The Path Between the Seas

The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914

By: David McCullough

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the National Book Award for history, The Path Between the Seas tells the story of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of constructing an aquatic passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is a story of astonishing engineering feats, tremendous medical accomplishments, political power plays, heroic successes, and tragic failures. Applying his remarkable gift for writing lucid, lively exposition, McCullough weaves the many strands of the momentous event into a comprehensive and captivating tale.

©2003 David McCullough (P)2003 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon and Schuster Audio Division, Simon and Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"A chunk of history full of giant-sized characters and rich in political skullduggery." (The New York Times)

Something for Everyone

A little bit for everyone: international intrigue, history, finance, public health, history, engineering. But alas this is an abridged version. From my perspective, to much time was spent on the politics in Washington to build the canal and not enough time on the engineering and public health issues of building the canal. Perhaps the unabridged version, unfortunately not available on Audible :-(, gave more time to the subjects I found of interest.

I would have liked to have seen Ambrose written on the subject. With his writing on the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads and how they came to be, he would have done a masterful job with equal weightings to all the subjects mentioned above.

Excellent

I visited the Panama Canal in August and then listened to this audio book. It is very informative about everything you ever wanted, or needed to know about the Panama canal.

very fast moving...

I am very interested in the story and did not realize it was abridged. Seemed there were chunks missing. Otherwise it was great.

Before you cruise the Panama Canal

Fascinating and historical review of the challenges, politics, economics, and quality of life Advancement's that came about as a result of this titanic engineering project. Excellent primer for planned trip through the canal.

McCullough writes a great tale

The Panama Canal story is told with great clarity and detail which is a hallmark of David McCullough’s writing. As told by Edward Herrmann it is a fascinating tale of the construction of this modern wonder of the world.

Outstanding !!!!

I was amazed on how much I did not know about the Panama Canal. This book was hard to stop listening to. Edward Herman is fantastic. I'm so glad that he is the narrator for the John Adams book.

David McCollough really dug deep..pun intended. I really, really enjoyed this and would highley recommend buying this. I don't write many reviews but felt compelled to do so here...ENJOY

Another good book

McCollough has done it again

great book on the canal

great book on one of the greatest man made achievements of the world. great incite on both the French failures and America success

Detailed Account of the Panama Canal

I found this book to be extremely detailed from beginning to end. From the first Europeans to visit the New World to the description of the modern day Canal, this book leaves out no detail from the planning to the completion of the Panama Canal.
I was unaware that the French were the first to attempt a cut across the Isthmus. Following their failure, the United States took over and, as the book emphasizes, the US, at the time, was the only country with the means and resources to do the job.
Due to many factors, three of the greatest being, the current sovereignty of Panama (though it probably has it's price), the tremendous cost of construction and the almost certain interference by environmental groups, it is doubtful that the Panama Canal could even be built today.
Many thousands lost their lives in the building process, yet many thousands continued to work to the completion of the project and to the great benefit of the world today.

Engineering Marvel

Fascinating piece of history of politics, engineering and national pride. Not too detailed for my liking.