart). While reading The Proving Ground, I felt as if I was a member of the crew experiencing the events firsthand! Instead of attempting to write a chronicle of the entire race, Knecht concentrated on a few of the participants. Being a sucker for older sailboats, I particularly enjoyed the segments regarding The Winston Churchill. (I use the word "enjoyed" loosley, because I genuinely feel/felt for the survivors and victims of this tragedy). Buy this book for yourself and as a gift for a friend!

Great Subject; Bad Writing
I read this book immediately after finishing another account of the 1998 Sydney-Hobart race by Rob Mundle (an Australian), titled: Fatal Storm. I thought both versions were worth reading because they focused their attention differently (Knecht spent much more ink on Larry Ellison; Mundle focused on the yachts and people most relevant to this particular race). Knecht was much more blunt in revealing difficult personalities, interpersonal tension and controversy -- particularly with regard to the Sword of Orion. Mundle was more polite -- or perhaps more prudent. It's risky to portray someone negatively who endured such an ordeal (especially when the writer wasn't there), regardless of whether they died or survived. While I found Knecht's take on the people interesting, I suspect it was part of his overly dramatic writing style. He writes like a mass-market action-fiction writer, trying to create drama and intrigue where either: 1) there is none; or 2) the facts speak for themselves. Funny -- this is not unlike American news media today (which is why I watch the BBC). He writes about a "character's" thoughts and actions is such an excruciating level of detail that it's not believable. Too much poetic license ruins credibility. This is a great subject, but read Fatal Storm first.

A bit disconcerting
I read An Extreme Event (about the 98 Sydney-Hobart race) prior to reading Knecht's book, so that was my benchmark. And a high one at that.

Proving Ground contained a lot more descriptive information in terms of the characters, but ... I found his concentration on particular personalities in the book very disconcerting.

It was baffling that he could practically write what Glyn Charles was thinking ... when Glyn was unable to speak for himself. These assumptions and supposition are quite offensive.

I also found Knecht's intricate descriptions of the powerplays involved with some of the pivotal characters alarming. Bob Koethe, Steve Kulmar, Richard Purcell and Glyn Charles, specifically.

While I do not doubt his authenticity in describing the interplay, I found the inclusion in such detail perplexing. My aim was to read the facts, not to become embroiled in the dramatic tension on board certain yachts in such dire conditions.

At times, I almost felt a compulsion to "take sides" with some people, opposing others, which I roundly resisted. It is, after all, Knecht's presentation and everyone interprets events, thoughts and words slightly differently.

All in all, not bad, but not great.

Best book i've ever read
I've read this book 3 times, and everytime it's great. It's the best book i've ever read, so far.

Mr. Knecht nailed it!
Anyone who has ever been on a competitive sailing yacht and been in nasty weather will read this book in an afternoon, unable to put it down. The book is written with tremendous insight and puts you in the danger and makes it feel real. Great book and a quick fun read for any sailor. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In October 1998, a wayward tropical storm blossomed into one of the most powerful hurricanes in modern history. When it finished its devastating course throughout the Caribbean, Hurricane Mitch had killed thousands of people, left hundreds of thousands more homeless, and destroyed whole towns. Journalist Jim Carrier turns up a small but telling incident: the disappearance of a 282-foot schooner called the Fantome. Guided by a young but accomplished English captain and manned by seasoned West Indian sailors, the cruise ship put into port in Belize to discharge its passengers, then set out to sea in an attempt to outrace a storm that, defying expectation, changed its course and in the end sent the Fantome and its crew beneath the waves. All that was terrible enough; added to it was the legal battle that awaited the crew's survivors, one that hung over the disaster "like a poisonous cloud." Following the Fantome's course hour by hour, Carrier covers all aspects of the incident thoroughly and sympathetically. His book makes a compelling companion to Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm as a fine reconstruction of a maritime tragedy, one that does honor to the unfortunate dead. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (24)

The Ship and the Storm
Jim Carrier's detailed description of the events leading to the tragic sinking of the Fantome and his insight into the lives of her crew, make this book a memorial to those sailors that were lost at sea when the Fantome disappeared during the 1998 hurricane named Mitch. This interesting and fact based account is a must for those that sailed on the Fantome for the pleasure of the sea and island adventures, and to all those interested in weather and it's effect on our lives.

The Imperfect Storm
A journalistic look at a cruise shipwreck caused by Hurricane Mitch, Carrier's book delves into the history of the Fantome, an old tall ship that sank with 30 men aboard due to bad luck and, in hindsight, a misplaced desire to save property at the expense of human life. Larded with too much inane chatter saved off the Internet while the drama played out, the book is further flawed by excess padding about the storm's aftermath on the obscure western Caribbean islands where the Fantome sailed. Too long by a third, the tale needed a sharper editor. Still, what Carrier conveys about the ship and its Miami-based company is compelling enough to make up for his reporter's tendancy to include too much unnecessary flotsam about what survivors dreamed as their loved ones died, what the dead men left as their last requests, and what the howling storm sounded like to the many British and American expats who dug holes in the ground to wait out Mitch on islands devastated by the Category 5 storm. What the book makes clear is how stupid the management of Windjammer Cruises was for not canceling the boat's final cruise before the storm got out of control. Evidently, there were many opportunities for the crew to anchor and let the storm possibly damage the ornate boat, but at least their lives would have been saved. Comparisons with "The Perfect Storm" are silly. Both books are interesting reads. So what if this one followed the bigger bestseller? It is overlooked, but should not be.

Good meteorological detail
This book was unique in that in went into detail on what went on in the minds and decisions of forecasters at the National Hurricane Center, as well as specific details on the meteorological events of Hurricane Mitch. I enjoyed the book's arrangement of detailed events aboard Fantome, with an intermittent change to events with Mitch, and events at the NHC and Windjammer management. Very suspenseful and detailed. Good sea adventure.

