The most powerful earthquake in human history struck on Dec.26, 2004, and set off a destructive chain of events nearly beyond comprehension. But even in the vortex of... read more

The most powerful earthquake in human history struck on Dec.26, 2004, and set off a destructive chain of events nearly beyond comprehension. But even in the vortex of this unprecedented calamity, the human spirit not only endured but triumphed. Tsunami: Heroes, Hope, and Incredible Stories of Survival officially documents in unforgettable words and pictures the inspirational sotries of people surviving against impossible odds, heroic acts crossing all boundaries of gender, age and nationality, and a planet ignoring its artifical boundaries to come together. (hide)

Bestselling historian Douglas Brinkley, a professor at Tulane University, lived through the destruction of Hurricane Katrina with his fellow New Orleans residents, and now in The Great Deluge... read more

Bestselling historian Douglas Brinkley, a professor at Tulane University, lived through the destruction of Hurricane Katrina with his fellow New Orleans residents, and now in The Great Deluge he has written one of the first complete accounts of that harrowing week, which sorts out the bewildering events of the storm and its aftermath, telling the stories of unsung heroes and incompetent officials alike. Get a sample of his story--and clarify your own memories--by looking through the detailed timeline he has put together of the preparation, the hurricane, and the response to one of the worst disasters in American history.

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Vesuvio's Shadow: Ash and pumice brings us to Matera, a city dug in the porous stone of a hill, where till 50 years ago, 20000 people were living... read more

Vesuvio's Shadow: Ash and pumice brings us to Matera, a city dug in the porous stone of a hill, where till 50 years ago, 20000 people were living in caves in non conceivable conditions for Europe. We drove up to Salerno, the end of the beautiful Costiera Amalfitana and we visit the most interesting museums of Napoli, the world famous Archeological Museum and Farnesse Art Collection. Next we go to Paestum, the largest and best preserved Greek colony outside of Greece, in what they used to call Magna Grecia, ending up on the streets of Pompei, the city located at the base of Vesuvio, completely covered in ash and pumices in 79BC by the heinous eruption of the volcano.

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The city's miraculous emergence from the devastating earthquake of 1906 unveils the fascinating people, history, and culture that have made the past 100 years in San Francisco an... read more

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Some 250 million years ago, the earth suffered the greatest biological crisis in its history. Around 95% of all living species died out--a global catastrophe far greater than... read more

Some 250 million years ago, the earth suffered the greatest biological crisis in its history. Around 95% of all living species died out--a global catastrophe far greater than the dinosaurs' demise 65 million years ago. How this happened remains a mystery. But there are many competing theories. Some blame huge volcanic eruptions that covered an area as large as the continental United States; others argue for sudden changes in ocean levels and chemistry, including burps of methane gas; and still others cite the impact of an extraterrestrial object, similar to what caused the dinosaurs' extinction.

Extinction is a paleontological mystery story. Here, the world's foremost authority on the subject provides a fascinating overview of the evidence for and against a whole host of hypotheses concerning this cataclysmic event that unfolded at the end of the Permian.

After setting the scene, Erwin introduces the suite of possible perpetrators and the types of evidence paleontologists seek. He then unveils the actual evidence--moving from China, where much of the best evidence is found; to a look at extinction in the oceans; to the extraordinary fossil animals of the Karoo Desert of South Africa. Erwin reviews the evidence for each of the hypotheses before presenting his own view of what happened.

Although full recovery took tens of millions of years, this most massive of mass extinctions was a powerful creative force, setting the stage for the development of the world as we know it today.

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October 1988 The authors have done an excellent job, and produced a first-class book.

October 1988 The authors have done an excellent job, and produced a first-class book. (hide)

Mount St. Helens's powerful explosions in 1980 shook the country for hundreds of miles; its destructive mudflow leveled whole forests, and left behind desolate landscapes. Almost from the... read more

Mount St. Helens's powerful explosions in 1980 shook the country for hundreds of miles; its destructive mudflow leveled whole forests, and left behind desolate landscapes. Almost from the moment the volcano quieted down, there has been a slow but steady return of life to the mountain. With Lauber's taut prose and well-edited photographs, the reader relives the eruption and healing. The author begins with scientists' predictions, 123 years before the volcano blew; documents the actual blast; then traces the surviving plant, animal and insect life which continue to develop to this day. Lauber also explains how these survivors created a base on which other life forms could take hold. The full-color photos allow readers to observe the contrasts caused by the eruptions: a peaceful lake becomes a lunar mudhole, green plants grow stubbornly out of cracks in the hard crust. The bookand Mount St. Helensstand as testimony to the tenacity of life. This is a magnificent, awe-inspiring work.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. (hide)

Between August 1918 and March 1919 the Spanish influenza spread worldwide, claiming over 25 million lives, more people than those perished in the fighting of the First World... read more

Between August 1918 and March 1919 the Spanish influenza spread worldwide, claiming over 25 million lives, more people than those perished in the fighting of the First World War. It proved fatal to at least a half-million Americans. Yet, the Spanish flu pandemic is largely forgotten today. In this vivid narrative, Alfred W. Crosby recounts the course of the pandemic during the panic-stricken months of 1918 and 1919, measures its impact on American society, and probes the curious loss of national memory of this cataclysmic event. In a new edition, with a new preface discussing the recent outbreaks of diseases, including the Asian flu and the SARS epidemic, America's Forgotten Pandemic remains both prescient and relevant. Alfred W. Crosby is a Professor Emeritus in American Studies, History and Geography at the University of Texas at Austin, where he taught for over 20 years. His previous books include Throwing Fire (Cambrige, 2002), the Measure of Reality (Cambridge, 1997) and Ecological Imperialism (cambridge, 1986). Ecological Imperialism was the winner of the 1986 Phi Beta Kappa book prize. The Measure of Reality was chosen by the Los Angeles Times as one of the 100 most important books of 1997. (hide)

The Galveston storm of 1900 reduced a cosmopolitan and economically vibrant city to a wreckage-strewn wasteland where survivors struggled without shelter, power, potable water, or even the means... read more

The Galveston storm of 1900 reduced a cosmopolitan and economically vibrant city to a wreckage-strewn wasteland where survivors struggled without shelter, power, potable water, or even the means to summon help. At least 6,000 of the city's 38,000 residents died in the hurricane. Many observers predicted that Galveston would never recover and urged that the island be abandoned. Instead, the citizens of Galveston seized the opportunity, not just to rebuild, but to reinvent the city in a thoughtful, intentional way that reformed its government, gave women a larger role in its public life, and made it less vulnerable to future storms and flooding.

This extensively illustrated history tells the full story of the 1900 Storm and its long-term effects. The authors draw on survivors' accounts to vividly recreate the storm and its aftermath. They describe the work of local relief agencies, aided by Clara Barton and the American Red Cross, and show how their short-term efforts grew into lasting reforms. At the same time, the authors reveal that not all Galvestonians benefited from the city's rebirth, as African Americans found themselves increasingly shut out from civic participation by Jim Crow segregation laws. As the centennial of the 1900 Storm prompts remembrance and reassessment, this complete account will be essential and fascinating reading for all who seek to understand Galveston's destruction and rebirth.

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