Amazing Grace
This book captured my attention and my heart for almost 6 hours last night- I could not put it down until 4am when I had finished. I had heard only in passing the name of the boat, but the author did such a good job illustrating the cruise and the crew that I felt like I had been onboard. Even if you aren't a sailor or a weather buff, read this book for the beautifully told personal insight into a tragedy that we all can learn from.

Good Balanced Account
Within the sail training (or "Tall Ship") community the loss of the FANTOME was a mixture of "there but for the grace of God go I" and "Windjammer Barefoot Cruises were always a bit seat of the pants". As stated in the book - The American Sail Training Association annual conference heard papers regarding hurricane prediction and the margins for error soon after the loss and there was much discussion.

For those in the "Tall Ship" industry, as opposed to the Cruise Industry, this book appears to lay to rest some myths and contains much in the way of new information. Jim Carrier has not written a scientific paper - his book would not have much appeal if he had, but at the outset he states his "standard" of evidence and then attempts to lay out as objectively as possible what he has learned. Conclusions are left entirely to the reader. His switching between the various authorities, locales, offices and the ship is skilfully done and keeps one aware of the background against which each group of people were working as hurricane Mitch developed.

It is a little unfair to say that Carrier doesn't do justice to the ruining of the Honduras economy. Against the story - which is really about the ship - he gives the shore side plenty of coverage.

The story is of high interest to a whole different audience than the "Perfect Storm" readers - though I am sure they will learn too.

Within the industry there was much debate about Windjammer Barefoot Cruises and their operational methods. Carrier does not get drawn in, he notes the distancing by other operators, presents the facts as he has been able to determine them and leaves the readers to draw their own conclusions.

As the Fantome's flag state did not carry out an inquiry this is probably as good an accident report as will ever be generated and from which you can draw your own lessons. If you are a casual reader with an interest - it is a skillfully told account of what happens when nature lets rip and is stronger than anything we can construct to resist it. ... Read more

Reviews (125)

It May Be True But It Is Also Unconvincing
THE COMING OF THE GLOBAL SUPERSTORM warns of the coming end of civilization following the one-two punch of a global warming followed by devastating ice age. Art Bell and Whitley Streiber suggest that the seeming paradox of intense heat can cause a sudden melting of the polar ice caps, which in turn, can cause a disruption of the North Atlantic Gulf Stream. It is this weakening, they note, that will result in the massive and lightning quick advance of the polar ice to the previously warm Northern Hemisphere. Within days, then hours, the entire North American continent, Europe, Russia, and North Africa will be ripped apart by a superstorm unprecedented in ferocity. This part of their book has just enough reasonableness in its logic to invest their claims with some sobering apprehension. For those who have seen the film, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, upon which this book is based, were treated to some truly amazing special effects of New York being inundated by a massive sea surge.

The problem with accepting their premise is two fold. First, several prominent climatologists have refuted the idea that such a catastrophe could strike within days. These weather experts agree that yes, such a flooding and freezing could occur, but only after thousands of years. What the reader has to face is the hard choice of which set of experts to believe. No one wants to accept the doomsday scenario of Bell and Streiber, so there is the natural tendency to scoff at their claims. Bell and Streiber, to their credit, admit that it would take courage and foresight to accept their thesis. To make their claims more enticing they resort to methods of persuasion that are superficially glitzy but do not fall into the category of hard scientific empiricism. And this brings me to their second problem. Bell and Streiber have written their book as a sort of oddly blended HAB THEORY wedded to CHARIOTS OF THE GODS. In these latter books, their authors posit the existence of previous civilizations that were quickly wiped out by natural phenomena. No reputable scientist can accept a premise that relies on an underpinning of sensational pulpist writing of lost civilization. Further, Bell and Streiber intersperse their text with a fictional viewpoint of a climatologist who passes judgment on the oncoming superstorm. As long as they stick to their hard science discussion of the mechanics of ice flow, their account is oddly compelling. But the fictionalized viewpoints and digressions on lost civilizations intrude to the point that the reader shakes his head and wishes for more prose on ice flow and less on the lost glories of Atlantis. If indeed Bell and Streiber are correct in their premise that the downfall of human civilization is a heartbeat away, then someone else will have to warn humanity in a way that appeals more to the head and less to the heart. The possibility of being right is no excuse for being unconvincing.

Got to be kidding!
Whitley Strieber??? Come on, abductions, implants, etc., this guy is a total JOKE! Now he is an expert on Global Warming? Holy Cow, the only one who is a bigger joke of a jackass is Al Gore, promoting this stupid book (and now an even dumber movie) as scientific fact.

Motley Fools
After reading the book, checking sources, seeing the film more than once I have to say to all those who mock and laugh at the premise of the book that this is not a work of fiction, but, a record of Earth's geological past and what is to come. There have been many, many ice ages in earth's history most lasting for between 100,000 to 200,000 years, so, to those who laugh, do so at your own peril.

Y2K??
I haven't read the book, but another reviewer wrote something funny. He refered to Y2k and how people were worried about the end of the world then, and they were obviously wrong. (basically, making his point that the Superstorm idea is just as silly). Well, to that I would only say that Y2k could have easily caused major problems around the world if not for the hundreds of thousands of programmers working for years to solve the problem. So the only reason Y2K didn't "end the world" is because we worked to prevent it!! The same COULD be true for global warming if we don't prevent it. Many socially irresponsible people need a 6000 lb SUV to drive themselves to work. I guess they don't mind taking their chances that all the "left-wing idiots" are wrong. Personally, I wouldn't risk it.

Good as entertainment only
Makes for good entertaining reading, but like the movie Day After Tomorrow, just be sure not to take it too seriously, as the authors have no real scientific credentials to speak of. Frankly, anyone who would actually seriously believe Whitley Streiber's material probably thinks that The X-Files is a documentary series. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Life in Crescent City would never be the same
Being from the East Coast I cannot fathom the sheer terror of being caught up in a tsunami.Sure, we have powerful hurricanes to deal with nearly every year but in most cases people have plenty of advance notice and time to evacuate or make adequate preparations. This was certainly not the case in Crescent City, California on the evening of March 27, 1964.
In "The Raging Sea" author Dennis Powers has done a workmanlike job of recreating the events of that horrible and heartbreaking night.You will come to understand just what forces in nature bring about these killer waves.Knowing little or nothing about tsunamis, I was stunned to learn that an earthquake in Alaska could set in motion natural forces that would ultimately wreak death and destruction all along the West Coast on that fateful night.The residents of Crescent City and numerous other coastal towns had virtually no time to prepare. And they were really quite unaware of the dangers they were facing.Dennis Powers tells this remarkable story through the words of many of those who lived through it. It is compelling reading.
Once the seas finally began to recede and sunrise approached residents would come to realize the magnitude of the destruction. In downtown Crescent City there was practically nothing left.Eleven people had lost their lives and dozens more were injured. Virtually every building had been destroyed, roads were impassable and phone and electric service were non-existent.The smell of rotting fish was everywhere. Crescent City had endured the brunt of the tsunami and the community would face the monumental task of cleaning up and rebuilding after this disaster.Survivors could not help but wonder if their lives would ever be the same again. I found "The Raging Sea" to be an engaging and well written book that held my attention throughout. Recommended.

Fascinating and carefully documented
As a small child in California in the early 60's I remember people talking about the huge waves that destroyed a town. I never really understood what they talked about. With Power's fascinating account ot the 1964 Crescent City tragedy, the inmensity of nature's force, the individual and collective perspective, and the strength of human courage contribute to an extraordinary account. Very recommendable reading.

A Powerful Read
The background, the detail, the big picture, the personal stories, the intricate descriptions, its all here set against the backdrop of the worst tsunami to ever devastate the West coast of the United States.Take the powerful event of a devastating tsunami and combine it with the author's compelling writing style and you have a book that is hard to put down.I am writing this review on Good Friday 41 years after the Good Friday tsunami caused by the 1964 Alaska earthquake so thoroughly described in Powers' book.As I write, the wind is pulsing through the barren trees and the sky has clouded over. I quiver just a little as I think back to those events of 41 years ago brought so graphically to life by Dennis Powers.This book will get your blood flowing and give you a new appreciation for the power of the ocean and Mother Nature.

Aworthwhile read
Dennis Powers presented extraordinary stories within this book whichsent my imagination into overdrive.It brought to mind a
long ago experience of having found myself scuba diving at 60 feet underwater when an earthquake (which occurred in Alaska) caused great turbulence in the water in Medocino , California some hours later.I was far more fortunate than some of the people in his book.Reading the superbly-written accounts of the Crescent City tsunami made me much more aware of the repercussions of delayed action.It was a quick read but left me with a great sense of the amazing humanity which can travel with such a natural disaster despite the toll on human life. I really enjoyed this book.

Horrific situation--Heroic response
I will never visit the sea again without remembering this book. Dennis Powers is a compelling story-teller.This is a riveting drama of the ultimate disaster, and of the ordinary folks in a small town who performed extraordinary feats of heroism.
This one makes stories about shark attacks pale in comparison. ... Read more

Book Description

Natural hazards afflict all corners of the Earth; often unexpected, seemingly unavoidable and frequently catastrophic in their impact. This revised edition is a comprehensive, inter-disciplinary treatment of the full range of natural hazards. Accessible, readable and well supported by over 180 maps, diagrams and photographs, it is a standard text for students and an invaluable guide for professionals in the field. Clearly and concisely, the author describes and explains how hazards occur, examines prediction methods, considers recent and historical hazard events and explores the social impact of such disasters. This revised edition makes good use of the wealth of recent research into climate change and its effects. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Complete treatise on climatic and geological hazards
With this book Dr. Bryant (from Wollongong University, Aus) gives a complete overview on natural hazards, as well as its social impacts. Apart from how natural hazards occur, the author also presents (controversial) methods how to predict hazards from occurring again (on short and long term). Bryant starts his book with his successful forecasts of the Australian summer 88/89. He was then able to predict the start of heavy precipitation in Australia NSW starting on Nov 15, 1988 and ending on June 30, 1989.He claims that there is sound scientific evidence that cosmic / planetary links exist with the occurrence of earthquakes and floods. The 11-year sunspot cycle and the 18.6-year lunar cycle (caused by the moon's orbit fluctuation) are used to show a correlation with the ENSO index, occurrences of floods and droughts in North America, Northern China, Australia, Patagonia, amongst others. Very surprising he also shows that in some parts of the world (such as the Mediterranean) the sunspot frequency and the seismic activity are correlated, via fluctuations in the Earth's rotation (in the order of milliseconds). However, if earthquake occurrence is dominated by some force external to the Earth (as mentioned by the author), then one would expect clustering to be taking place at the same time worldwide, which is not supported by the data.

The book contains a lot of case studies with photographs, tables and figures of natural disasters. There is an abundance of references, which makes this book a very valuable work. The Dutch case study of coastal floods in 1953 is presented with a small mistake though. Not the dams fronting the old Zuiderzee were breached, but the dikes of the southern province of Zeeland were overtopped and slided because of extreme wind set up.
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Reviews (1)

GREAT BOOK FOR SURVIVORS!!!
If you are the survivor type -or if you wish to become one- this book is a must! Everything from snake bites, landing an airplane, fighting a dangerous bear, self defense, car accidents, train crashes, to surviving in the desert without food or water is covered in this great book. In addition, the book is very funny. That is not to say that everything in this book should be taken very seriously, but it's mostly for fun reading. Nevertheless, knowing some of the things in this book can never harm anyone. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (19)

real acts of heroism
I've read the other readers criticisms -- it's not that I disagree, I just don't think they interfere with one's enjoyment of the book. Walker may have used too many adverbs or told us more than we needed to know about some families (I imagine he was going after Junger's technique in The Perfect Storm), but he still writes an absolutely riveting account of harrowing helicopter rescues over the most treacherous water in the U.S. The thought of a huge helicopter being blown back a few hundred feet is hard to imagine, yet that is just what happened during 3 rescues the same night with 100 foot rogue waves almost swallowing the helicopter. I enjoyed the descriptions of Alaska's fishing industry and thought Walker did an excellent job of weaving together various interviews. There may be smaller flaws with the book, but you still won't be able to put it down!

Walker does it again!
Although his two previous works--Nights of Ice and Working on the Edge--are tough acts to follow, Walker rises to the occassion with Coming Back Alive. With his uncanny ability to immerse the reader into the situations in which his unfortunate subjects find themselves, Walker provides an incredible account of the ill-fated crew of the Salmon boat La Conte. Walker's vivid descriptions make you feel as if you were floating along side the La Conte crewmembers during the frigid January night or sitting on the flight deck of the H-60 helicopters that attempted to perform a rescue in the brutally hostile conditions.

If you enjoyed works such as the Perfect Storm, The Ship and the Storm, etc, this is a must read. Once you finish the book, you'll hope Walker is working on another book to satisfy the insatiable urge to experience the harrowing tales he so aptly tells.

Incredible story... good writing
Really good, captivating story. Once you get into Part II, it's hard to put the book down. However, there is something funky about the writing that I can't put my finger on. It's a bit wordy at times and the use of big words and multiple adverbs feels a little over kill at times. I must question the editing of the book as well. It seems like "the story" wasn't long enough for a full blown book, so elements were added afterward to help fill the pages. The early chapters do not synch and all along you're waiting for them to tie in together or for characters introduced in the beginning to come back later in the book... but they never do.

Don't get me wrong, I highly recommend this book, but I can't give it 5 stars based on some editing and writing issues.

Awesome-sad-just a great read
My husband brought this book back for me when on a fishing trip to Alaska. I thought it was great. No messing around, but straight to the point. It had me crying in the end. He truely had me from page one.

Spike Walker NAILED It!!
This book is a great adventure book. I just finished it and I feel wasted; completely blown away. It makes the Perfect Storm seem like the Perfectly BORING Storm. How the previous reviewer could write off the entire book (not R. Doyles' review) and not find a kind or encouraging thing to say about such a work is beyond me. Spike Walker gives us a rare and often breath taking view of what it takes to survive as a commercial fisherman working on Alaska's wilderness waters. No doubt this is because he once lived the robust life that he now writes about. In this book he has basically chosen to focus on three horrific events out of the thousands of missions flown during the twenty-five year history of Sitka's famed Search and Rescue squad. He tells the stories through the eyes of the fishermen and Coast Guardsmen who experience them.
I once lived in Kodiak and have talked with several of the Coast Guard pilots who still live there and actually flew in these "mission impossibles." I also talked to two of the fishermen they rescued from certain death in separate incidents in the book. And to a man they responded enthusiastically to what Walker wrote about them. One of the pilots I talked to fought 120 mph winds and dodged 90 foot seas while attempting to lower a rescue basket to the five crewmen ( two of whom eventually died) who had abandoned ship without even a life raft when the fishing vessel La Conte sank suddenly from under them. Anyway, that pilot described the book this way: "Whats my opinion of 'Coming Back Alive'? That's easy because I was there. Spike Walker NAILED it!" ... Read more

Book Description

“Novelist Denise Gess and historian William Lutz brilliantly restore the event to its rightful place in the forefront of American historical imagination.” —Chicago Sun-Times

On October 8, 1871—the same night as the Great Chicago Fire—the lumber town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, was struck with a five-mile-wide wall of flames, borne on tornado-force winds of one hundred miles per hour that tore across more than 2,400 square miles of land, obliterating the town in less than one hour and killing more than two thousand people.

At the center of the blowout were politically driven newsmen Luther Noyes and Franklin Tilton, money-seeking lumber baron Isaac Stephenson, parish priest Father Peter Pernin, and meteorologist Increase Lapham. In Firestorm at Peshtigo, Denise Gess and William Lutz vividly re-create the personal and political battles leading to this monumental natural disaster, and deliver it from the lost annals of American history.
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Reviews (21)

Intelligent and Astonishing
The extraordinary "voice" of the fire that took the lives of thousands of people in the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin still thunders in my head. The historical events of this book and the well researced weather patterns that led up to the deadliest fire in American History is at once compelling and fasinating to witness in print.

This story needed to be told
This book had much of the same effect on me as Norman Maclean's Young Men and Fire. This is a beautiful tribute to the more than 2,500 people who lost their lives in Peshtigo and the surrounding countryside. I always think one of the worst/best things about a good book is that you want more. And I wanted more. I wanted to know all of the people who died and know all the things we don't know. The townspeople who are depicted come alive on the page. The events are related so well, so beautifully, that of course it seems deceptively simple. What happened in October, 1871 is a story so big, so terrible, it needed a wider audience. The people who died,those who were horribly injured, the countless lives that were changed forever deserve to have their story told. And here, it is told honestly,thoughtfully and with attention to research. Peshtigo is also a parable for our times. It is possible lives could have been saved if our actions had been different, if we had not ignored some of the science available at the time.

Fire in the woods
Galveston, Johnstown, and Peshtigo rank as the greatest 'natural' disasters in American history. Excellent books on the first two tragedies are now joined by another great study of the third.

Galveston suffered from a hurricane over one hundred years ago, perhaps 8,000 people died. The dam bursting in Johnston even earlier killed over 2,000 people in western Pennsylvania. The terrible fire that howled through northeastern Wisconsin on October 8, 1871 killed over 1,000 people and, by some estimates, killed more than the flood in Pennsylvania.

Gess and Lutz provide good background to the tragedy. This area of Wisconsin was booming due to the strong demand for lumber and the massive forests that covered the northern half of the state. Times were pretty good and getting better until the summer of 1871, when the lack of rain foretold a horrific fall. In hindsight, the inevitable, terrible combination of wood and fire may have been foreseeable. But not likely preventable.

Fire is an especially nasty force. Combined with extremes in the weather - low pressure, high winds, low humidity, lightning and a tornado - this was an especially pernicious threat and the cause of rapid, terrible death for hundreds and hundreds of poor, unsuspecting, fleeing people, some of them very recent immigrants.

The date of the event, its relatively rural location and the somewhat primitive communication and media of the time makes a complete understanding of the tragedy difficult yet Gess and Lutz work hard and admirably to dig up and re-construct weather reports, personal accounts, old newspapers, and other primary sources of information. There are fifteen pages of detailed and highly readable footnotes and scores of source documents cited.

There is always a tone of overwhelming sadness to such tales. Peshtigo is no exception. But it is fascinating history and well worth reading.

Should have been a longer book
I expected a book about the firestorm and what happened during that tragedy to the people involved. Instead, I got a history of several wealthy men, some brief information about local inhabitants and a rather quick overview of the fire sweeping through the area. It's an interesting look at Wisconsin, the lumber industry and the slash and burn techniques used (Hey, aren't we yelling at people in South America for doing the same thing?) but I expected more than I got. I also realized when I finished that I still didn't understand very well what happened to create the firestorm. So I reread that section and I still don't understand. I wish they had done more research and written a longer book.

Reads like a novel
I'm a Wisconsin Native, and reside in Chicago. The Chicago fire is very well known and publicized disaster, but the Peshtigo Fire's facts were somewhat of a mystery, thus my interest piqued regarding the subject matter. I really enjoyed the flow of the book, and felt as a non-fiction book, it read like a novel, as the story unfolded from beginning to post-disaster.
The facts were written well into the victim's stories, and the reader gets to know the main characters involved; even though there exists vaguely documented information, I imagine due to the large loss of life itself. It intrigues me enough to read more pf the subject matter from the books the authors used as part of their research. I highly recommend the book. Well done. ... Read more

Book Description

Review from "True Rail Stories" "America's Worst Train Disaster may be about a terrible event back in 1910, but it makes wonderful reading for lovers of steam railroads. It tells of the business pressures driving decisions, decisions that ultimately resulted in over 96 deaths when an avalanche swept a mail and a passenger train down a deep gorge in Washington. According to the author, the trains were trapped in a snowstorm because the railroad undergoing evaluation for a mail contract. Besides that, the railroad also failed to move the trains to a siding which would have saved them from the avalanche.

You will find a lot of description of railroad equipment. For example, ever hear of an articulated engine?- one that had a pivot to let it bend in the middle on sharp curves. Of course, there is considerable discussion of equipment and techniques of snow removal. Perhaps you have forgotten that not only passenger trains carried conductors, and the size of snow shoveling crews will amaze you. The book also contains news stories about the trapped trains, the disaster and evengood quality photos taken during recovery operations by a newspaper photographer covering the sensational accident.

The book contains a view of politics in the days when railroads had the power to mold laws to their liking. Moody obviously feels some of the animosity most people felt toward railroad tycoons. He particularly takes James J. Hill, the founder of the Great Northern Railway to task and suggests that Hill that arranged for the death count to be misstated on the low side.

Moody lets no one off the hook in his discussion of the tragedy. He details wild stories newspaper reporters made up about the accident scene in an attempt to stimulate circulation. He tells of social biases against immigrants and uncomplimentary names used to describe foreign workers - not in private conversations but in newspaper columns too.

The book does contain typos and errors that may distract the reader, but all in all, Moody did a good job. If railroads are your thing, this book belongs in your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Nice to see a book about local history.
I personally enjoyed the book. It was an interesting look at a piece of American history often overlooked. It may be a little rough around the edges but it was very informative. As to Amy Scott's comments; "It is a man with little imagination that writes a book about historical events that no one cares about." I do find it hard to believe that no one cares about an accident that took the lives of almost 100 people. What might a 'bitter little woman' like that recommend as more acceptable? Does her emphasis on the lack of imagination of the author hint at a desire for him to make stuff up? While Amy may be happier sticking with her Dr. Suess books I'll be looking forward to see how the next one comes out.

Little Man Writes Little Book
It is a man with little imagination that writes a book about historical events that no one cares about. The editing was badly done, with several errors that I picked up with only one reading. Yes, documentary literature has its place in the literary world, however this one would not be missed if it had not been written.

It has been suggested that he is writing a book about a Mass Murder. God forbid! Literature has been murdered enough in the past. Do we really want Murder in the Unimaginative in the present ... Read more

Book Description

The Tri-State Tornado is a gripping account of the worst tornado disaster in American history. Claiming 689 lives during a three-hour rampage across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana on March 18, 1925, the storm had one of the longest uninterrupted paths (219 miles) and one of the widest (up to one mile) of any recorded tornado. Its continuous energy was so extreme that it completely obliterated several small towns in its path. Although the fatality count was nearly that of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, with the exception of meteorologists and residents of the affected area, few had ever heard of this catastrophe until this book's initial release in 1992.

The Tri-State Tornado reconstructs the tragedy, using vivid eyewitness accounts of fourteen survivors who lived along the tornado's path from the Missouri Ozarks to southwestern Indiana. The clarity with which they recall that day in their lives over sixty years earlier will give readers the unsettling feeling that the tornado struck days, not decades, ago. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must for severe weather freaks.
I first read this book while taking a class in severe & unusual weather at the University of Illinois a few years ago. If you're into jaw-dropping weather phenomena, you really need to get this book. There are great interviews with survivors, a few astounding pictures, and some good basic science to back it all up. ... Read more

Book Description

When the volcano Tambora erupted in Indonesia in 1815, as many as 100,000 people perished as a result of the blast and an ensuing famine caused by the destruction of rice fields on Sumbawa and neighboring islands. Gases and dust particles ejected into the atmosphere changed weather patterns around the world, resulting in the infamous ''year without a summer'' in North America, food riots in Europe, and a widespread cholera epidemic. And the gloomy weather inspired Mary Shelley to write the gothic novel Frankenstein.

This book tells the story of nine such epic volcanic events, explaining the related geology for the general reader and exploring the myriad ways in which the earth's volcanism has affected human history. Zeilinga de Boer and Sanders describe in depth how volcanic activity has had long-lasting effects on societies, cultures, and the environment. After introducing the origins and mechanisms of volcanism, the authors draw on ancient as well as modern accounts--from folklore to poetry and from philosophy to literature. Beginning with the Bronze Age eruption that caused the demise of Minoan Crete, the book tells the human and geological stories of eruptions of such volcanoes as Vesuvius, Krakatau, Mount Pelée, and Tristan da Cunha. Along the way, it shows how volcanism shaped religion in Hawaii, permeated Icelandic mythology and literature, caused widespread population migrations, and spurred scientific discovery.

From the prodigious eruption of Thera more than 3,600 years ago to the relative burp of Mount St. Helens in 1980, the results of volcanism attest to the enduring connections between geology and human destiny.

... Read more

Reviews (7)

Science and Humanity
This book is written in a clear and engaging style that conveys a scientific understanding of vulcanoloy and the consequences, both positive and negative, of volcanic activity on human life and society.

The authors incorporate a discussion of the physical processes that drive volcanic activity with vivid descriptions of historic eruptions. The book includes nine well-chosen case studies that highight differences in type, intensity and effects of eruption. The authors vividly describe the effects of volcanic eruptions on natural and human environments, human history and human behavior. Throughout the book are highly explanatory yet simple illustrations of the natural processes at work and the specific volcanoes under study.

The authors convey the inspiring power of volcanic acitivity and place natural and human impacts within short and long-term perspectives. This book is clear and informative science coupled with thought provoking history and engaging human interest.

From plate tectonics and environmental impact, to entertaining stories of the effects of volcanic eruptions on art and literature or the creation of mythology, to thought-provoking effects on human life, migration and economic decline - its all here.

Volcanoes in Human History
Volcanoes in Human History: The Far-Reaching Effects of Major Eruptions written by Jelle Zeilinga de Boer and Donald Theodore Sanders is an engaging book about the awesome power of volcanoes its effects and how volcanoes are born. This book takes the reader on a short journey through time as we explore the origins and mechanisms of volcanism and shoing us how this affected human history, societies, cultures, and the environment.

This book explores nine volcanic eruptions, diccussing the geological setting in terms of plate tectonics; the theory that virtually rigid segments of the earth's crust move about over a less rigid layer and collide, and that the collisions give rise to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Then the book goes over the human terms following the aftereffects of volcanic eruption.

Volcanism is the surface manifestation of a living earth, the author likens a volcanic eruption as the plucking of a long tight-stretched string representing time: when the string is plucked it vibrates. Where the string is plucked is the volcanic activity or eruption where a great deal of energy is being released, the vibrations will have high amplitudes and short wavelengths. These vibrations will be powerful, but only last for a short time. But, as the vibration flows down the string (time), the amplitudes will decrease and the wavelengths increase, whithat the aftereffects will become less intense and they will last longer. The eruption will last days, volcanic aftereffects will last months, Climate change, Famine, epidemics, diaspora will last years; Economic and ecologic revival will last decades, and cultural effects will last centuries.

The books narrative is easy to read and is very understandable making this subject easy to understand. Most of us see a volcano erupt on the news and that is all we know until the news shows us another eruption. What we are not given is the far-reaching effects of what is really happening within the earth. Volcanism is the earth's way of renewing itself and releaving the tremendous pressures from deep within.

Reading this book will give the reader a greater appreciation about what really goes on, on the earth we walk upon. As the population of the earth increases, the effects of volcanism will be magnified, it is crucial that we understand the origin of volcanism as well as the devastation it can cause, and the aftereffects, for good or ill, that can linger for years, even decades, to come.

This is an incrediblly well-told story that is informative but nontechinical.

Living Under The Volcano
We are used to having to deal with changes in the weather, but twenty years ago, meteorologists were having to deal with a new atmospheric manifestation. Mount Saint Helens had blown up in the state of Washington, and had affected air quality, air travel, and emotions in the region, and had world-wide weather consequences. It certainly was not the first time a volcano shaped the weather, for volcanoes have had major effects on weather and even history. _Volcanoes in Human History: The Far-Reaching Effects of Major Eruptions_ (Princeton University Press) by Jelle Zeilinga de Boer and Donald Theodore Sanders takes nine famous or obscure volcanoes and demonstrates that volcanoes are an active part of our lives.

Surprisingly, volcanic effects are not all bad. Volcanic soils are very fertile, and we use plenty of minerals of volcanic origin. The gases from volcanoes made the Earth's atmosphere before photosynthesis took over. Many geologists think that all the water on earth was originally released by volcanoes. The book shows a very interesting aspect of Hawaii, in that it is in the middle of the Pacific plate, not near the edges where the plates are barging into each other and which are the usual sites of volcanic activity. The plate carrying the islands is floating slowly over a particular hotspot, which pokes up as the plate floats over it, and gives rise to the familiar Hawaiian Island chain. Iceland is on such a hotspot, too, and besides that, it straddles the Mid-Atlantic ridge, where the ocean floor is being split apart as the plates separate at about two centimeters a year. The Bronze Age eruption of Thera in the Mediterranean directly weakened Crete, which permitted the Greeks to expand into the area; Mycenaean Greece was given the boost that made it the ancestor of classical Greece, with incalculable effects on the entire Western civilization ever since. Mount Pelée's explosion in Martinique in 1902 stopped an election that would have furthered the political advancement of black and mixed-race people on the island, and throughout the French colonies. The list of contingencies is fascinating.

All of the volcanoes described here are still active; we have not heard the last of them, and perhaps there is someday going to be a blast like that in Toba in the Pacific 74,000 years ago, which was thousands of times bigger than Mount St. Helens, and may have affected human evolution. This surprising, informative book is a useful look at how volcanoes effect land, sea, humans, and society. Even those of us not under the shadow of a volcano are living in the volcano zone.

Fascinating history, plenty of facts I didn't know about.
I got this book to read more about the various volcanic eruptions I'd always heard of. You get a lot of detail and history about eruptions in Iceland, Hawaii, Europe and the Pacific, much of it I hadn't seen before. I didn't know most of the details given about Krakatau (usually spelled incorrectly as Krakatoa)such as weather effects and how far away the blast was heard. Did you know that people close to Mount St. Helens did not hear the blast,due to the way the sound carried, they only felt it?. That's an example of the level of detail given to the various examples of eruptions given. My one real complaint is that all measurements are given in metric format with only a small conversion table given in the preface to help people like me out. This book is well worth reading for anyone at all interested in volcanic eruptions.

The Vibrating String
For someone who enjoys both history and natural science, "Volcanoes in Humany History" is a happy marriage. It's not exactly a page-turner, because the authors don't try to be too dramatic. They do, however, write simply and clearly, letting the eruptions and their consequences speak for themselves.

The authors' thesis is that each major eruption produces a "vibrating string" of historical effects, ranging from the eruption itself, to the immediate aftermath, to climate change, famine and epidemic, to economic and ecological revival, and finally to cultural effects that can span centuries.

The book covers nine volcanic systems, their eruptions and the resulting historical fallout: The Hawaiian Islands, where the clash between lava and ocean gave rise to a colorful mythology; Thera, whose catastrophic eruption in the Bronze Age may have destroyed Minoan civilization and produced the legend of Atlantis; Mount Vesuvius, whose eruption in 79 AD entombed and preserved the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum; Iceland, whose position above a magma plume and the spreading ocean floor gave rise to horrific eruptions and grim legends; Mount Tambora, the Indonesian volcano that caused the "Year Without a Summer" in 1816; Krakatau, whose tidal waves killed tens of thousand of people in 1883; Mount Pelee, whose pyroclastic flows killed the 30,000 citizens of St. Pierre in an instant in 1902; Tristan da Cunha, whose eruption displaced an idyllic island society; and Mount St. Helens, which in 1980 reminded the Pacific Northwest that "the Giants are only asleep."

If you enjoy "Volcanoes in Human History," you'll probably like these books as well:

"Catastrophe," by David Keys, which theorizes that a volcanic eruption in 536 AD caused the collapse of civilizations around the globe and brought on the Dark Ages in Europe.

"Unearthing Atlantis," by Charles Pellegrino, which argues that the eruption of Thera gave rise to the legend of Atlantis.

"Return to Sodom and Gomorrah," by Charles Pellegrino, which speculates (among other things) that the eruption of Thera gave rise to the Biblical stories of the Exodus. ... Read more

Book Description

Fighting fires since 1965, veteran smokejumper Murry Taylor finally retired from his legendary career after last summer-the worst fire season in more than fifty years. After three decades of parachuting out of planes and battling blazes in the vast, rugged wilderness of Alaska and the West, Taylor recounts in Jumping Fire, with passion and honesty, stories of man versus nature at its most furious and unforgiving. He shares what it's like to hear the deafening roar, to smell the acrid burn, to feel the intense heat, to breathe the thick fumes, and to finally run for your life with exploding flames two hundred feet high and a mile wide licking at your heels. Written with a keen eye for detail and a talent for storytelling, "Jumping Fire is a tale of love and loss, life and death, and sheer hard work, set in an unforgiving and unforgettable landscape, that's second only to Norman Maclean's classic Young Men and Fire" (Publishers Weekly). ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Confessions of an Adrenalin Junkie
"Jumping Fire" is Murry Taylor's memoir of his life in the smokejumper, the elite air cavalry in the war against wildfire. Taylor spent thirty-plus summers (longer than anyone else) parachuting into remote parts of Alaska and other western states to put out fires. Using the framework of a single fire season, he describes the routine of training and preparation, limns the strengths and foibles of his co-workers, and gives vivid, suspenseful accounts of his participation on half a dozen fires. Woven into this journal form is a short course on the equipment, techniques, logistics, and organization used in fighting wildfires. For most readers, the activity and culture Taylor is writing about is as alien as the one Margaret Meade described. It is no less fascinating for that. The smokejumpers have their own rituals, myths, and legends. To themselves and their friends they are proficient warriors in a struggle against a powerful unpredictable enemy -- fire. Chuck Yaeger crossed with Frodo Baggins. Wounds are frequent. Victory is temporary. Fellowship is all-important. They become addicted to adrenalin and overtime. Taylor follows moments of high drama with self-pitying reflections on his failure to maintain long-term relationships with women. During the summer the book recounts, he manages to sandwich two sexual relationships in between jumping fires all over Alaska and in central Idaho. The pages he devotes to those matters might have been better spent giving more details on the conflicts among the various governmental agencies charged with protecting our public lands from wild fires.

HIRING OUT TOUGH
"Jumping Fire" is a classic piece of work. Murry Taylor tells the story of one fire season out of the 30 years he has been a smokejumper. This book tells what smokejumpers are, what they do, how they do it and how they feel about what they do. Not since reading Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove" have I been as reluctant to finish a book. As a former smokejumper I was able to relieve some of the best years of my life as I read each page. You can smell the smoke, feel the heat, and taste the acrid taste in your mouth as you are in the door at jump altitude above a stand of burning fir or pine. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, and appreciates the fine character development that makes you feel that you know the individual smokejumpers, that they are friends of yours and you would like to have a beer with them and hear a good jumpstory. "Jumping Fire" is truly a good jump story. Gary Welch, Siskiyou Smokejumper Base, Cave Junction, Oregon, Rookie Class of 1960-"WE HIRED OUT TOUGH"

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times
Jumping Fire is one of the best books I have ever read in my life. Looking at the front cover, the basic story of the book is simple to figure out; the book is a memoir that follows Smoke Jumper Murry Taylor though a season of firefighting. Most of the action takes place in Alaska, but part of the book is spent in the Pacific Northwest as well.

The story flows together with the grace and beauty of a world-class composer. The writing is extraordinarily well articulated and the stories are told in vivid detail. The author's writing painted remarkable pictures in my mind that rivaled any motion picture I have ever seen. The author's writing created the same emotions in me that he was feeling at the time. It really felt as if I was seeing the world through the author's eyes. I cannot put into words how well this story is told. I can not give the author enough credit.

The book was a roller coaster of emotions; the book made me laugh, it made me cry in parts, and it always had me on the edge of my seat. This is not a book that covers wilderness firefighting in general. It is one season, with one particular person who was a Smoke Jumper. The book contains numerous amusing stories, such as how the author got the name "Old Leathersack" and the story of the fuel pod dropping out of the plane and re-igniting a fire that was under control. There were stories of sheer terror such as when the Smoke Jumpers almost got consumed in a fire, and "lost" several people, not knowing if they were dead or alive and the black bear that invaded the camp (which I thought was funny personally, but I'm sure it was terrifying at the time). There was also Sally, the love element of the book. I think Sally helped break up the book, changing the story slightly, while giving an element to the book that everyone can relate to.

Some reviewers have said that this book is full of testosterone. I agree, but this is not a bad thing. Some "literary classics" are filled with testosterone and manliness (for example, read Chushingura, written in 1748).

I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for an adventure. While the topic seems exotic, there are topics in the book that everyone can relate to (anyone who has been in love, felt the isolating loneliness of a long business trip away from loved ones, anyone who feels the need to put their life on the line for reasons others feel are meaningless, or someone who knows the feeling of looking over a gorgeous Alaskan meadow miles from nowhere). Initially, the length of the book seems intimidating, but it is a fast and enjoyable read.

Essential wildland fire reading
This is the best wildland firefighting book I have read. It really captures the best, worst, and day-to-day of working on forest fires--much more so than any other account I have seen. I also enjoyed the window into firefighting in Alaska--what outstanding experiences!

Murray has a knack for relaying his stories in an unpretentious and accessible manner that I hope translates as well to those outside of fire as inside it. I always recommend it as essential reading material to those new to wildland fire, or to those considering it.

Murray--I know you have other stories to share, waiting to read more. Thanks for the great start.

It's HIS story and he tells it like he lived it...
Bravo, Mr. Taylor! A friend suggested this book and I've got all the nurses at my hospital wanting to read it now. It was fabulous AND well-written. Looking forward to your next one! Keep up the great work! "SAM" ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fascinating read for the amateur geologist/hiker
Growing up in Oregon's Willamette Valley, basalt cliffs have watched over my life. More flood basalt and Rocky mountain gravels and mud are under my feet, and for most of my life I've lived within the shores of glacial lake Allison. When I go the rugged Pacific coast I look at beautiful haystack rocks and headlands where the same lava streams flowed, or I climb volcanic peaks just inland. Flood-wrenched lavas greet me in my travels up the Columbia and Snake Rivers, through the gorge, coulees and hills and through the valley of the Grande Ronde to overlook the Snake River canyon, over a mile deep. Fossils lie beneath similar formations in John Day country.

Fire, Faults & Floods bring the processes that created this to life. It would be useful and handy enough as a guidebook for traveling to various places and interpreting them with short hikes and drives. However, it goes way beyond this, interesting enough to hold your attention as you turn each page, filling in more and more details and drawing them into a cohesive whole.

If you have money and interest left after this book, for a more historically-oriented story of Harlan Bretz, and additional local details, pick up a companion book "Cataclysms on the Columbia" by Allen, Burns, Sargent, and Sargent.

When Imagination Falters!
This book tells of events so implausible that even your imagination will have difficulty comprehending them. If I have any complaint about the book it is that it fails to sufficiently emphasize how amazing it is, for example, that molten lava once upon a time ran nearly 400 miles before coming to its stopping place. The authors seem to almost be afraid that if they point up the apparent absurdity of it all, the reader would decide the whole book was a well written hoax! It was not a hoax, though, and the story of what happened in the Pacific Northwest once upon a time is well told. It is of greatest interest, obviously, to those of us who live here in the midst of the results of fire, fault and flood, but, for those elsewhere with vivid imaginations, it is a cracking good book. This is one time when what actually happened is more exciting than anything one's imgination can possibly conjure up!

Overlooked Beauty
I really enjoyed this book. But I may be different that you. I like rocks, massive basalt cliffs, immense coulees, and the beauty of arid lands. These and much more can be found in this wonderful book by Marge and Ted Mueller. If you're excited about these things then this may be a book you'd enjoy also, especially if you live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. This book is really more than just a basic, easy-to-read geological primer of the Columbia River Basin. It is a trip-planner with detailed instructions on how to go and see the stuff for yourself. I've already been to a couple of the locations and have another short trip planned for this fall. This book is exactly what I hoped it would be when I bought it from Amazon.com. I've never found another book quite like it. Enjoy! ... Read more

Book Description

How wildfires affect animal and plant populations is a complex ecological issue. Robert Whelan examines fire as an ecological agent and discusses how populations of organisms are affected by its passage. Drawing examples from several continents, the author studies the impact of fires on individual organisms, populations, and communities. He looks at the effects on ecological processes such as predator-prey, and plant-herbivore interactions, and summarizes the major aspects of ecology that are of particular importance to fire control--both protection against wildfires and fire as a management tool. This book is unique in its emphasis on general ecological principles rather than regional treatment, and it will be of interest to ecologists, foresters, and other land managers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fire ecology
Robert Whelan has written a well balanced book on fire and the ecological effects of this most important environmental (natural) perturbation. Whelan explains the effects of fire on different ecosystems, tolerances of plants and animal populations, including community response to fire. Fire phenomenon such as chemical and physical reactions, fire behaviour and regime are well covered and discussed in depth.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in